CNC Basics designing your first project

In this video I will walk you through designing your first project using VCarve Pro. One of the first things I suggest you make is a set of hold downs, and a wasteboard. Click the link below to see my original wasteboard design video.
Original Wasteboard video
• Designing and creating...

[@vansavage4027]

I'm a guitar builder. I'm considering a cnc and your videos are very helpful. Thanks

[@DaVidJimenez-to6xj]

Great video, thanks for taking the time to go step by step, it really helped me a lot with this information, I'm a newbie CNC and sometimes I'm lost in the sauce, so again thanks

[@curtbrooks7495]

Thanks man your making me feel a lot better about getting in to this.

[@SteveJohnston]

I just got my first CNC - Shapeoko XXL Dewalt and am learning a lot. Your videos are great and I really appreciate your time and sharing of your knowledge. I made your tie-downs as my first project using VCarve Pro and they came out great! Had some mis-steps, but overall, huge learning and a lot of fun! Thank you!!

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Glad the videos helped you. Thanks for watching.

[@moonpaws1]

Darth Vader...what did you do to the host. :)

[@jimhester2004]

I just discovered your channel, and it's great! I really like the way you keep the explanation of the process simple for beginners. Don't get me wrong. The Vectric tutorials are superb. But they're so fast paced, and give you so much information that it's a bit overwhelming for someone like me who is starting with zero knowledge. Just in watching your videos this morning, I feel ready to process my spoilboard and make wooden hold down clamps. Thank you so much for this, and I'm looking forward to all that you do in the future.

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Jim Hester thanks for the compliments. I haven't had time to make any videos I. The last few weeks but I'm hoping to get back to it by this weekend.

[@oscarreyes4511]

I know this is an old video, but I know understand why Fusion 360 is a bit complicated for some people. In Fusion 360, you create the object (in 3D), then you make the tool path for it. In Vcarve you make the tool path so it can create the object. I hope I am making sense. For what I have seen. In Vcarve you have to know the dimensions of the screws, nuts, bolts, etc if you want to make something accurate. In Fusion 360, you just go to their extensive library and import the nut, bolt, screw, etc, into your project and make the pocket or hole using the imported 3D nut or screw as a reference. It can even create threads for you. Just tell Fusion 360 which bolt or screw you want to use and where you want the thread and Fusion 360 will do it for you. Its easier for me to create the 3D object first, then create the tool path for it. I have a college degree in computer animation, so creating 3D objects is easy for me. I think Fusion 360 will be better for complex designs and for reusing your designs. You can create an object in one scene, then import it into another scene. That way you can carve multiple shape objects without limitations.

[@cwebs1000]

To drill 1/4 inch holes you MUST use a 2 lip end mill. You can't drill with a 4 lip end mill. It does not cut in the center.

[@jimmercier5308]

Very impressed by you videos. like the way you explain and keep it simple. keep up the good work.

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for watching.

[@laser-man]

The surfacing bit by Whiteside Part #6210 named spoilboard surfacing bit, for those who may be interested.

[@johnware5312]

If your router will not take half inch shaft bits go to your big box mprovement store and grab a 3/4 diameter bit with a 1/4 shaft. Not as fast as the 1 inch one but it is faster han using a quarter inch bit.. I HIGHLY recommend ramps, some bits wont cut straight down and in any case, it will prolong tool life. Depending on your controller you may have to do separate files per bit, BUT if your controller is smart enough put them ALL in the same path. I use mach 3 and it DOES support multi tool files..Once again, another good basic tutoral.

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Good idea. That would definitely work.

[@mikejohnson8524]

Thanks for all the videos! Really helpful and helped me make the decision to get the XXL as well as what I need with it! Thanks!

[@nathanwhughes]

Thank you great video

[@wck2318]

Excllent video, thank you. Im new to cnc macining, so ive been watching tutorial vids like yours, I havent purchased a cnc yet but been teaching myself the software first thanks for sharing, I was hoping you would have shown how to do the groove on the other side of these grips,. But thanks again very clear explantion of how to do it.

[@kossisossou8345]

Thanks for your explanation. I am a beginner

[@OutlawWoodworking]

Great video thanks

[@Abdellah230]

i´ve learned a lot from you ... thank you soooo much Sir

[@dgramsz2146]

I have a S3XL. I am using Aspire 8.5 ... the Vcarve is essentially the same. I use the Shapeoko post-processor when I save my toolpaths. That being said, I have run into some quirks when running long jobs. I've had the machine just stop communicating and I have had it also take off with a mind of it's own. I wonder if the grbl/inches is the better way to go.

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

It is the only one I have used. The longest job I have run was about 4.5 hours, and never had a problem. I have had everything freeze up in the middle of a job before, but I think I figured out it was my computer not the machine or motion itself.

[@hanspijpers2100]

Why not include the rabbet in the 1/4 bit toolpath ?

[@tristo1987]

Thanks so much for this. So helpful.

[@mcmasterwade]

Thanks for the video. Do you use anything else besides VCarve Pro? newbie CNC and just not sure which software to start off with, with our desktop CNC machine. Any advise is appreciated!

[@SpideyScott72]

how do you determine how many passes to do?

[@coffeelazuly]

Do I need make these hold down on a cnc? I will take forever,

[@justa_grandpa]

Did I miss the part on cutting the rabbet in the end of the hold-down?

