GettingStarted Open Sign ASPIRE
GettingStarted Open Sign ASPIRE
Started
A quick start guide for
VCarve Pro & Aspire
users
Vectric Ltd.
Document V.6.0 V3.0
Tutorial 2
Flat Bottom V-Carving
All CNC machines (routing, engraving, and milling) are potentially dangerous and because Vectric Ltd has no
control over how the software described in this manual might be used. Vectric Ltd or any associated
Resellers cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage to the work piece, machine or any individual,
howsoever caused by misusing the software. Extreme care should always be taken and the output from the
software thoroughly checked before sending it to a CNC machine.
The information in this manual may be subject to change without any prior notice. The software described in
this manual is supplied under the terms and conditions of the software license agreement and may only be
used in accordance with the terms of this agreement.
Vectric Ltd
Unit 3 Dunstall Court
Astwood Lane
Feckenham
B96 6QH
UK
www.vectric.com
E-mail [email protected]
Phone +44 (0) 1527 460 459
Fax +44 (0) 1527 460 459
Table of Contents
Getting Started with Aspire & VCarve Pro ........................................................ii
Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................... ii
Introduction ..................................................................................................... 2
What is V-Carving? ......................................................................................... 2
What the software allows you to do ................................................................. 3
What file formats can be used? ....................................................................... 3
Getting Help .................................................................................................... 4
Watch the supporting tutorial videos ................................................................ 4
Overview of the interface ................................................................................. 4
The Machining Logic ..................................................................................................................6
Managing windows - Auto Show / Hide ......................................................................................7
Tutorial 2
Introduction ................................................................................................... 11
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Introduction
Many businesses use their CNC machine for simply cutting out flat letters and shapes from plastic sheet, or
engraving standard badges and nameplates, which are all based on simple 2D machining strategies. VCarve
Pro can handle all these day to day tasks, however this tutorial will show you how to use your CNC machine
to route and engrave jobs that include decorative 3D designs that will be more interesting and hopefully
more profitable if you run a business.
The manual takes you step-by-step through an illustrated tutorial that shows and explains exactly how to use
the Aspire and VCarve Pro Software. Tips and tricks have also been included that will help you get the most
from your CNC machine.
We hope you enjoy using the software.
What is V-Carving?
V-Carving produces a constantly varying and flowing 3D carved effect on the job, which is similar to how a
craftsman would carve by hand. Imagine a hand-carver cutting letters into a piece of wood or stone,
starting at a sharp corner, pushing the chisel deeper where the font stroke gets wider and pulling the tool
out to form precise, sharp corners. V-Carving, also known as 3D Engrave or Intaglio engraving allows a V
shaped or engraving tool to cut at varying Z depths that are directly linked to the width of the geometry in
which the cutter is moving.
This is effect is difficult to describe in words, but imagine using a flat-bottom end mill to cut 3mm (1/8th)
deep inside the text shown below. The tool, being round will always leave a fillet radius in the corners and
will not actually cut the complete letter where the diameter of the tool is too big to pass through the small
gaps.
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Woodworking
Engraving
Gifts
Stone cutting
DWG
EPS
AI
Adobe Illustrator
Image files can also be imported and Traced / Vectorized for machining.
If the designs are being prepared with software such as Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator we recommend that
you convert the vector geometry and text to curves and switch off all patterns or colour fills before
exporting, preferably as an EPS file.
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Getting Help
If you need assistance when using the software there are 5 primary places to look.
1. Program Help File - From the Main menu select Help
2. Video Tutorials - These are supplied on the installation CD or can be downloaded from the Vectric
website.
3. User Forum - The Vectric user forum at www.vectric.com/forum is a very useful resource for
information on VCarve Pro along with materials, cutters etc. and also to share knowledge and
experiences.
4. E-mail Support: - The Vectric Support Team at [email protected]
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - The support area on the Vectric web site at www.vectric.com
maintains a list of the most frequently asked questions along with the answers.
The video camera icon indicates there is a video file for that particular section of the manual.
Many of the tutorials and help files have associated video footage that will make learning to use this
software more interesting and enjoyable. These are available to downloadable from the web site.
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5. The 2D Design window is where the design is drawn, edited and selected ready for machining.
Designs can be imported or created directly in VCarve Pro. This occupies the same area as the 3D
Preview window and the display can be toggled between the two using F2 and F3 or the tabs at the
top of the window.
