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equipment:woodshop:woodcnc [2025/02/20 16:18] – ↷ Links adapted because of a move operation fraserhequipment:woodshop:woodcnc [2025/03/22 16:37] (current) – fraserh
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 ===Creating a design in Carbide Create=== ===Creating a design in Carbide Create===
-At the time of writing the latest version of Carbide Create is V7 build 764.+At the time of writing the latest version of Carbide Create is V8 build 813.
  
 The is just a basic How-To guide to get you started. There are links at the bottom of the page to a series of videos from Carbide 3D as well as their full written manual. The is just a basic How-To guide to get you started. There are links at the bottom of the page to a series of videos from Carbide 3D as well as their full written manual.
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 Hovering your mouse over any of the buttons brings up a tooltip with a brief description of what it does. Hovering your mouse over any of the buttons brings up a tooltip with a brief description of what it does.
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 === Stock and machine settings === === Stock and machine settings ===
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 The first step is to enter your stock and machine settings. The first step is to enter your stock and machine settings.
  
-Click on the settings icon.+Click on the 'Job Setup' icon.
  
 {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_settings_button.png?400|}} {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_settings_button.png?400|}}
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 This brings up the 'Job Setup' box. This brings up the 'Job Setup' box.
  
 {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_jobsetup.jpg?direct|}} {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_jobsetup.jpg?direct|}}
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 Enter the width and height of your material(stock). Once applied this will also update the grid on the design screen to match. Enter the width and height of your material(stock). Once applied this will also update the grid on the design screen to match.
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 Enter the stock thickness, if you are cutting all the way through it then it's very important to get this correct.  Enter the stock thickness, if you are cutting all the way through it then it's very important to get this correct. 
  
-The 'Zero Height' dropdown has two options, Top or Bottom. This corresponds to where you set the zero point on the machine (more on this later). For this example we will be using the default option of Top.+The next two options refer to what is called the 'Zero Point'. In basic terms the zero height is the reference point for the tool's vertical position, usually set at the top of the stock, while the toolpath zero is the origin point for all tool movements, typically set at the bottom-left the stock.
  
-The Toolpath Zero drop down allows you to select where in relation to your design you are going to set the zero point on the machine. This might sound complicated but it should become clear when we cover setting the workspace zero point on the machine. For this example we will be using the default option of Lower-Left.+For this example we will be setting the Zero Height to 'Top' and the Toolpath Zero to 'Lower-Left'.
  
 Under the 'Job' section select the material type you are working with, please note that, even though Aluminium is an option, metal is not permitted to be cut on this machine. The Machine dropdown should be set to Shapeoko 3.  Under the 'Job' section select the material type you are working with, please note that, even though Aluminium is an option, metal is not permitted to be cut on this machine. The Machine dropdown should be set to Shapeoko 3. 
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 Once you have finished click 'Ok'. You should see that the white grid has changed to match the stock dimensions you entered. Once you have finished click 'Ok'. You should see that the white grid has changed to match the stock dimensions you entered.
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 +\\
  
 === Creating a basic design === === Creating a basic design ===
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 {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_createvector.jpg?direct|}}  {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_createvector.jpg?direct|}} 
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 For this example we are going to draw a square 150mm X 150mm which will be the outer edge of our design. For this example we are going to draw a square 150mm X 150mm which will be the outer edge of our design.
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 {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_shapeparam.jpg?direct|}} {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_shapeparam.jpg?direct|}}
  
-In the 'Parameters' section you can specify the physical size as well as specific parameters for a particular shape, like the corner style and radius for a rectangle.+\\ 
 + 
 +In the 'Parameters' section you can specify the physical size as well as specific parameters for a particular shape. We will set both the width and height to be 150mm.
  
-The 'Transform' section has several tools to like move, scale, rotate and mirror. +The 'Transform' section has several tools like move, scale, rotate and mirror. 
  
