First CNC

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Open VCarve Pro

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Start a new job

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Set Dimensions of Board

• Board sizes must be put in as decimals. (Just divide the numbers. ¼=.25
• Origin (0,0,0) is the bottom left corner on material surface.

x

x

y

z

z

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y

Adding Text/Lettering

• Click the A symbol to add lettering
• Type in the Text Box
• Adjust font and settings as desired
• Hover or the pink words, click and hold to move.
• Close when finished.

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Selecting Items

• Not Selected (Black)
• Selected (pink)
• You need to be selected items make changes and toolpaths.

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Moving, Scaling, Rotating, Sizing Objects

• Click font once to select. (pink)
• Click again to bring up handlebars.
• Handle bars allow movement of the object.
• Scaling/Sizing (Squares with white center – 9 total)
• Rotating (Blue Squares - Hold shift while adjusting to )
• Movement (Click on the letters and hold to move) You can also use the arrow keys on the keyboard.

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Aligning Objects according to the Material

• Align Center Horizontally
• Align Center Horizontally and Vertically
• Align Center Vertically

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Find Image

• Search for an image on google or bing.
• Find a black and white clipart(Best for cutting) On google click search tools and then black and white.

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Create Lines from Image

• Make Sure Image is selected (Pink)
• Click Trace Bitmap Button (Looks like a bird.)

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• Click Black and White
• Scroll the threshold until image looks it’s best.
• Click Preview, If the lines look good, click Apply, if not, make adjustments and click preview again.
• (Only click apply once. If you click it twice it will create two sets of lines on top of each other and will cause problems later.
• Click close.

Toolpaths Tab

• Open Toolpaths Tab.
• Pin it so it won’t move in and out.

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Click on V-Carve Tool

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Select the Correct Tool

• Click Select
• Click Machine Configuration Management
• Click on Search Online for your Machine
• Select the correct machine settings and download.

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Select the Correct Tool Continued

• Click Yes
• Click OK
• Select Softwood
• Click V-Bit (90.0 - ½”)
• Click Select

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Select Lines to Make Toolpaths

• First Example will only cut the “Duff”. Pink means that it is selected.
• We can make different toolpaths for different objects.
• Different ways to select objects.
• Hold Shift and click to select multiple objects.
• Click on screen an push Ctrl+A to select all.
• Draw a box around the items that you want to select by holding click and dragging toward the opposite corner.

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V-Carve Settings

• Start Depth: .03
• Drops the bit down a bit so it will cut a bit deeper. I have found it gets better results.
• Flat Depth: Checked and .15
• Vcarve Toolpaths cut in a V-Shape downwards until they meet. If lines are far apart they will cut through the material.
• Click Calculate

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Preview the Cut

• Lines
• Red Lines (Movement above material)
• Teal Lines (Tool moving down.)
• Blue Lines (Cut lines)

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• Note: Tool Starts in the bottom Left.
• This is x, and y origin.
• Click Preview all Toolpaths.
• Reset Preview if you already had toolpaths that were showing.
• Check the box next to toolpath name to select different toolpaths if needed.
• Click Close when finished.

Export Toolpaths

• Check the box next to toolpaths that you want to export.
• Click Save Toolpath Button

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• Scroll down the left until you can click This PC.
• Find the USB and click it.
• File Name: Your Name or project name.
• Click Save

• Check Selected Toolpath
• Verify the toolpaths to be saved.
• Machine: Shark SD 120
• Post Processor: Next Wave CNC (inch)(*.tap)
• Click Save Toolpath to File