Toolpaths

What is the Flat Depth option in V-Carve toolpaths, when should I use it, and how does the clearance tool work?

The Flat Depth option in the V-Carve toolpath form limits the maximum depth the tool will cut, creating a flat-bottomed carve instead of a pure V-groove that...

Why does my V-carve look wrong or calculate incorrectly in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and how do I troubleshoot V-carve toolpath problems?

V-carve toolpath problems are among the most common issues on the software maker's user forum. The toolpath either fails to calculate, calculates in the wrong...

How do I design and cut a barley twist or spiral fluting in VCarve Pro & Aspire using the Wrapped Spiral Layout gadget?

A barley twist (spiral column) is one of the classic CNC rotary projects: a cylindrical blank with helical grooves spiraling around it. Both VCarve Pro and...

How do I save toolpaths in VCarve Pro & Aspire: post-processors, single vs multiple files, and ATC output?

Saving toolpaths is the final step before cutting. It converts the calculated toolpath data into G-code (or machine-specific code) using a post-processor that...

Why does my 3D finish toolpath take so long and how do I speed it up?

Long finish toolpath times are almost always a stepover problem. The finish toolpath always cuts the entire model in a single pass, so the main variables...

How do I import pre-toolpathed 3D files from Cut3D, PhotoVCarve, or Machinist into VCarve Pro & Aspire?

Cut3D, PhotoVCarve, and the Machinist program save pre-calculated 3D toolpath files:.pvc from PhotoVCarve,.v3d from Cut3D, and.v3m from Machinist. These carry...

Why is my bit digging into my material during the roughing pass on a 3D carve?

Reset the preview, then preview the roughing toolpath on its own. This one check saves you from changing toolpath settings to fix a slipping bit, or tightening...

How does Merge Toolpaths work in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and when should I use Merge By Part?

Merge Toolpaths combines two or more toolpaths that use the same tool (for example pocketing and profiling) into a single optimized toolpath. Instead of...

Why does my toolpath say 'No toolpath generated' or fail to calculate in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and how do I fix it?

A message saying that no toolpath was generated for the current parameters (and to check that the tool can fit into the selected vectors at machining depth) is...

Can I import a full 3D STL figure into a VCarve Pro rotary job?

Yes. VCarve Pro (like Aspire) can import an external 3D model, such as an STL of a full-round figure like a statue, column, or finial, directly into a rotary...

Can I pause a 40-hour carve overnight, and how do I split a huge 3D carve into sessions?

Pausing mid-toolpath overnight: avoid it. There are two real risks: (1) wood moves. Overnight humidity and temperature shifts change the surface enough that...

Can I use the rotary axis as an indexer to machine flats, a square or a hexagon?

A rotary job is a wrapping job. The flat toolpath is rolled around the cylinder, and one linear axis is swapped for rotation. The official documentation is...

Climb vs conventional cutting: what's the difference and which should I use?

It's about whether the flutes' rotation moves WITH or AGAINST the feed direction at the cut:

Does VCarve Pro include the VCarve Inlay toolpath, or is that Aspire-only?

Yes. VCarve Pro includes the same inlay toolset as Aspire: VCarve Desktop has the classic Inlay Toolpath (the maker describes auto-inlay as a general VCarve...

Does VCarve Pro support rotary (4th-axis) machining, or do I need Aspire?

Yes. VCarve Pro has wrapped rotary machining, the same as Aspire. A common misconception says rotary is Aspire-only; it is not. VCarve Desktop also has the...

How big can text be around a cylinder, and why does deep V-carving look squeezed on a rotary job?

Two separate things affect lettering on a cylinder. 1. How far around it reaches. In the flat view, distance along the wrapped axis is really an angle. The...

How do I create a stacked text / layered text sign in VCarve Pro & Aspire with multiple depth levels and 3D clipart?

Stacked text (also called layered text) is one of the most popular sign styles in CNC woodworking. It uses multiple levels of cut depth to create a layered 3D...

How do I cut a mortise and tenon on the CNC: round the tenon or square the mortise?

A pocketed mortise always has rounded corners with the radius of the bit. A tenon cut flat on the table (profiled out of sheet stock) has square corners in...

How do I cut a sliding dovetail (like a sliding box lid) with a dovetail bit?

A dovetail bit is wider at the bottom than at the top. The software's profile toolpath positions a tool by one diameter, so you have to tell it how far to...

How do I cut coves, rings and a parting cut around a cylinder using only 2D toolpaths?

