Getting Started with VCarve Pro

Before you even turn on the CNC to begin your first project you must first create instructions to tell the CNC

machine what to do as it relates to your project. To create these instructions, you must generate something

called G-Code (we will discuss this later). There are several different software tools that can be used to layout

and design your project, and then create this G-Code. Some of these tools are free, and some can cost

upwards of $1000 for each individual licensed user. As you can guess, this wide difference in price (zero $ to

$1,000) results in a wide variance in terms of functionality. If you go out to the Internet, you will find

evangelicals for each software package touting how it’s the best to be used with the CNC machine. For most

of the guild members who wish to use the CNC machine at the shop, there is no good reason to go out and

spend their personal money and purchase their own software. Why? Because several years ago key guild

members purchased CAD (Computer-Aided Design) – CAM (Computer-Aided Machining) software that guild

members can legally use for no cost to you. There are four different software products that they purchased,

which will be used in the design and production of your CNC project. For the purposes of this initial document

we are only going to discuss the first two software products

They are:

VCarve Pro

Makerspace

Both of these products are provided and supported by a company named Vectric. Vectric is a software

company based out of the UK. They are highly regarded in the CNC community and because of that fact many

CNC hardware manufacturers partner with them to provide software. Later in this guide we will install the

VCarve Pro and Makerspace software. Makerspace is a complementary product used with VCarve Pro which

allows guild members to download the VCarve Pro software at home, where they can create and refine their

project. Then, when they are finished, they can save their project to a flash drive, and bring the flash drive

down to the shop, so they can put finishing touches on the model (adding the G-Code). Then final VCarve Pro

files can be saved back out to your flash drive, taken into the CNC room, and be loaded into the CNC machine

for cutting operations.

Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty

the first thing we need to do is download your own copy of VCarve Pro on your home computer

go to www.Vectric.com and you will see a screen with the top that says, “Free Trial”. Vectric is most

accommodating in allowing users to test drive their software. When you clicked on “Free Trial”, a list of

software products should appear. Now click on VCarve Pro and follow the prompts to download that product.

Before you start your download, you will see a pop-up, that allows you to sign up for the Vectric Newsletter.

When you are ready, click on the Download button, to start the download. The files you are downloading and

installing is between 150 and 450 megabytes, so it might take a few minutes. Depending upon your browser,

you might get some other minor prompts, but your download should complete normally.

Congratulations! You have downloaded and installed the VCarve Pro software on your home computer. Now

is a good time to tell your trial version, and the folks it back at Vectric, that you that you will be using your trial

version in conjunction with a licensed copy of the VCarve Pro located in the Library of the shop.

This section will provide information on entering the serial number into your home version of VCarve Pro that

corresponds with the serial number already loaded on the machines in the shop library.

First, double click on the VCarve Pro icon, located on your desktop, which was created when you installed

VCarve Pro.

In the upper left corner of the screen, you will see the screen below;

Click on “Help”, as seen in the ellipse above.

In the upper left corner, you will see as per below;

Click on “About VCarve Pro…” as seen in the above ellipse.

The screen will clear, and you will see the pop-up as shown below;

Click on the button, shown in the ellipse, as per above

To make it clear… the code you enter in must be EXACTLY as shown in the above ellipse and that is shown

below in a larger (and more readable) font

When entered EXACTLY as shown above, click “OK”.

That’s it! When you restart your trial version of VCarve Pro, it will identify itself as the Makerspace Client

edition and files you create in your Makerspace Client edition can now be opened the Guild and the toolpaths

(G-Code) saved for the CNC machine. You can work with your files on your desktop, laptop etc. as long as you

enter the same Makerspace ID into the trial version on each of your computers. You can also share files you

create or edit with other members of the Guild. If you are sharing files, you must not share any patented or

copyrighted files from a third party.

You’re are now almost ready to start on your first project.

So now you must answer the question? What do I want to make?

Unless you already have a project in mind, we would suggest that you start simple

Maybe a sign

Perhaps a simple box

Maybe a carved, detailed rendition of the Mona Lisa (probably not)

You could jump directly into VCarve Pro and start the design aspects your project (which we do not

recommend). Unless you are already familiar with VCarve Pro, we maintain that a better use of your time

would be to first learn the functionality of VCarve Pro

Below is a list of tutorials. The good thing about tutorials is twofold. First, you get acquainted with the software

and learn functionality / workflow. Secondly, tutorials are an excellent idea incubator for coming up with new

ideas, where you can use the tutorial project as a jumping off point, and then modify the project to your

personal needs.

Tutorials from Vectric

The first set of tutorials, as seen below, are a subset of instructional tutorials that can be found on the Vectric

web site. We show some of them below. If you are reading a paper copy, you can key in the web address into

your browser, or find that item on the Vectric web site.

There are many other tutorials on the Vectric web site that can give you ideas and build your skills in using

VCarve Pro.

Another source of information and inspiration is YouTube. Below is a set of basic tutorials that give you a good

understanding of using VCarve Pro.

