How to create your own two sided model in Vectric software | Two Sided Machining

Overview

This video demonstrates how to model a two-sided chess piece in Vectric Aspire V12. It covers creating the front and back halves of the model, setting up a double-sided job, copying components to the opposite side, and adding 3D tabs so the part remains held in the material during machining.

Steps

1. Open the vector file
   Open chesspiece-king-outlines.crv3dfile and switch to the 3D view. Use the right mouse button to orbit the view and the view control top face to return to a top-down view.

2. Create the chess piece body

   • Select the open body vector.
   • Use Create a shape by spinning or turning a vector.
   • Turn the vector over the job centerline.
   • Ensure Scale to exact height is off.
   • Set combine mode to Merge.
   • Name the component chess piece body and apply.

3. Create the cross

   • Select the closed cross vector.
   • Use Create a flat shape from the modeling tools.
   • Drag the control handle to set the height.
   • In the floating properties dialog, set the combine mode to Merge instead of Add.
   • Name the component cross.

4. Organize levels and components

   • In the Levels tab, rename Level 1 to models.
   • Rename the cross component to cross.
   • The component tree in the Components tab mirrors the level organization.

5. Convert the job to double-sided

   • Open Job Setup.
   • Change the job type from single-sided to double-sided.
   • Keep material thickness appropriate for the model, e.g. 1.75 inches.
   • Set the first side zero position to material surface.
   • Set the second side zero position to machine bed.
   • Set the flip direction to left-to-right.
   • Use Very High modeling resolution and click OK.

6. Use the double-sided view tools

   • Toggle the double-sided view on/off from the top toolbar.
   • Use the front/back flip button to switch sides.
   • Notice the black outline on the top face of the view control to identify the current side.

7. Verify the model fits the material

   • Select the chess piece body component and check its scaled height.
   • If the component height is about 0.745 inches, doubled it will fit inside the 1.75 inch material.

8. Copy components to the other side

   • Shift-select the body and cross components.
   • Right-click and choose Copy to the other side.
   • Rotate the view to confirm the two sides line up perfectly.
   • Hide 2D vectors and the modeling plane to inspect the model clearly.

9. Add 3D tabs for holding the part

   • Use the 3D tabs clipart group included with Aspire.
   • Insert a rectangular tab into the job.
   • Rotate, scale, and position tabs around the cross and the bottom of the chess piece.
   • Ensure the tabs merge correctly with the existing components.
   • Size the tab thickness so it remains useful when front and back sides are doubled up.
   • Use Alt + Ctrl to duplicate and constrain copy placement.
   • Use Ctrl + Shift + H to copy a tab across the job plane and mirror its position.

Key Points / Warnings

• Keep Scale to exact height disabled when creating the spun body.
• Use Merge combine mode for the cross and tabs so they correctly blend into the body instead of just adding on top.
• In double-sided job setup, the second side zero position should be the machine bed, not the material surface.
• Remember the chosen flip direction; the front/back button arrow in the toolbar indicates it.
• Use the double-sided preview when checking toolpaths so both sides of the job are visible.
• Always verify the total model thickness will fit inside the material thickness before machining.
• Mirror and position tabs carefully so they align when the project is flipped for the second side.