 The 'Edit' section has tools to edit the vector and add tabs, more on tabs below. The 'Edit' section has tools to edit the vector and add tabs, more on tabs below.
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 {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_move.jpg?direct|}} {{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_move.jpg?direct|}}
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 The Anchor point selection allows you to choose what point on the shape to use for the measurements. The Position shows the location of the selected point in relation to the bottom left corner. X is how far the shape is away left to right and Y is the distance bottom to top. By selecting the anchor point in the lower left and specifying 10mm in both the X and Y boxes the square is moved 10mm away from both the lower and left edge of my stock. The Anchor point selection allows you to choose what point on the shape to use for the measurements. The Position shows the location of the selected point in relation to the bottom left corner. X is how far the shape is away left to right and Y is the distance bottom to top. By selecting the anchor point in the lower left and specifying 10mm in both the X and Y boxes the square is moved 10mm away from both the lower and left edge of my stock.
  
 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_square.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_square.jpg?direct|}}
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 For the sake of simplicity I will not be covering any of the other 'Transform' tools, watch the video tutorials or read the manual if you want to know more about these options. For the sake of simplicity I will not be covering any of the other 'Transform' tools, watch the video tutorials or read the manual if you want to know more about these options.
  
-== Edit Tabs ==+\\ 
 + 
 +=== Edit Tabs ===
 In the 'Edit' section there are some more tools, the only one we will cover now is the Edit Tabs option. In the 'Edit' section there are some more tools, the only one we will cover now is the Edit Tabs option.
 +
 +{{:equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_edit_tabs.png?400|}}
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 If you are cutting a part out from a larger piece of stock that it clamped in place it is important that your part doesn't become separated from the rest of your stock. If I were just to cut out that 150x150mm square entirely it would become loose inside the machine possible moving and jamming the bit. This could result in the bit breaking and/or the workpiece being catapulted into the air. If you are cutting a part out from a larger piece of stock that it clamped in place it is important that your part doesn't become separated from the rest of your stock. If I were just to cut out that 150x150mm square entirely it would become loose inside the machine possible moving and jamming the bit. This could result in the bit breaking and/or the workpiece being catapulted into the air.
  
-The easiest way to ensure a part you want to fully cut out doesn't become loose is to tell the machine to leave it attached by a few small tabs. These tabs can then be manually cut and sanded flat once the CNC job is complete. There are other ways of clamping that mitigate this issue, like double sided tape, but this How-To is assuming you are using the supplied clamping kit.+The easiest way to ensure a part you want to fully cut out doesn't become loose is to tell the machine to leave it attached by a few small tabs. These tabs can then be manually cut and sanded flat once the CNC job is complete.
  
-Selecting the 'Edit Tabs' option will allow you to click anywhere along a vector line to place a tab. You can also click the 'Clear all tabs' button to delete all the tabs. I will click roughly on the midpoint of each line of the square to add a tab, we will specify the physical sizes in a later step.+Selecting the 'Edit Tabs' option will allow you to click anywhere along a vector line to place a tab. You can also click the 'Clear all tabs' button to delete all the tabs. I will click roughly on the midpoint of each line of the square to add a tab, we will specify the physical sizes when copnfiguring the tool paths later.
  
 Tabs added to the square. Tabs added to the square.
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 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_tabs.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_tabs.jpg?direct|}}
  
-== Importing designs == +\\ 
-On the main design screen, just below the Create Vector section is the Import section.+ 
 +=== Importing designs === 
 +On the main design screen, just below the Create Vector section is the Import section. If you don't see this section make sure you don't have and vectors selected on the design screen.
  
 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_import.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_import.jpg?direct|}}
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 As the title suggest, this allows you to import designs. The 'Import' button allows you to import vector files, like SVG's from your computer. The 'Trace Image' allows you to import an image file and trace around its outline to convert it into a vector file. The 'Library' button opens the built in Design Library that has a selection of basic shapes and more complicated designs. Double click a design in the library to import it. As the title suggest, this allows you to import designs. The 'Import' button allows you to import vector files, like SVG's from your computer. The 'Trace Image' allows you to import an image file and trace around its outline to convert it into a vector file. The 'Library' button opens the built in Design Library that has a selection of basic shapes and more complicated designs. Double click a design in the library to import it.
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 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_logoimport.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_logoimport.jpg?direct|}}
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 Something to note is because this file contains two vector drawings and both are selected another section becomes visible in the left hand tool bar. Something to note is because this file contains two vector drawings and both are selected another section becomes visible in the left hand tool bar.
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 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_bool.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_bool.jpg?direct|}}
  
-The Boolean section has tools to combine separate vector drawings whilst doing things like cutting one shape from another or only keeping parts that overlay. Please refer to the manual for more details.+ 
 +\\ 
 + 
 +The Boolean section has tools to combine and separate vector drawings as well as functions like cutting one shape from another or only keeping parts that overlay. Please refer to the manual for more details.
  