Video 1- A 3 minute overview of making a sign with a CNC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm0kBXESY3o&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 2- Getting started making a sign with VCarve Pro- Basic Vectors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cquux2Xysww&index=2&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 3- Basic shapes and text with VCarve Pro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJCg5-xq3d4&index=3&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 4 - Font Selection, Text Editing and Text on a Curve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV23QqvSy6A&index=4&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 5 - Working with Graphics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQse2p_XVeI&index=5&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 6 - Using the Tool Path Function to Cut a Curve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C6rmc3FtHE&index=6&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 7 - Cutting Flutes and Pockets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maaaNdBP19E&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9&index=7

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Video 8 Pattern Cutting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KctIKWjRsvA&index=8&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Video 9 Using More than One Cutting Tool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dAtpuynt7A&index=9&list=PLnB6ixM3mohU3yOco1eIDz5ol10gpvYh9

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Please go through some of these videos. Design a project that somewhat mimics what is being done in the

video, but use your ideas and the new knowledge you are gaining to make that project “your own’. In the case

of a sign… put your own wording on it instead of using that in the tutorial. Go out to Vectric.com and look for

other tutorials, or even go to another section of their web site that showcases new projects. The web site for

the CNC machine also has part of their web site dedicated to providing users information for new ideas.

Simply go to

www.lwmcnc.com/training/cnc-project-categories/

and Explore!!!

What can be made with a CNC machine is almost unlimited and having the knowledge and skills to use this

important tool add to your repertoire as a woodworker.

Now let’s fast forward… and assume that you have thought things through, spent some time learning VCarve

Pro by viewing a number of tutorials, and created your own project. Once you get through all the design steps

you must prepare your project for final machining. With the upgraded CNC, we are doing thigs a bit differently

than before. The CNC room now contains the actual machine, and a PC that has the CNC instructs

processing software (Mach3) located on it. You cannot use that PC to modify your project design as before.

The expectation is that you will have a ‘ready to cut’ project on a flash drive when you go into the CNC room.

Then it is a matter of taking your wood, cutters, and flash drive into the CNC room… and making magic

happen.

While you are learning VCarve Pro, it is a good idea to invest in some CNC cutters. The Guild does not

provide cutters, so this is an investment that you will need to make. Ask any Guild member knowledgeable

with CNC as to what they recommend that you purchase to get started.

As a part of the VCarve Pro design process, there is a ‘Preview Toolpath’ feature. The advantage of this

feature is that it gives the user an accurate and realistic 3-D representation of what your workpiece will look like

after it has gone through the CNC cutting stage. You can actually watch the ‘virtual bit’ spin around and move

through your virtual board. It shows the cutter path, the passes that will be taken, and the sequence of parts

and toolpaths. Please use this preview function to simulate your CNC cutting. It saves time, prevents waste

and mistakes, and makes for an overall better project. As you are finishing your design, there are a couple of

other tools that you can use to review your project. The first is “Create Job Sheet”, as shown below.

The second tool is the “Toolpath Summary / Time” function.

This is a good tool to use as a check to confirm that what you are planning to cut, is reasonable. Why? When

cutting small or simple parts, the time to cut them is quick. But as your skills progress, and you move into

more complicated projects, cutting times can be an issue. We have seen complicated projects take up to 12

hours of cutting to finish. This extreme length of time can create many issues. If nothing else, you can use this

function as a planning tool so you can reserve an appropriate amount of CNC Room time, without infringing

upon other peoples’ scheduled time.

If you use the ‘Preview Toolpaths’ function correctly, you will not run into any surprises once the spindle is

turned on and has started cutting. It is an anxious feeling to start

cutting with the CNC, knowing it

has its’ own “mind”, and that mind is totally out of synch with what you had in your “mind”.

The last section will show, step-by-step the process of saving a project to a flash drive, down in the library with

Makerspace, as G-Code for the CNC machine. This will then serve as the beginning for the instructional

aspects of actually setting up and using the CNC machine once it is back at the Guild.

If you have made it this far, we assume that you learned VCarve Pro, created a project (along with toolpaths),

and saved your project out to a flash drive from your home computer. When you come into the library, there

are 2 PC’s that can be used to read in your files and write the toolpaths out so the CNC machine can read

them. Simply insert your flash drive and open your project in a normal fashion, as seen below.

Select your file location, and then select your

project. When you select your project, VCarve

Pro reads it as a Makerspace file, and goes out

to the Vectric web site to confirm that the Guild

as a current Makerspace license. When that is

confirmed, VCarve Pro checks that the

Makerspace ID# on your project, matches

exactly, to the Makerspace ID# in the PC you

are working on. Assuming that everything is

correct, the file opens. Once opened, your

project should look identical to how it looked at

home. Take a few minutes and confirm that

everything is as you expect.

You are now ready to write out your toolpaths.

In the lower right corner is a list of toolpaths that

you created as a part of designing your project.

It is these toolpaths, which were written out as a

part of your project, that will now be discreetly

written out as the individual G code toolpaths for

the CNC machine to use.

Highlighting the toolpath list, or highlighting an

individual toolpath, will make that toolpath(s) available

to be written out as G code. When you click the save

toolpath button you will then get a prompt with the

parameters for which this toolpath will be saved. Most

importantly on the prompt shown below is that of the

Post-Processor. The purpose of the postprocessor is

to customize the G code so it is directly usable in the

software and hardware which will which is used at the

Guild. For the purposes of VCarve Pro, you should

always select the Legacy 3 Axis CV Arcs (inch) (*.txt) postprocessor.

Clicking on the save toolpaths to file will present you with the prompt shown below that allows you to select the

device and subdirectory for which you wish to write the G code.

Below is shown in example of G code that was produced for the CNC machine at the Guild.

You should now have G-Code toolpaths written out to your flash drive. We suggest looking at the files before

you close your file on the library PC. The G-Code file will be a *.txt file, be mostly indecipherable, and contain

thousands of lines of instructions that only make sense to a CNC machine.

Assuming everything is OK, it’s off to the CNC room where the real fun happens.

Revision 4

March 2019