A straight line drawn across the wrapped axis becomes a full ring around the cylinder. Run a Profile Toolpath along that line and the blank turns under the...

How do I cut cycle time on a multi-tool job? Fewer tool changes, merged toolpaths and less wasted travel

On repeat work the cutting itself is usually set by the material. The savings are in tool changes, travel between cuts, and extra depth passes. The software...

How do I cut dados and rabbets that actually fit my plywood?

Sheet goods are not the thickness on the label, and they are not even one thickness. A professional woodworking knowledge base notes variation of several...

How do I dial in a cross lap (half lap) joint so the parts slip together by hand?

In a cross lap, each part has a notch as wide as the other part is thick. The fit depends on three measured things: real material thickness, real bit diameter...

How do I flatten a warped board or live-edge slab on the CNC?

A CNC is a giant router sled: hold the warped stock still, skim the top flat with a surfacing pass, flip, repeat. The two hard parts are holding warped stock...

How do I flatten an epoxy pour or river table on the CNC without melting or chipping the resin?

Cured epoxy is a plastic. Laguna's guide puts it plainly: the goal is to cut it, not melt it, and the sign you have it right is chips and shavings coming off...

How do I glue and clamp a V inlay, and how long should it cure before I cut the plug off?

A V inlay seals on its angled walls. The glue only has to wet those walls, and the plug has to be pushed straight down with even pressure until the walls meet...

How do I machine an imported STL in VCarve Pro: the 3D Rough and 3D Finish workflow?

1. Import: Model Import Component / 3D Model, then choose the STL or V3M. Set orientation (which face is up), size, and depth in material: how proud of the...

How do I make 3D carvings faster without wrecking the finish?

Finish-pass time is roughly area divided by (stepover times feed). Roughing time is roughly volume divided by removal rate. Attack each separately. 1. Use the...

How do I make a raised-letter sign: carving the background away cleanly?

Instead of carving letters IN, you pocket the background away, leaving text, logo and border standing proud. It reads better at a distance (real shadows), and...

How do I make a tapered leg or column on the rotary axis?

A rotary job starts as a straight cylinder. Decoration placed on the surface does not change the body. To get a taper you either model the body or drive the...

How do I make shelf pin holes and hinge cup holes for cabinet parts?

The common cabinet standard described by a tooling maker's guide is the 32 mm system: 5 mm holes, spaced 32 mm apart in a vertical row, with the first row set...

How do I preview a painted or laminated board so the carved areas show the wood underneath? (Surface Color in)

Version 12.5 added a Surface Color choice to the Preview Toolpaths form. It paints the uncut top face of the material block with a color you pick, while...

How do I remove the plug backer after a V inlay glue-up: bandsaw, hand tools or a CNC surfacing pass?

After glue-up the plug board sits above the base board on a slab of waste. The official documentation calls this slab Plug Stock (P) in the plug toolpath form...

How do I set feed rate and plunge rate for 3D toolpaths in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and when should plunge rate match feed rate for 3D finishing?

One of the most important and frequently misunderstood settings for 3D toolpaths is the relationship between feed rate and plunge rate. Unlike 2D toolpaths...

How do I set up a 2D Pocket Toolpath on a rotary spindle in VCarve Pro & Aspire?

The 2D Pocket Toolpath creates flat-bottomed recesses (decorative panels, recessed bands) that wrap around the cylinder. It works in VCarve Pro and Aspire. The...

How do I set up a 3D Finishing Toolpath for a rotary spindle in VCarve Pro & Aspire?

The 3D Finishing Toolpath refines the surface left by roughing, producing the final smooth surface on your spindle or rotary project. It works the same way in...

How do I set up a 3D Roughing Toolpath for a rotary spindle in VCarve Pro & Aspire?

Applies to: Both (VCarve Pro and Aspire) The 3D Roughing Toolpath removes bulk material from the blank before finishing. For rotary spindle work there are...

How do I set up Material Setup for a rotary/spindle job in VCarve Pro & Aspire?

Applies to: Both (VCarve Pro and Aspire) Rotary jobs have their own Job Setup and Material Setup settings, which differ from flat double-sided work. Getting...

How do I stop a 3D toolpath cutting too deep around the outside of my model? (The Zero Plane floor trick)

Outside your model's silhouette there is no component, so the area sits at the bottom of the job's height range. With a boundary that extends past the model...

How do I surface (flatten) my spoilboard, and which toolpath do I use?