6. The 3D Preview window is where toolpaths and the colour shaded job preview are displayed.
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Aspire and VCarve Pro have been developed specifically to open decorative designs and calculate perfect
CNC toolpaths for 3D V-Carving / 3D Engrave, profiling, pocketing, drilling, texturing etc. as quickly and easily
as possible. The general work flow logic to apply to most jobs is explained in the diagram below.
1
Open / Import or
Draw a vector design
2
Select the regions to
VCarve or machine
3
Specify the tool
details and calculate
toolpaths
4
Preview the job in
any material
5
Save the CNC code
Aspire and VCarve Pro are both excellent toolpath engines that also includes drawing and editing tools that
allow designs to be created and modified. Tools for drawing, positioning, alignment and node editing are
very easy to use and multiple design elements can also be drawn or imported, scaled, positioned and
interactively edited to make a new design. Text can also be created using any TrueType font installed on your
computer or the Single stroke engraving fonts supplied with the software.
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The two primary Drawing and Toolpath Tabs have Auto Hide / Show behaviour which allows them to
automatically close when not being used, maximizing the working screen area. They can be opened and
closed at any time by clicking the left mouse over the Drawing and Toolpaths tabs in the top left and top
right corners of the interface.
Clicking on the Drawing or Toolpath tab will also close an open window.
Both windows have Auto Hide / Show behavior and can be locked open by clicking on the Push-Pin button
in the top right corner of the window region as shown below.
Lock Open
Auto hide
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View Controls
The View Control options available when working in the 2D Design and 3D Preview windows are,
2D Design Window
Zoom Interactive
Zoom Box
Click bottom right corner
Click and hold the Left mouse button Esc to cancel
Pan
Shortcut: Click and drag the Middle mouse button
Zoom Extents
Zoom Selected
Zooms to the bounding box of the selections
Note
3D Window
3D Twiddle
Zoom
Pan
Note
Isometric View
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Vector deselect
Vector editing
A design is created from vector lines, arcs and bezier spans, which all have different properties that can be
selected, modified and moved at any time.
Vector Selection Tool
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Selected vectors are shown as dotted purple lines. Vectors need to be selected before any of the editing
tools such as scaling and moving etc. can be used.
Vectors selected
When the Node Editing tool is active the cursor changes to a Black Arrow indicating that individual points
(nodes) can be edited. Nodes can be interactively moved by clicking and dragging the left mouse button on a
node to select and move the node to a new position.
The shape of lines, arcs and bezier spans can be edited by clicking and dragging on the nodes or control
points to move them. Multiple nodes and control points can be selected and moved by using the multiple
selection options such as the Shift key and dragging to make a selection.
If you right click on nodes or spans a context sensitive popup menu will be displayed which allows you to
insert or delete points and nodes, cut the vector, move the start point etc.
Drawing shapes
Simple shapes and designs can be drawn using the Circle, Oval, Rectangle and Polyline options. These shapes
are commonly used to create new borders for signs or as a reference plate for a kitchen cabinet door etc.
Shapes can be created by either entering exact dimensions in the Command Window or simply clicking the
left mouse button in the 2D window to specify the parameters and coordinates interactively.
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Tutorial 2
We recommend that you watch the 10 minute Video for this Tutorial before proceeding. The
estimated time needed to complete this tutorial is around 15 minutes.
Introduction
This tutorial will show you how to use the drawing and alignment tools to design, V-Carve and Drill the sign
shown below Figure 1. The sign is approximately 13 (325mm) long by 8.5 (220mm) high. This design is
based on decorative designs from the commercially available Vector Art clipart library.
Note
Visit the Vector Art web site to purchase the reverse Closed Design and make a very useful and
functional sign - www.vectorart.com
The decorative detail on the job will be carved using a 0.5 Diameter 90 Degree included angle V-bit tool and
a 1/4 End Mill to cut the pocket, drill the fixing holes and profile around the sign.
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When using the Trial version of VCarve Pro, you will need to open the file Open_Sign.crv if
you want to save toolpaths and run them on your own CNC machine.
Material
Dimensions
XY Origin in the
left corner
The Z Zero origin for setting the datum for the tool is on the Material surface.
The XY Origin will be the Middle of the job (easier to position when cutting an oval)
Make sure the Units are set to be in Inches
2. Click the OK button and the blank job is drawn in pale pink lines in the 2D Window.
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The dotted grey lines show where the X0 and Y0 axes are positioned
2. Drawing Ovals
With the job blank defined the next step is to draw 2 ovals for the outer edge of the sign.
3. From the Drawing Tab down the left side of the screen, select the Draw Ellipse
complete the form as shown below.
icon and
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The dimensions of the ovals can be changed by opening the Draw Oval form and
selecting the oval to change.
icon.
