Brand New User Interface

Version 12 brings you a brand new modernised user interface with huge improvements to enhance your workflow and save you time. The interface has enhanced DPI scaling support, which makes the software look more vivid and sharp especially on high-resolution screens, you can access both the vector and component tools from one panel, so you don’t have to toggle between them and you can use the drawing and 3D tools without changing tabs, reducing mouse miles and saving you time.

Sketch Carving

Sketch Carving is a brand new feature that converts a high quality image or 3D model into a VCarve toolpath. The resulting toolpaths are quicker to machine than a 3D toolpath, and they produce impressive stylistic results with very little design input.

VCarve Inlay Toolpath

The new VCarve inlay toolpath makes the process of creating VCarve inlays quicker and easier. The toolpath automatically creates both the plug and pocket toolpaths, mirrors your geometry, and even puts the toolpaths on the right sheets. *VCarve Pro Only

Keep-out Zones

Keep-out Zones allow you to designate areas of your work bed the machine should avoid during rapid moves. This might be places where clamps, jigs, and fixtures could interfere with the safe running of the machine. *Pro Only

Drawing in the 3D View

You can now draw directly in the 3D view. Each tool allows you to modify key properties of shapes directly on the shape themselves using handles for easy manipulation, reducing the need for you to have to go back and forth within the forms.

Vectors in the 3D View

It is now possible to toggle the drawing of vectors in the 3D view. This is useful if you ever want to see how your geometry lines up with parts of your model or machined parts of your simulation.

Components Dropdown

You can now switch between active levels using the dropdown menu on the document toolbar. It is also possible to adjust the visibility and combine modes of levels, as well as add new levels directly from this menu. You no longer need to go to the component tree for most modelling tree operations.

Orthographic View Mode

The orthographic view removes the perspective mode on the 3D view, this is useful for when you want to see two-dimensional objects over the top of the 3D view, for example if you want to see how the parts of a toolpath look when lined up alongside the 3D view.

View Control

The view control is an interactive shape which allows you to quickly manipulate your 3D view. You can click on any of the faces to adjust the orientation of your job in the 3D space, or drag the control itself to dynamically change how you want your job to be orientated within your view.

View Toolbar

The new view toolbar allows you to quickly and easily show or hide items from your views. You can choose whether or not you want to show; vectors, bitmaps, toolpaths, keep-out zones and components, allowing you to focus on specific tools needed for your job.

Unified Import

In this release we’ve unified vector and bitmap import so you can import all of your 2D data files from one single button.

3D Interactive Help

When working in the 3D view you now have access to live help prompts where the software will track your current tool or action and provide you with handy tips on how to use the feature, whilst providing you quick access to the relevant Help documentation

Nesting Filler Parts

We’ve introduced a new option in the nesting form that allows you to fill your sheet with a given part, this is useful for scenarios where you want to fill your sheet with parts but don’t know exactly how many will fit and so the software calculates that for you. Simply mark the part as “filler” using the check box in the form and the software will identify the filler part with a green star in the 2D view, hit preview and see the results.

You can also combine filler parts with other nested items, for example if you want to nest 20 of one part and then fill the remaining space with a filler part you can do just that. First select the part you want to nest, enter the number of copies required and press apply. Then select your filler part and mark it as 'filler' and press apply, then preview the results. You can add in further filler parts where the software will prioritize the largest filler part before moving to smaller filler parts, enabling you to maximize your material and minimize waste.

Tool Database Improvements

In the tool database you can now add clickable links in the notes field. This is perfect for adding the webpages of where your tool was originally purchased. In the tool database simply paste the link in the notes section and the software will store this information. To access the link a simple CTRL and click will take you directly to the website in your default browser.

Remote Tool Database

We’ve introduced the ability to share your tool database using a link from your V&Co account. This is particularly useful for users wanting to share their tool data and settings without the end user overwriting their own database.

The owner of a tool database can update their database and push newer versions that will get propagated to users who have subscribed to a database, where they will be notified in the tool database form that an updated version is available.

Define Circular Leads By Angle

When using circular leads in the profile toolpath you can now lead onto the edge of the part at a specified angle without having to guess the distance. It’s worth noting that the maximum angle will be capped at 90 degrees.

Pre-populated File Templates

We’ve included a set of predefined templates based on standard industry sheet sizes and thicknesses, all of which can be accessed through the Vectric files folder. Simply open a new template, choose your desired sheet and off you go.

New Laser Overscan Functionality

We’ve made improvements to the way in which we handle the laser output when using the laser picture toolpath and the hatch fill strategy in the laser cut and fill toolpath.

The new over-scan field ensures that the laser head runs past the edge of the picture or hatch at a percentage that you can set in the form, by doing this it will help eliminate any overburn that may be visible by turning the laser off exactly at the end of the picture or hash line, whilst the machine over scans at a given percentage.

*Please note: the add on laser module is required for this enhancement.

New Laser Geometry Selector & Toolpath Templates

We have included the vector selector option in the laser cut and fill toolpath allowing you to select vectors based on filters that you set in the vector selector dialogue, this also opens up the opportunity for the saving and loading of toolpath templates with laser projects.

*Please note: the add-on laser module is required for this enhancement.

Unleash Your Creativity with VCarve Desktop

• 2D Import & Editing: VCarve Desktop can import 2D designs from other programs but also provides a full set of drawing and editing tools.
• 2D & 2.5D Toolpath Options: The toolpath options cover all typical 2D routing operations such as Profiling, Pocketing, Auto-Inlays, Drilling and Thread Milling as well as 2.5D strategies.
• 3D Rough & Finish: For 3D you can Rough and Finish the model and there are options to project 2D and 2.5D toolpaths onto the 3D surface.
• Customize & Control: Each toolpath includes appropriate options to customize the settings and provide a high level of control for different types of operation.
• 3D Model Import: VCarve Desktop includes the ability to import multiple Vectric 3D models as well as a single 3rd party model, where they can be assembled to suit your design.
• Instant Preview Updates: All toolpaths can be previewed to show just how the part will look when it is actually cut, this allows instant feedback to allow toolpaths to be further optimized.