Surfacing (also called flattening) your spoilboard is a maintenance procedure that affects cut quality and Z-depth accuracy. VCarve Pro and Aspire do not have...

How do I use tabs in VCarve Pro & Aspire's Profile toolpath to hold parts in place when cutting them out?

Tabs (also called bridges) are small sections of uncut material left attached to a part during a through-cut profile pass. They prevent the part from shifting...

How do I use the Photo V-Carve toolpath in VCarve Pro & Aspire to carve photographs into wood?

The Photo V-Carve toolpath is a standard toolpath in both VCarve Pro and Aspire 12.5. It uses a V-bit or engraving tool to etch a copy of a bitmap photo into...

How do I use the Texture Toolpath and Create Vector Texture tool in VCarve Pro & Aspire for wood grain and sandblasted sign effects?

There are two related tools for creating textured surface effects: Create Vector Texture (draws wavy lines as vectors, in both VCarve Pro and Aspire) and the...

How do I use the VCarve Pro & Aspire tool to estimate machining time and create a job sheet?

There are two tools for understanding how long a job will take and for documenting it: the machining time estimate (in the Toolpaths Summary form) and the...

How do Keep-Out Zones work in VCarve Pro & Aspire to prevent the tool from crashing into clamps and fixtures during rapid moves?

Keep-Out Zones are a V12 feature that lets you mark areas of the material where the tool should not pass through or over. They are designed to represent...

How do multi-sheet nested jobs work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: Nest Parts, Sheet Management, and multi-sheet toolpathing?

The Sheets system lets you lay out multiple physical sheets of material within a single project file. Each sheet can have its own dimensions and properties...

How do sheet-specific toolpaths work in, and how do I move or copy toolpaths between sheets?

Sheets let one project hold multiple parts, each sheet with its own dimensions and properties (see the multi-sheet jobs entry for sheet basics). In 12.5...

How do Toolpath Templates and the Vector Selector work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for automation and reusable workflows?

Toolpath Templates save the settings of one or more toolpaths (tool, depth, strategy, speeds and so on) into a reusable file. Combined with the Vector Selector...

How does 'Project Toolpath onto 3D Model' work in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and when should I use it?

The "Project toolpath onto 3D Model" checkbox (available on many 2D/2.5D toolpath forms in both VCarve Pro and Aspire, and only when a 3D model has been...

How does Rotary Machining and Vector Wrapping work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for engraving text and designs on cylinders?

The software's rotary wrapping system lets you design flat 2D vectors and 3D components in the standard flat workspace, then "wrap" the toolpaths around a...

How does the 3D Finish toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: Raster vs Offset, stepover, tool choice, and quality settings?

The 3D Finish toolpath makes the final surface pass over your 3D composite model. It runs at a fine stepover to produce smooth, detailed results. It is always...

How does the 3D Roughing toolpath work: Z Level vs 3D Raster, machining allowance, and boundary options?

The 3D Roughing Toolpath removes the bulk of unwanted material from around a 3D model before the finishing pass, when the part is too deep for the finishing...

How does the Array Copy Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for machining repeated parts in a grid?

Array Copy Toolpath duplicates one or more calculated toolpaths into a grid of copies. Rather than drawing duplicate vectors and calculating separate toolpaths...

How does the Chamfer Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cutting beveled edges and countersinks?

The Chamfer Toolpath cuts a beveled edge along selected vectors using a V-bit or ball nose tool. It's ideal for decorative chamfered sign edges, countersunk...

How does the Drilling Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire, including peck drilling for deep holes?

The Drilling Toolpath drives a drill bit straight down into the material to a specified depth at the center of each selected closed vector. It's the fastest...

How does the Fluting Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cutting decorative grooves with controlled ramps?

The Fluting Toolpath drives a tool along the center of a vector while controlling how the tool ramps into and out of the material at the start and end. Instead...

How does the Inlay Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for straight, stepped, and V-Carve inlays?

The Inlay toolpath calculates profile or pocketing toolpaths with automatic compensation for the tool radius, so the cut-out male plug and the female pocket or...

How does the Moulding Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cutting swept moulding profiles along a drive rail?

The Moulding Toolpath extrudes a 2D cross-section profile along a drive rail vector to create a 2.5D machining path. It's classified as 2.5D because it doesn't...

How does the Pocket Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: Offset vs Raster, multiple clearance tools, profile pass, and pass depth control?