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icon (or F9) and the design moves into the middle of the job.
13. Click the Apply button and the design will be scaled exactly as shown below.
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VCarving /
Engraving Tool
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Flat Depth
In this example the Flat Depth for the pocket will be machined 0.25 deep
Click the Select buttons and chose the appropriate tools from the Tool Database.
0.50 diameter 90 Degree included angle V-Bit tool to carve the detail, border and regions
where the end mill did not machine. (Any diameter cutter can be used)
0.25 diameter End Mill to remove the stock from the pocket region.
The feed rates should be set to suitable values for your machine and the material being cut.
A unique name can be entered or simply left as the default.
21. Click the Calculate button and the Pocketing and V-Carving Toolpaths will be calculated. The 3D
Window is automatically opened and the Preview form opened.
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icon and click Left mouse to select the first toolpath in the list,
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25. From the Pull-Down lists of Material types and Fill Colors, experiment with the different options. The
image in the 3D window is automatically updated with the new settings.
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27. Press the Esc key or click on the background (or Right mouse > Unselect all option)
28. Select the Outer Oval by clicking the Left mouse onto the vector
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Profile machine
around the outside
edge
30. Click the Calculate button. The toolpath is calculated and shown in the 3D window and the Preview
form is opened.
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7. Drilling Holes
The fixing holes can now be drilled on either side of the sign.
Tab and open the Drawing tools on the right side of the screen.
34. Click the Apply button to draw a 0.25" diameter circle at X -6.25" and Y 0
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35. Change the coordinates for the Center Point to be X +6.25" and Y 0 and Apply to create the second
circle. As shown below,
36. Select the 2 circles by holding the Shift key and clicking on each one.
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39. Select the 0.250" Drill from the Tool Database, switch on the Peck Drilling option and check the
speeds and feedrates are appropriate for the material being machined.
Notes The Peck Drilling cycle will cut to the Pass Depth specified in the Tool Database for the selected drill,
then retract to the Retract Gap above the material, then drill at further Pass Depths.
The depth is based on cutting to the Point of the Drill bit, and this may need to be increased to
allow for the angle on the drill. To Drill all the way through the material may require cutting a
fraction deeper to account for the angle on the Drill.
42. Select the outer most oval vector by clicking with the Left mouse button. You should now see the
new outer oval highlighted in dotted purple lines as shown below.
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Machine on the
Outside of the oval
Enter an Allowance
of 0.150" to cut a
larger oval
Switch on the
option to create
3D Tabs
Enter a Cut Depth of 0.505 Note this will cut 0.005 through the material.
Select a 1/4" diameter End Mill from the Tool Database and specify what depth of cut per pass you
wish to cut. This will depend upon the material being cut and available tooling.
The spindle speed and feedrates should be set for the specific material you are actually cutting.
44. Click the Edit Tabs button and complete the form as shown below.
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Number of
Tabs around
the oval
The Tabs can be positioned automatically or you can simply click to add new ones or click and
drag existing tabs to any position on a closed vector.
45. Select the Ramps Tab and complete the form as shown below. This will ramp the cutter into the
material at a gradual angle minimizing the vertical load on the cutter and spindle.
Copyright 2010 Vectric Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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Smooth Ramp
Ramp in over a
distance of 2"
46. Click the Calculate button and a message will displayed Warning you that the tool has been
programmed to cut 0.00 deeper than the material thickness. Click OK to accept this.
Very Important
You will need to have a piece of sacrificial board on the bed of your machine to
stop the cutter from damaging the table.
Specify a Cut Depth = 0.500 or less if you cannot cut all the way through the material.
47. The toolpath is calculated and shown in the 3D window and the Preview form is opened.
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icon
51. Click to select each toolpath in the Toolpath List and Save each file with a new name.
Select the
postprocessor for
your CNC machine
Save the
Toolpath
52. If you have a CNC machine that has an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC), both toolpaths can be saved
into a single file.
Important
Note
It is very important that the toolpaths for ATC machines are saved in the correct
sequence. Use the Arrows on the right side of the Toolpath list to order the toolpaths.
If you are using the Trial version of Aspire or VCarve Pro and want to save the toolpaths to run on
your own CNC machine. You will need to load the file Open_Sign.crv from the list of Evaluation files
on the left side of the interface.
______________________________________________________
Thank you for reviewing Aspire / VCarve Pro and we hope you enjoyed using the software
If you have any questions or need assistance visit the Vectric User Forum - www.vectric.com/forum or
E-mail - [email protected]
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