Easy 3d carving with VCarve Pro - can it really be that simple?

Yes it can, 3d carving (or 2.5d) really is that simple.
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[@jeremiahduncan4050]

I haven't gotten around to doing any carving yet but remembered another video mentioned using the multiplier on the run time estimator to get the estimate adjusted more accurately to each individual machine.

[@rogerazevedo4094]

Well done. Very nice

[@Maker_of_fine_sawdust]

Appreciate the demo. I for one like the new addition to your workshop.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Dan, thank you, certainly adds an extra element to the possibilities. 👍

[@markpearce849]

F9 centres the image on the work. Also Hold shift when dragging the size to enable height and width to change, with the centre point of the image staying in location.

[@CoreZeroStudios]

Very helpful video - thank you! And don't worry I did not miss the sandpaper joke at the beginning. That was great delivery!

[@GTWoodshop]

Thank you. 😁

[@Colin-Parker]

I've just watched your video and on Vcarve and I must say that I enjoyed it very much. Not just the content but your pleasant demeanor and slightly hidden humour. Thanks very much. Colin

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks Colin. 👍

[@scorchio100]

Thanks for sharing, very informative. You have a great shop setup there

[@GTWoodshop]

Thank you. 👍

[@rechtsanwaltdavidandreasko6415]

Great Video and Greetings from Hamburg, Germany!

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi David, thank you. 👍

[@FredPhillips-g4e]

Something else to remember, Great video!!

[@FALCON390Workshop]

Very nicely explained and executed. Thanks you for the video.

[@thelwood]

Fancy!! That is awesome!

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks Lucy.

[@iwannaapple7190]

That was pretty neat how you quickly rounded the corners. I've never seen it done that way before. I don't even know how you did it?

[@dannywilsher4165]

Great video. Now all I need to do is get a VCarve machine!

[@mynosycat]

OKayyyyy... so, all I need is a £1,000,000 for a shop like yours and ... viola ... I'm in business!

[@GTWoodshop]

🤣🤣

[@mozhabiri3883]

Hi very nice 🌟🌟🌟 Thank you for video

[@georgenavarre5481]

In the clock setup for how long your cuts will be, if you change the 2 in the Scale Factor to a 1 your cutting time will be a lot closer to your machine.

[@4ctive1]

what table saw are you using

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi, I currently have a Felder B3 with 1200mm sliding table and spindle moulder. 👍👍

[@4ctive1]

@@GTWoodshop thank you for answering , may Allah SWT guide you

[@davidbell7658]

Good onya mate, regards from Australia.

[@GTWoodshop]

Thank you David. 👍

[@mikekiske]

Thanks

[@sirguy6678]

Great job!

[@stevewaller8078]

If you set your scale factor in the run time clock to 1 instead of the default of 2 that Vectric uses, your run time will be more accurate. Nice work, hope you sold enough to buy more sandpaper.

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks Steve. 🤣👍

[@JohnColgan.]

pS how much sandpaper can you get for a nice oak wall art piece ?

[@thelondoncraftsmanworkshop]

Nice video! Im 80% through assembling my workbee and have no idea how to use the software so thanks alot, really good and thought through video 👍👍👍

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi London, thanks mate. 👍

[@spambox7397]

thank you , 🙏🏻

[@eitantal726]

I like using a dremel with a light-duty bristles, for taking care of the roughage

[@Razorsedgeartwork]

Personally I'd do a simple toolpath for the outside edge and let the machine cut the corners using the same endmill as the roughing pass. It will add a few minutes to the machine time but it would all be machine time and no worries about messing up or tearing out later. Layer a roundover bit change at the end and you'll get a finished piece needing just some light sanding.

[@397fire397]

Buy some more sandpaper, that was funny. For you that was very funny, almost laughed.

[@GTWoodshop]

I know I'm funny, my wifes laughs all the time!

[@jim6402]

Great Video is there a way to do a shamrock with raised text such as house number and the shamrock carved out behind it

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Jim, certainly, you just gotta find or create the 3d model and youre away. 👍

[@debbiebarnett5729]

Will this also work with Vcarve Desktop?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Debbie, Yes it will.

[@robertrohler3644]

Great video. Thank you for taking the time to educate us. You have two different planners. When do you decide to use one over the other? Cheers

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Robert, I use the Dewalt nearly all the time, I switch the the Hammer when the I have a larger job, size or qty. 👍

[@waynepatterson7476]

Your video allowed me to work out how to 3D carve from ClipArt. To clarify for me though - using the Vectric only allows for two options for the carving. The Roughing toolpath and the finishing toolpath? And the smaller diameter bit as the finishing improves the finish but would certainly take longer to carve? Cheers

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Wayne, a lot of people use larger bits for clearing the waste material and then only run the smaller for the last finishing pass yes. As for the toolpaths, what else are you looking for?