The Pocket Toolpath clears all material inside one or more closed vector boundaries to a specified depth, creating a flat-bottomed recess. It is one of the...

How does the Prism Carving toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for raised prismatic lettering and signs?

Prism Carving uses an angled tool (usually a V-bit) to create a raised, beveled "prism" shape on top of the selected vectors, similar to a hand-carved look...

How does the Profile Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: tabs, ramps, lead-in/out, last pass, and all advanced options?

The Profile Toolpath cuts along the edge of a vector, either on the vector, inside it, or outside it. It is the most-used toolpath: cutouts, part perimeters...

How does the Quick Engrave toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for diamond drag and conventional engraving?

Quick Engrave is designed for engraving and marking text, logos, and decorative patterns using either conventional engraving cutters (rotating) or diamond drag...

How does the Texture Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for creating hand-carved background textures and wood-grain effects?

The Texture Toolpath generates a randomized pattern of short curved strokes ("scallops") that mimics the look of a hand-chiseled or hand-carved background...

How does the Texture Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and what does every parameter do?

The Texture Toolpath carves a series of randomly varied scallop-shaped grooves across a surface, simulating hand-chiseled, sandblasted, or natural wood-grain...

How does the Thread Milling toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cutting internal and external threads?

The Thread Milling toolpath machines helical threads directly into material using a thread mill cutter. It supports both internal threads (female, e.g...

How does the V-Carve Toolpath work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: flat depth, clearance tools, and start depth?

The V-Carve Toolpath uses a V-bit to carve designs where the depth of cut varies automatically based on the width of the vector at each point. Wide areas...

How does the VCarve Pro & Aspire double-sided machining setup work: job setup, flip direction, registration, and the dowel pin method?

In the Job Setup form, choose Double Sided as the Job Type. Flip Direction Between Sides is a critical setting: The software uses this choice to manage the...

How does toolpath simulation/preview work in VCarve Pro & Aspire: quality settings, animation mode, and material shading?

The toolpath preview lets you see what a calculated toolpath will produce when cut into the material. The 3D preview mode also lets you view the job in...

How does Toolpath Tiling work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for cutting projects, including 3D projects, larger than my CNC machine bed?

Toolpath Tiling lets you machine objects and designs that are many times larger than your CNC machine's cutting area, or larger than the material pieces you...

How does VCarve Pro & Aspire handle multi-pass cutting (pass depth control) and when should I use multiple pass depths vs a single deep cut?

Understanding pass depth is critical for clean cuts, long tool life, and machine health. The software calculates multiple-pass toolpaths automatically based on...

I cut the same product every week. How do I set it up so a new order is drop in the artwork and recalculate?

Three features do the work together. A job template holds the material size and setup. Layers with fixed names say what each vector is for. Toolpaths saved...

My inlay is already glued and it sits low, sits proud, or shows a gap. Can I fix it?

Gap all the way around, plug did not seat. The plug bottomed out before its walls met the pocket walls. Published troubleshooting points to a plug that hit the...

My point-cutting round-over bit leaves a lip at the pocket edge or uncut material in the corners. How do I set up the toolpath?

A point-cutting round-over bit has its tip on the centerline, and the curved profile grows outward from that point. The curve starts where the tip runs. If the...

My purchased file V-carves too deep no matter what Start Depth I enter: what's the right fix?

Start Depth does not limit V-carve depth. It pushes the carve deeper. Start Depth is the depth at which the V-carving toolpath is calculated, and its real job...

My straight (flat) inlay piece is too tight or too loose in its pocket. What allowance should I use?

The Inlay Toolpath already rounds the outside corners of the male part to match the radius the bit leaves in the pocket corners, so the shapes match. What it...

Should I rough with Z-Level or 3D Raster, and why does my finish pass plunge too deep?

On deep shapes (a 2" dish, a deep relief), Z Level's leftover terraces can be thicker than your finish bit expects, so the finishing pass suddenly takes a deep...

Should I use a straight inlay, a stepped inlay, a V inlay or an epoxy fill for my design?

Straight inlay (Inlay Toolpath, Male Straight plus Female Pocket or Hole). Vertical walls, same end mill both sides. Every inside corner of the pocket carries...

Should my rotary 3D finish passes run along the length or around the cylinder?

In the 3D Finish Toolpath, a Raster Angle of 0 gives passes mainly parallel to X and 90 gives passes mainly parallel to Y. In a rotary job one of those axes is...

Tabs, onion skin or vacuum for a production run: which one do shops actually use, and how do I set up an onion skin?