 For this particular design I want the cog outline but not the big H inside it, so I will click on an empty space to deselect the two vectors then click on the H to select just the H and hit Delete on my keyboard to delete it. For this particular design I want the cog outline but not the big H inside it, so I will click on an empty space to deselect the two vectors then click on the H to select just the H and hit Delete on my keyboard to delete it.
  
 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_coxsquaremisaligned.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_coxsquaremisaligned.jpg?direct|}}
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 I can now click on the cog outline to select it and use the 'Transform' tools to move it and resize it. I will select 'Scale' and resize it to 140mm X 140mm.  I can now click on the cog outline to select it and use the 'Transform' tools to move it and resize it. I will select 'Scale' and resize it to 140mm X 140mm. 
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 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_shapeparam_align.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_shapeparam_align.jpg?direct|}}
  
-This can work in a couple of ways. If one vector is selected then it can align it to the stock, if two vectors are selected you can align one vector with another. The last vector to be selected is the vector that the other are aligned to. In our case we want to align the cog with the square so I will select the cog first and the square last. + 
 +\\ 
 + 
 +This can work in a couple of ways. If one vector is selected then it can align it to the stock, if two vectors are selected you can align one vector with another. The last vector to be selected is the vector that the others are aligned to. In our case we want to align the cog with the square so I will select the cog first and the square last. 
  
 Click on the cog first then hold the Shift key and click on the square so both are now selected.  Click on the cog first then hold the Shift key and click on the square so both are now selected. 
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 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_align.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_align.jpg?direct|}}
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 The 'Align Reference' has defaulted to Last Selection automatically because we have more than one vector selected. The cog should have a solid line and the square should have a dotted line showing that the cog will be moved to align with the square. The 'Align Reference' has defaulted to Last Selection automatically because we have more than one vector selected. The cog should have a solid line and the square should have a dotted line showing that the cog will be moved to align with the square.
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 We want to align the centres so we are going to select the middle button in the 'Align Centres' section to align the cog in the centre of the square in both the X (side to side) and Y (top to bottom) axis. We want to align the centres so we are going to select the middle button in the 'Align Centres' section to align the cog in the centre of the square in both the X (side to side) and Y (top to bottom) axis.
  
-The cog is not aligned with the outer square.+The cog is now aligned with the outer square.
  
 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_coxsquarealigned.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_coxsquarealigned.jpg?direct|}}
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 The last thing we are going to do it add some text inside the cog. In the 'Create Vector' section in the tool bar we are going to click the 'Create Text' tool. The last thing we are going to do it add some text inside the cog. In the 'Create Vector' section in the tool bar we are going to click the 'Create Text' tool.
  
-This opens the Create Test toolbar and adds the text to the centre of your design space.+This opens the Create Text toolbar and adds the text to the centre of your design space.
  
 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_text.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_text.jpg?direct|}}
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 You can then use the tools on the left to input the text you want, select font size and spacing, change the alignment of the text change it from straight text to arcing text. For my design I am going to use the parameters below. You can then use the tools on the left to input the text you want, select font size and spacing, change the alignment of the text change it from straight text to arcing text. For my design I am going to use the parameters below.
  
 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_text_param.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_mainscreen_text_param.jpg?direct|}}
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 I can then use the same steps from above to align the test with the centre of the cog or square. I can then use the same steps from above to align the test with the centre of the cog or square.
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 {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_finished_design.jpg?direct|}} {{equipment:woodshop:woodcnc:carbide_create_finished_design.jpg?direct|}}
  
-For this How-To the design is not complete. The next step is to generate the toolpaths for the machine.+\\ 
 + 
 +For this How-To the design is now complete. The next step is to generate the toolpaths for the machine.
  
 Don't forget to save your work by clicking on File - Save. Don't forget to save your work by clicking on File - Save.
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 ===Generating toolpaths in Carbide Create=== ===Generating toolpaths in Carbide Create===
  • equipment/woodshop/woodcnc.1740068300
  • Last modified: 6 weeks ago
  • by fraserh