Downloading and installing instructions for V-Carve Makerspace Edition

The VCarve Makerspace Edition will only work with the MakerFX CNC routers: Forest CNC. This installer is not the same as the ones for purchase as it is specifically designed for makerspaces. Please follow the links in Slack as mentioned in this video.

This video walks through the process, and the transcript includes the links.

Before the training, either online or in person, the first thing one needs to do is to install Vectric's VCarve Pro software. The version we use is a little different from the standard retail version as it is designed specifically for maker spaces.

The information we are about to go over is also stored in the MakerFX Slack system, specifically at located in the #mfx-cnc channel as a pinned post.

Under the Pinned items is a link to the proper version of Vectric VCarve Pro to download. VCarve is only available for Windows computers. In later videos we will cover how to import designs from other pieces of software such as Mac based programs.

Underneath that in the pinned items is the code you will need to activate and link VCarve to Maker FX. I recommend copying and pasting this code when it is time to enter it.

Double click the file you downloaded to install the software. It might need to install various supporting components.

Once it is done, launch the software. You can skip through the first few prompts which are for Online Account, Search for Machine, and Configure Machine.

These setting are already set for the machine at the space. By using the Makerspace Edition these settings are not needed.

To enable the Makerspace Edition mode, go to the help menu. Click on About VCarve Pro Trial Edition. In the resulting window that appears click on Enter Makerspace ID. Then enter, pasting it is recommended. After entering the code, exit the software and relaunch it.

When the splash screen appears, if it was done correctly, instead of seeing “Trial Version”, it will show Makerspace Client Edition. This step is important. If you do not see this screen, that means the software is not properly authorized. If the makerspace mode is not enabled, any work that is done will not be able to be used at the Makerspace.

When the software launches you will notice that it has multiple pieces of information on the screen. These are very useful resources. There are many video tutorials, sample projects with files, and other online resources.

Congratulations you have successfully installed the software.