Toolpath housekeeping: how do I edit, duplicate, delete, and recalculate toolpaths, and how does the Toolpath Tree work?

Calculated toolpaths stack at the bottom of the Toolpath Tab. Each entry has a checkbox (show or hide that toolpath in the 3D View) and an icon showing the...

Walk me through my first 3D carving: which bits, what stepover and feeds, and the toolpaths in order

A relief 8 to 12" across in pine, poplar, or basswood, 3/4 to 1" thick. Set Modeling Resolution to High at Job Setup (see the resolution entry). Skim the...

What are 25 creative Texture Toolpath starting points for VCarve Pro & Aspire beyond wood grain, such as lava, craters, bark, and drawn-vector patterns?

These presets are starting points to test on scrap, not tested recipes. None has been checked with a test cut. They go beyond wood grain and sandblasted looks...

What are 25 starting-point Texture Toolpath settings for VCarve Pro & Aspire for wood grain, sandblasted, rough hewn, stone, bark, and decorative effects?

These presets are starting points to test on scrap, not tested recipes. None has been checked with a test cut, so preview each one and adjust. The Texture...

What are geometric Texture Toolpath starting points for VCarve Pro & Aspire: crosshatch, ribbed lines, hatching, and drawn-vector patterns?

These presets are starting points to test on scrap, not tested recipes. None has been checked with a test cut. Preview each one before cutting. What the random...

What are ramps and lead-ins, and when does a beginner actually need them?

RAMPS control how the bit ENTERS DEPTH. Instead of drilling straight down (the center of a bit cuts poorly, see the plunge-marks entry), the bit descends while...

What does "The selected vectors may contain overlaps or intersections" mean, and can I ignore it?

Before calculating, the software checks the vectors you selected. This warning says some of them cross each other, cross themselves or sit on top of one...

What does the 'tool will cut through material' warning mean, and is it bad?

The toolpath's total cut depth is greater than or equal to the material thickness set in Job Setup. The software flags it so you can decide whether that is...

What does the 'tools produced empty toolpaths' warning mean?

The toolpath ran its math and found no material it could remove with that tool: 1. The tool is too big for every region in the selection (see the "tool will...

What is 'Separate Last Pass' on a profile toolpath, and when should I use it?

In the Profile toolpath form, Do Separate Last Pass makes every depth pass cut slightly AWAY from the final line (leaving a thin skin of material, the...

What is a job setup sheet, and how do I make one my operator can run from, with my logo and only the sections I want?

A job sheet (Job Setup Sheet) sums up what you need to set up and run the project at the machine, so nobody has to go back to the design computer. Toolpaths...

What is Sketch Carving in VCarve Pro & Aspire, and how do I use it to create a V-carved sketch effect from a photo or 3D model?

Sketch Carving is a V12 feature that uses the differences in contrast across a bitmap image or a 3D model to create a toolpath in a sketching style, producing...

What order should a nested sheet cut in so parts do not shift, and how do I force that order?

Every cut-through opens a leak under the sheet and removes material that was holding its neighbors. Production shops on vacuum tables publish the same rule...

When I tile a long part through a short machine, how do I move the board accurately between tiles?

The Toolpath Tiling Manager splits the toolpaths correctly, but it cannot move the wood for you. Each tile is output so it cuts in the same area of the...

Which improvements work automatically, with no setting to switch on? (pocket retracts, peck drilling preview, toolpath status, WebP)

Several 12.5 features appear on the official What's New list but have no checkbox anywhere. People search the forms for a control that does not exist. These...

Which toolpath should I use? The master decision guide for choosing the right strategy

"Cut this shape out": Profile (outside the line, with tabs and a slight overcut). To slot along a line, use Profile ON the line. "Remove this area to a flat...

Which toolpaths can I save into one G-code file, and how should I name and order them?

One G-code file per physical bit (unless you have an ATC). The software will save multiple selected toolpaths into one file, but only toolpaths sharing the...

Why are there divot marks where the bit plunges, and why do V-bit tips keep snapping?

A straight vertical plunge forces the center of the bit, which has zero surface speed, to push through material. End mills leave a burnished divot; fragile...

Why did my part come loose even though I added tabs?

1. Tab thickness is less than your overcut. Tab thickness is measured from the bottom of the cut depth, not from the bottom of the material (official...

Why did my pocket leave material behind: islands in the middle or round corners?