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

No. I didnt want to make the video any longer than is was already. I figured it was a pretty easy process

[@Tj-oq2lw]

Thanks for the video ! Helps a lot!

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Thanks for watching. Glad it helps.

[@thediscoman2001]

can you explain why your voice has totaly changed through the video its like u have morphed into someone els totaly

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

I did the voiceover for the VCarve tutorial, and apparently somewhere in there I changed the pitch setting not realizing it, and rather than do it over I just kept it. I was wondering how long it was going to take someone to ask.

[@thediscoman2001]

been impressed with your videos i use aspire 9 now for a while and as i said im impressed with some not all your videos

[@fuzywazacolin]

All that's missing is some breathing sounds and a deathstar.

[@victorpierson2722]

Great video. Very informative. I'm brand new to the software. Wouldn't it have been easier to figure out all the toolpaths for a single hold down, then copy and paste that, as opposed to having to go back and select the individual lines on 12 different objects and create the toolpaths? Also, I would have liked to see how you cut out the rabbits, and how to align everything properly when you flipped the board over to make sure it made the cuts in the right spot. Thanks!

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Unless there is a technique I don't know the toolpath's have to be generated that way. You can copy the design, but not the toolpath. I didn't use the machine to cut the rabbets. I use a palm router, however the board would not need to be flipped over to do it on the machine because the side facing up is already the bottom where the rabbet would go.

[@patriot3820]

hey STKYE - great video! Also liked your wasteboard video; ordered tee-nuts to do the same last night after watching yours. question - what size bolts do you normally use? I searched pretty hard but couldn't find an "assortment" with different lengths; or did you get the bolts from Lowes / etc? one note on the hold-down video - if you use layers, it will make it easier to "group" the similar items. I'm betting you know that already and are trying to keep the first projects simple; I came across layers working on stacking text, and they really simplified a lot of what I do (I hate-hate-hate trying to click a bunch of items) subscribed - looking forward to more. If I can figure out the whole record-postprocess-etc part I want to do a channel similar to yours

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Thanks. As far as using layers goes I know they are useful, and make some things easier, I just have never used them. I probably should though. The bolts I bought at lowes. If I remember correctly they come in bags of 2 or 4. A little pricey there, but like you already said I couldn't find an assortment online I liked either. As far as the making videos goes I use 2 programs OBS, and Audacity to make the videos for VCarve. They are free and easy to use. OBS is the screen capture software, and Audacity is the audio. If you can figure out a CAD program it should be a breeze to use them. Always like watching other peoples videos there's always more to learn. Thanks again.

[@outkastjeepz5034]

do you have a video on how you built your enclosure ?

[@NERFNERDify]

Hello I am about to make my first board- what size t nuts and bolts fit your boards hole dimensions plse thanks!

[@billyreasner9168]

Ordered my XXL today and have been tinkering with the carbide create software download from the website. Looking for a grid function in the program to create a wasteboard like you made in another video. Does it not exist? Did you spend anytime learning with the included software or did you go direct to aftermarket CAD programs? I believe I saw you using VCarve.

[@javiergomez-zu5sj]

Can work with my CNC 3040 4 axis only with the software it has o I need to buy Mach 3 CNC or others softwares

[@anannaria]

The intro is much to loud for the rest of the video. Every time when the intro starts i have to adjust the volume.

[@dgramsz2146]

Well done videos, one question, what are the dots on the vcarve workspace?

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

It's just a grid used for reference. I believe it can be changed however you like .25, .50, 1.0 increments etc.

[@dgramsz2146]

Thanks for the quick response.

[@eddinatale7815]

Good afternoon from Guantanamo Bay. I have the Shapeoko XXL, I was just watching your video. the one where you made the clamps. I noticed my system is doing something yours isn't. the Z axis plate on my system has a lot of play, how do I remove the play?

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

Try tightening the eccentric nuts that the v wheels are on. The v wheels need to be snug enough to get rid of any play but you still need to be able to move things with minimal force.

[@eddinatale7815]

That did it. Thanks

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

No problem. Glad you got it going

[@Justme-cn6eh]

What happened?!?!?! The first vid you said you where breaking it down to its simplest form and easy instructions. The first vid was great you went simple step by step. Now this vid you didn't even touch on machine basics, like "ok drivers loaded now what?" How is a fresh new non programmed machined set to home? What is home? You just said in this vid you assumed our machine was set. That's not the same as your first vid saying your breaking it down to its simplest form.

[@mili4908]

thanks

[@resorter66]

I see that you use the grbl inches for your g code . There is a Shapeoko inch gcode in there list. Did you Know that and if so was there a reason you used the other. Or are they They the same. New to your site Jeff

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

The reason I went with GRBL Inch is because the control board on the Shapeoko runs GRBL. I have never tried any of the other ones, but I would imagine they would work pretty similar.

[@eddinatale7815]

DO you need a separate program to upload images for use or can you do it with just VCARVE PRO?

[@stufftokeepyouentertained2168]

you can do it all from VCarve pro using the "Trace Bitmap" feature in it.

[@eddinatale7815]

I have been trying that in the trial version but maybe it isn't working because it is the trial version.

[@eddinatale7815]

I got it to work thanks

[@RandomPsychic]

5:15 I thought I was on a CNC channel not CNN (obvious reference to James Earl Jones)...

[@ronin2167]

Can't save these toolpaths with the trial version. Boooooo