[@waynepatterson7476]

Hi, basically you have a roughing toolpath and a finishing toolpath. Is there an intermediate toolpath so you can go from 6.35mm to 3.2 mm and then a fine 1.8mm for example? Cheers Wayne @@GTWoodshop

[@GTWoodshop]

only by setting max cut depth, that I kno w of@@waynepatterson7476

[@vvirusty]

"afford more sandpaper" while also owning an entire wall of woodpecker tools lol

[@dustytrailsworkshop]

Loved the tip on setting your z depth within the 3D rendering tab. Thanks!

[@MichaelWatson-c8o]

Great video! Very helpful. What was the time needed to make your blanks and was it included in your overall hands-on working time? Do you have a guide as to how you would price this piece? Hoping the weather in your area is doing ok this year! Thanks very much!

[@GTWoodshop]

Can't remember exactly but really quick as they're small, so add 30mins to be safe.

[@slimfitholsters]

When you change the second bit where do you zero the z at if you take down the original z spot?

[@GTWoodshop]

There was just enough timber left to zero Z again, but good point.

[@seanfaherty]

Great video . Where can I get one of them chisel to USB adapters ?

[@dipillo1963]

Exelente video gracias por sus aportes

[@bobcurtis964]

Great video! what is the name of the back ground music?

[@lockstocky2800]

Looks great and love the software, not sure you will make any money at the fair after your electricity bill on that run time.

[@GTWoodshop]

🤣

[@extremewoodworker]

Nice video. On the machine time estimate, you have a scale factor and feed rate that are used to calculate time. I mentally average the feed rate for all my toolpaths and adjust the scale factor down to get more accurate time estimates. Steve

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Steve, thank you and yes, so many little facets to this CNC business, whole new learning curve, to go with all the others. 👍

[@goodwinml]

On your tool path summary change your time factor option from the default 2 to 1 if you want a much more realistic time frame of the cut.

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks Mike. 👍

[@PBurke1000]

@@GTWoodshop When selecting your tool, in the settings, set your cutting speed to how fast the tool and machine will cut and will give you a more accurate time.

[@faridmony9935]

Nice video Sir. But i need to know how to change tools after roughing to finishing, is that the machine should stop by ourselves or the machine stop automaticly when transition to finishing?

[@GTWoodshop]

Thank you, When you change the tool / bit you have to reset work zero (X,Y,Z), then you can run the finishing pass.

[@faridmony9935]

@@GTWoodshop Oh so when the project have 3 layer/or tools/style cut that we use, we have to change after one of them and set to zero. After one layer or just roughing, we have to stop the cnc machine or automatic stop?

[@alanwoollett7961]

no need to do a roughing pass when doing a bowled carving as long as you set to raster, saves alot of time

[@joshuaweaver5284]

Sandpaper is no joke.

[@time.6890]

How do you know which end mill to use for any project? Sorry for the really basic question, but just trying to figure all this out. New user. Fantastic video.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Tim, thats a really good question and not that straight forward to answer. Assuming youre familiar with using a router then apply the same basic principles. Use the biggest bit you can without overlaoding the router, but bearing mind the smallest area / curve / corner it will have to get into. Bulk material removal flat end mill, curved surfaces ball nose end mill, engraving v bit 90 or 60. I would use the above as a basic starter for ten, take small passes at lower speeds until you build confidence and knowledge in the process and bits you use. Hope that helps. 👍

[@NeshamJerry]

Please help!! I'm really confused in files export from VCarve. If somebody is using product version, how can files of trial version will work for him??

[@GTWoodshop]

HI, you can't export from the trial version.

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

I’m taking delivery of a cnc machine in the next three weeks. Totally new to it and no experience whatsoever. I like your presentation / I have no doubt it will be some time before I progress to 3D. Btw. What does an item like that sell for ? It’s a beautiful piece of wall art. Keep up the videos and we’ll all learn, thank you. Best, Paul

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Paul, thank you. As to price, depended on location, audience etc anything up to £50.00 or more.

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

@@GTWoodshop than you

[@deezle1460]

@@GTWoodshop 6 hours of "work" divided by 50 = 8.33 per hour.. then subtract cost of material... subtract cost of electricity to run machine for 6 hours... AND if you sell by mail ( subtract shipping & handling) = damned near taking a loss to produce, unless I am missing something. Is 3d carving worth the time and effort for anything being sold for less than 200?? I get it if you are 3d carving for friends and family but from a business standpoint 50 for 6 or 7 hours of work is an open wound for the business.

