Named sizes, saved with the drawing. Type a name into a dimension (or arithmetic, like dado * 2): change the parameter here, and every dimension using it follows.
No parameters yet. Add one below, like thickness = 18.
Proposed from the drawing: holes and slots cut through, round holes a bit fits drilled, and the parts cut out with tabs. Untick any you don’t want. Nothing is added until you press Add.
Left out
Make the spacing at least your bit diameter, so the cutter fits between parts. Anything already on the sheet that isn’t being nested stays put and is avoided.
Letter height is the height of a capital letter. For through-cuts, choose a font from the Stencil group: they keep the middles of letters like O, A and R attached so they don’t fall out.
Both halves of a V-carve inlay from the shapes selected: the pocket in the base, and the plug, mirrored, in the inlay piece. Cut both with the same bit.
The material you’re cutting and where the machine’s zero will be. Everything else is measured from these.
Units apply everywhere: the material size, dimensions, typed values, the measure tool and the readout. They’re saved with the drawing, so it opens in them on any computer; new drawings start in the last ones chosen. A unit written after a number always wins, so 25mm works while drawing in inches, and 1/2" works while drawing in mm.
Match this to where you set X0 Y0 on the machine in 454 Control. Changing it keeps your parts where they are on the material.
Used whenever something cuts right through the material, so measure it rather than trusting the label. Z zero must match where you zero the tool in 454 Control.
Between holes, slots and chamfers inside a part an Outside profile cuts out, the bit lifts only this far above the material instead of 6 mm. On a part with many holes that saves a lot of time. Leave it empty to lift 6 mm everywhere. Moves onto, off and between parts always lift 6 mm. Use it only when nothing stands on your parts: no screws or clamps on them. 1 mm or more.
Used to draw the machine’s cutting area (Guides → Machine area), to see how the material and parts sit on the bed.
Shared with 454 Control, so both apps look the same.
Lines and polylines, vectors and construction lines alike, snap to 0°, 45°, 90° and so on as you draw. Hold Shift to lock to the nearest one.
No VCarve? and add your tools yourself.
The library stays in this browser and is shared with 454 Control and 454 CAM.
Or measure it on the drawing:
Toolpath previews are the cutter-offset ghosts VCarve draws for calculated toolpaths. Usually you want the drawing only.