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equipment:woodshop:woodcnc [2025/03/21 15:33] – fraserhequipment:woodshop:woodcnc [2025/03/22 16:37] (current) – fraserh
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 === 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.
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 +{{: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.+ 
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 +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. + 
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 +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.+\\ 
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 +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.1742571236
  • Last modified: 13 days ago
  • by fraserh