How to set-up your machine configuration in Vectric software | Toolpath FAQ's

Overview

This tutorial explains how to manage machine configurations in Vectric software, including adding custom machines, associating post-processors, controlling post-processor versions, and setting default posts. It also shows how these settings affect the Tool Database and Save Toolpath dialogs.

Steps

1. Open Machine → Machine Configuration.
2. Review the pre-installed default machine configurations (desktop, large, etc.) and their associated post-processors.
3. Click Add a custom machine to the database and activate it.
4. Enter the machine details:
   • Name
   • Manufacturer
   • Model
   • Controller
   • Width
   • Height
   • Units
5. If no post-processors are associated, the software displays a warning and asks whether to associate posts now or later. Choose Now.
6. Click Select post-processor to associate with this machine.
   • Scroll or type a letter to jump to that section of the alphabetical list.
   • Highlight a post-processor and click Select.
   • Optionally use the version dropdown to choose a previous version of that post-processor.
7. Add additional post-processors as needed (e.g. metric version for the same machine).
8. Use right-click options to:
   • View the post-processor contents.
   • Change log to see version history.
   • Customize to create an editable copy of the post-processor.
   • Delete a customized post-processor.
   • Make Default to set the default post for this machine.
   • Make Default for Laser to set a laser-specific default.
   • Remove to remove the association between the post and the machine.
9. Click Apply / OK to save the machine configuration.
10. Verify the new machine appears in the Tool Database and Save Toolpath menu.

Key Points / Warnings

• A machine with no associated post-processors triggers a warning: “the active machine does not have any associated post-processors.”
• Associating post-processors to a machine allows the software to:
  • Default to the last used post-processor per machine.
  • Better organize post-processors.
  • Control which version of a post-processor is used.
• If you choose Later, the software falls back to listing all post-processors from the database.
• The post-processor list has an option to download the latest post-processor database.
• Posts can be installed to a custom post-processor directory using the Install Post-Processor to Custom Post-Processor Directory option.
• The MyPostP folder is reserved for custom post-processors and is identified by a pen icon.
• If a custom post-processor is deleted, the operation cannot be undone.
• The View option in the machine configuration menu shows the selected version of the post, while the full post-processor list always shows the latest version.
• Setting a post as default makes it appear first in the Save Toolpath dialog, but other associated posts remain available in the dropdown.
• Use Help → Post-Processor Editing Guide to learn more about editing post-processors.