This page gives a brief overview of some of the major new features in VCarve Wizard 2.0.
Flat Bottom V-Carving
The Create VCarve Toolpath form is totally new and now includes more powerful and flexible machining strategies that make the software even more suitable for general sign making, engraving and wood carving.
Areas wider than the tool diameter can now be machined using an area clearance fill strategy with options for Multiple Z Level passes (Pass Depth) that reduce the tool loading, and the option to limit the Cut Depth to create Flat Bottom results.
Cutter selection is now from a Tool Database making it much simpler and reducing the possibility of calculating toolpaths with incorrect speeds, feed rates and tool numbers etc.
A Start Depth option allows VCarving / Engraving to be machined inside a pocket region.
Flat Bottom VCarving at multiple Z levels
V-Bit / Engraving Tool machines the complete job
Flat Bottom vcarving can be done using a single V-Bit / Engraving tool to clear the pocket region and also carve the detail, as shown above.
Flat Bottom VCarving using two tools
Alternatively, an End Mill can be used to machine the flat pocket region, followed by the V-Bit / Engraving Tool, which vcarves the detail, side walls and areas where the End Mill was too large to machine.
An End Mill machines to Flat depth followed by V-Bit / Engraving Tool
The animation below shows the flat bottom area clearance toolpath followed by the carving toolpath. Note that the carving tool is only used to machine areas the flat bottom tool could not reach.
VCarving Areas Wider Than The Tool Diameter
Version 1.1 of VCarve Wizard could only v-carve designs up to the diameter of the carving tool. This restriction has been completely removed in Version 2.0. The software will now generate multiple clearance passes with the carving tool to allow any width of design to be machined with any diameter tool.
Carving tool making multiple passes to clear areas wider than tool diameter
2D Machining
The 2D machining capabilities of VCarve Wizard have been massively improved. Version 1.1 only supported a simple profile pass outside of the selected vectors with an end mill tool. For Version 2.0 the following options are available ...
Machine on the Outside of the selected vectors
Machine on the Inside of the selected vectors
Machine On / along the selected vectors
Pocket machine inside the selected vectors
These new strategies can be used with all of the supported cutter shapes (V-Bit, Ball nose, End Mill and Engraving see below for more details) and make the software much more flexible and powerful.
The user has control over the start depth of the toolpath as well as the cutting depth. This allows for example pockets to be created inside already machined pockets.
The image on the left shows the new 2D Machining form. As well as choosing a machining strategy from Pocket, Outside, Inside and On, the user is also able to control the cutting direction of the tool using the Climb and Conventional radio buttons.
The tool is selected from the tool database and can be any supported tool type.
Feed rates, pass depths and stepovers are all stored with the tool definition in the tool database for instant recall.
The Edit... button can be used to modify the tool parameters just for this toolpath.
Tool Database
The Tool database makes cutter management and selection very quick and easy, and reduces the possibility of programming jobs with incorrect cut depths and speeds and feeds.
New tools can be added, copied from existing tools, deleted and ordered. All of the cutting parameters are stored in the database.
To open and manage the Tool Database click Edit > Tool Database
When a New Tool is added to the database, the Type, Geometry and size details are automatically included in the name field. The name of each tool can also be changed to whatever is required.
Copying an existing Tool creates a new tool that has exactly the same properties, but the Name is updated to include the number (1) in brackets.
Deleting a Tool removes it from the list.
The order that tools are displayed can be changed using the Up & Down Arrows to the right of the Delete button.
Extended Tool Support
Version 1.1 only supported V-Bit tools for carving and End Mill tools for profile / cut outs. In Version 2.0 the tool types have been expanded significantly.
The additional tool types can be used for all toolpath strategies making cutting strategies more flexible and creating even more realistic job preview images. For example, ball nose and v-bit tools can be used to cut grooves or slots and the actual results can be previewed and saved.
Engraving Conical cutter with Flat Tip diameter
Ball nose Cutter diameter
V-Bit Included angle to a point + Max Diameter
End Mill Cutter diameter
The Toolpath List now includes a thumbnail image that shows the type of cutter being used.
Note - Placing the cursor over tool thumbnail image displays a summary of the tool geometry as a 'tool tip'.
Import Filters
The Import filters have been enhanced making them even more robust.
PDF import has been added – Note this only imports the vector data from the file.
Assuming you have the ability to save to a PDF file, this facility allows files such as Word documents to be imported, and machined, which is great for designing and cutting jobs that include lots of text (use the advanced word processing tools such as font and paragraph formatting, spell checking etc. Save the file in PDF format and then directly import and machine).
In addition, the internal consistency checking now identifies and ignores more invalid features in imported files. These enhanced checks include identifying zero length vectors and zero area vectors (e.g. 2 straight lines on top of each other forming a closed vector).
Identifying Depth Of Machining
The display in the toolpath summary of the maximum depth of a toolpath has been enhanced. In addition, it is now possible to find the maximum depth for any part of the toolpath using the preview image in the 3D view. Moving the cursor over the preview will show the X, Y and Z coordinates of the model at the cursor position in the right hand edge of the status bar.
