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Lacados LAKManual Vectric Aspire V12

How to add clearance tool to v-carving in Vectric VCarve & Aspire | Getting Started

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

This Getting Started video shows how to add a clearance tool to a V-Carve toolpath in Vectric VCarve Desktop, VCarve Pro, and Aspire. It also covers importing and tracing a bitmap to create closed vectors, laying out an oval sign with a raised border and hanging holes, then generating a V-Carve toolpath that uses an end mill for rough clearing before the V-bit finishes the carving.

Steps

Section titled “Steps”

  1. Create and set up the job file

    • Click New File.
    • Use a single-sided job.
    • Set job size to about 15 x 10 inches for a 13-inch-wide sign.
    • Set material thickness to approximately 0.5 inches, then re-measure later with calipers.
    • Use inches, zero from the material surface, and set the XY datum to the bottom left corner.
    • Choose granite or a similar material for realistic previews.

  2. Import the bitmap

    • Go to File Operations > Import > Bitmap.
    • In the tutorials folder, select open text.png.
    • The bitmap appears in the job space.
    • Note: the bitmap itself cannot be V-Carved directly because V-Carving requires closed vectors.

  3. Trace the bitmap to create vectors

    • Select the bitmap.
    • Open Bitmap Trace.
    • Choose Trace a black and white bitmap.
    • Enable Group vectors and click Preview.
    • In the Layers tab, change the layer color to blue so the new vectors are visible in the 3D view.
    • Accept the trace.
    • Delete the imported bitmap and the bitmap layer.

  4. Organize layers

    • Rename the traced vector layer open text.
    • Create a new layer for the remaining sign vectors and color it black.

  5. Draw the outer oval shape

    • In the 3D view, go to Create Vector > Draw Ellipse.
    • Draw an ellipse and enter width 13 inches and height 8.5 inches.
    • Close the ellipse tool and center the shape using Align Selected Objects > Center in Job.

  6. Create the raised border

    • Keep the outer oval selected.
    • Use Offset and Layout Tools.
    • Offset inward by 0.5 inches.
    • Keep the original oval and confirm the new offset vector appears.

  7. Add hanging holes

    • Go to Create Vector > Draw Circle.
    • Create a 0.25-inch-diameter circle and position it roughly inside the border area.