1. Round corners are physics: a spinning round tool can never produce a sharp inside corner. Every inside corner gets a fillet of the tool radius. 2. Islands...

Why did my profile cut on the wrong side of the line, or cut both sides of the same line?

1. Open vectors don't have an inside or outside. For open vectors the profile toolpath is cut to the Left, to the Right, or On the vector (official...

Why did my second toolpath cut twice as deep as I typed? (Start Depth vs Cut Depth)

Cut Depth is measured from the Start Depth, not from the material surface. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood fields in the toolpath forms. If you...

Why did my toolpaths break or come up empty after I nested my parts?

A toolpath normally remembers the exact vectors you selected when you made it. Ordinary edits keep that link alive: move, resize or node edit a vector...

Why did my V-carve cut deeper than the preview showed, and why is one end of the sign deeper than the other?

V-carve depth is extremely sensitive to the distance between the bit and the material surface. If the actual surface isn't exactly where the software thinks it...

Why do I get "Model thickness exceeds material thickness" when I calculate a toolpath?

The combined 3D model in the job is taller than the material Thickness in your job setup, so there is no way to fit it inside the block. The number the...

Why does it say 'the tool will not fit' and why were some areas left uncarved?

1. The tool diameter is equal to or bigger than the narrowest gap in the selected vectors. A 0.125" end mill cannot enter a 0.102" opening, and an exact 0.125"...

Why does my 3D carve have ridges or a washboard pattern on the finish pass?

1. Stepover too large for the ballnose. A ballnose leaves a scallop (cusp) between adjacent passes; the wider the stepover, the taller the ridge. 2. Roughing...

Why does my 3D finish toolpath waste hours machining flat empty areas?

The 3D Roughing and Finishing forms have a Machining Limit Boundary option. If it is set to Material Boundary, the boundary of the entire material block is...

Why does my machine jump all over the board when drilling or cutting out parts, and how do I control the cutting order?

By default the software picks the order itself. The official wording is that, unless you tell it otherwise, the program optimizes the order to reduce machining...

Why does my machine recut everything after a bit change, and what is rest machining?

Separate toolpaths don't know about each other. If you make one finishing toolpath with a 1/4" ballnose and a second, separate finishing toolpath with a 1/16"...

Why does my Moulding toolpath cut the wrong direction, and when should I use it instead of 3D finishing?

The Moulding toolpath always cuts PARALLEL to the drive rail you select. It sweeps your cross-section profile along that rail. So if you select a short rail...

Why does my toolpath preview show an uncut block, or not update after I change a toolpath?

The preview is a simulated block of material that only changes when you tell it to cut. It is not a live picture of your toolpaths. Editing or deleting a...

Why does my V-carve cut to full depth in one pass, and how do I make it take multiple passes?

Unlike the Profile and Pocket forms, the V-Carve toolpath form has no pass-depth field. It takes the number of Z passes from the Pass Depth stored in the tool...

Why does my V-carve inlay have gaps, or the plug won't seat all the way? (A common depth recipe)

A V-carve inlay works because both parts are cut with the same V-bit, so the walls have identical angles and wedge together. It fails when: 1. The Start Depth...

Why does the machine retract so high when carving inside a deep pocket, and can I set a negative Z gap?

The Rapid Z Gaps (Z1 Clearance, Z2 Plunge) in Material Setup are measured above the material surface, not above where you're actually cutting. Carving detail...

Why is my estimated machining time so far off, and how do I set machine acceleration for better estimates in?

The estimate starts from the feed rates on each tool. A real machine rarely holds the programmed feed, because it has to speed up and slow down at every...

Why is my Texture toolpath cutting into my text and borders, and how do I texture inside a pocket?

Texturing a pocketed background (the classic raised-letter sign)? The Texture toolpath needs to know the floor has already been cut: set Start Depth = the...

Why is my V-carve leaving fuzz and torn fibers at the base?

Fuzz and torn fibers at the base of a V-carve are one of the most common finishing complaints. This is almost always caused by a combination of wood species...

Why is there a thin lip or rounded flange left around the bottom edge of my 3D or double-sided part?

A ball nose bit cannot make a sharp inside corner at the bottom of a slope. When the toolpath stops exactly at the bottom of the shape, the rounded tip leaves...

Why won't my rotary job carve under the overhangs? (Rotary can't do undercuts)

The software's rotary machining is a wrapped 3-axis model: it machines a flat relief that gets wrapped around the cylinder, and the tool always points at the...