How to manage keep-out zones in Vectric software | Toolpath FAQ's

Overview

This video demonstrates how to create and manage keep-out zones in Vectric software to prevent toolpaths from colliding with clamps or other obstructions on the CNC bed. It covers drawing closed-vector boundary zones, applying clearance offsets, recalculating toolpaths, and understanding the software’s safety warnings when a keep-out zone is violated.

Steps

1. Open a file and review toolpaths
   Open a file containing widgets and their pre-created toolpaths. Switch to the Toolpaths tab and tile the 2D and 3D views so both are visible. Check toolpath visibility to see where the cutter will travel, especially across gaps between parts.

2. Identify clamp locations
   Determine where clamps are positioned on the material. If the rapid Z gap is not sufficient to clear the clamps, toolpaths that cross those areas will need keep-out zones.

3. Draw closed vectors for keep-out zones
   Switch to the Design tab. Draw closed vectors representing the clamp safe zones. For example, draw a rectangle of the desired size (e.g., 10“ x 2“). Copy it to the opposite edge of the material using Ctrl+Shift+V.

4. Open the Manage Keep-Out Zones tool
   Return to the Toolpaths tab and click the Manage Keep-Out Zones icon.

5. Create keep-out zones from the vectors
   Select the vector(s) that define the clamp areas.

   • Optionally enter a Clearance value to add a border around the vector.
   • Click Create from Selection.
     The keep-out zone is displayed as a red “danger zone” in the 3D view.

6. Check your toolpaths
   After creating the keep-out zones, recalculate/view toolpaths. The toolpath should now avoid the clamp areas. If needed, edit the keep-out zone and add a clearance (e.g., 0.5“) to ensure the tool fully clears the clamp.

7. Recalculate and save toolpaths
   Once satisfied, recalculate the toolpaths and save them using the normal save toolpath process.

8. Understand that keep-out zones are independent of source vectors
   The keep-out zones have no relation to the original vectors used to create them. You can delete the source vectors and the keep-out zones will remain active.

Key Points / Warnings

• Keep-out zones require closed vectors to be created successfully.
• A clearance offset can be applied around the vector to give extra safety margin.
• Keep-out zones are independent of the vectors used to create them; deleting the original vectors does not remove the zones.
• If a toolpath violates a keep-out zone, the software will show warnings and prevent saving the toolpath output.
• Error message when saving with violated keep-out zones:
  “One or more toolpaths could not abide by the defined keep-out zones. Check if the keep-out zones and their clearance are defined correctly.”
• To remove a keep-out zone, use the Clear button in the Manage Keep-Out Zones form, then recalculate toolpaths normally.