MakerFX Wiki!:VCarve Tutorial

Overview

VCarve is one of the many tools you can use to create designs for the X-Carve CNC. MakerFX has a fully functional Makerspace edition of VCarve Pro on the CNC controller computer which is available for members for use. To learn more about VCarve, visit their website.

Tutorial

This is a very simple tutorial that steps you through the process of creating a new VCarve file through preparing the GCode for the CNC to use. This tutorial is broken down into the following sections:

• Creating a new VCarve Job
• Drawing your designs
• Creating the Toolpaths
• Saving your GCode

Creating a new VCarve Job

1. Open VCarve using the shortcut on the desktop
2. Either open an existing model, or create a new one. For this tutorial, we'll create a new one.

   

3. From the JOB SETUP panel, you need to enter the details of the material you'll be using. The image below shows the most important settings:
   • ITEM 1: the width and height of your stock
   • ITEM 2: the thickness of the stock
   • ITEM 3: the XY "starting position" of the tool for the job (NOTE: this needs to match where you actually plan to align the tool head when setting up the machine)
   • ITEM 4: the units you are using when setting up the job.

     

4. When you are done setting up your job, click the OK button. The Job Setup panel will close and you will be shown a blank VCarve design screen.