[@GTWoodshop]

@@deezle1460Indeed you are sir, the point being you're not doing the work, the CNC is. 👍👍

[@Razorsedgeartwork]

@@deezle1460 There's only (in this case) about 10-20 minutes of actual work involved. Since he made the slabs let's round that to an even hour (excluding dry time). If he just used a piece already large enough it's still in the 10-20 minute window. The rest of the time you can be doing other things. So as far as his labor that piece is paying on the low end $50 per man hour. $150-$300 per hour on the high end. That's in pounds, which I believe equates to about $62 US on the low to $188-$376 us. And once the file is set up, there is 0 man hours involved per piece. You can deduct overhead for machine time and electricity to find the net per man hour. But even if he sells 5 at a show, he's grossed over $300 US for 10 minutes 'work'. A single toothpick is essentially free, but you can make millions of dollars selling them.

[@SD-eu7ht]

Great video. I noticed that, when you change the estimate 100 mm/sec to reflect your tool’s settings the time is more accurate

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi SD, yes I've subsequently discovered that, the never ending learning curve. 👍

[@kevinwillis6707]

nice job, but a 6 hour machine time is why i dont do a lot of 3d carves, i can make 8 to 12 v carved wall plaques in the same amount of time. or a dozen carved nightlight holders. v carve pro is worth every penny though.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Kevin, I'm now finding that out, very time consuming. 👍

[@4ctive1]

can somebody link the machines he is using

[@JCraftvfx]

you said you used Minearl oil and bees wax for the finish, whats the name of it or that a mixture of two different things you put in a jar?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi JC, I mix it myself, 70 / 30 mineral oil to beeswax. 👍

[@williamgaffney4412]

Can I ask what size your cnc machine is. Excellent video as always, good quality sound and images

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi William, its sold as a 1000mm x 750mm. 👍👍

[@williamgaffney4412]

@@GTWoodshop Thank you, have you thought at any time you should have had a bigger or smaller machine. It’s the size I am considering.

[@GTWoodshop]

If I had the room I would def go bigger, the biggest I could squeeze in.

[@williamgaffney4412]

I have ordered a 1000 x 1000 and because it’s a bit of a squeeze I was considering going down to a 1000 x 750 now I’m not so sure. Just to mention something different I purchased your bread bin plans and because I didn’t have a router I adapted the design and cut everything on my diode laser including the slats for the lid. Thanks to you I now have a bread bin sitting proudly in my kitchen

[@GTWoodshop]

Thats awesome William, way to go. 👍👍

[@sonuverma2796]

Sir how to z zero set second tool, and x, y axis for second tool

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Sonu, use exactly the same approach you did for the first tool, arguably if the work piece hasn't moved and you set X / Y based on the centre of the tool / spindle then you only need to reset Z. 👍

[@sonuverma2796]

@@GTWoodshop sir your mean where the material didn't cut by first tool, move the spindle motor and tip upon the material,then click z zero but no need required for x and y zero, only z zero required am i right

[@GTWoodshop]

@@sonuverma2796 Yes bang on, thats what I always do when I need a tool change mid jog.

[@MakerDan55]

Thanks. If they are separate toolpaths then how does the finishing toolpath know that it's not starting with the raw material? How does it know to start off where the roughing ended?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Dan, good question. As this is a finishing toolpath it is by definition only meant to remove a small amount of material to get down to the finish depth required and set on the job, if you remember I set an amount to leave of 1mm in the roughing tool path knowing that I would be running the finishing job afterwards. If I ran the finishing job without the roughing job first then I believe the bit would break due to too much material in the way. As for how does it know where to start, after I changed the bit I set the Z height to the exact same place as I did with the roughing job, that being the top of the stock. Hope that answers your questions. 👍

[@MakerDan55]

@@GTWoodshop thanks for the thorough reply. I really appreciate it.

[@coastalcreekwoodworks8795]

Beauty.... Have you ever run into a problem where the bit doesn't lift up all the way out of the wood before moving to the next area and then proceeds to drag to its next location? Mine is doing that on a simple sign and it's basically carving out gouges in between my letters.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Coastal, only once when I omitted to set the clearance height, never again.👍

[@coastalcreekwoodworks8795]

@@GTWoodshop thank you

[@davidchristie4581]

@@coastalcreekwoodworks8795 you could also have electrical interference. Make sure spindle is grounded and try ferrite beads on cables.

[@coastalcreekwoodworks8795]

@@davidchristie4581 thank you David

[@PLTNS]

Good day, sir. If you were able to generate a 3d rendering of a cutting board with those rounded corners that you did as well as rounded top perimeter edges in a different 3D software(like Fusion360) and import the STL into VCarve Pro would it manage to do it? I just want to know if VCarve pro would be able to do an imported 3d design like Aspire would

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi, that's a really good question that I don't 'know' the answer to.; However I see no reason why it, if it can import / handle / manage the horse file then surely an as you described would be a simple task for it by comparison?

[@PLTNS]

@@GTWoodshop That's my thinking too. Would be way more simple the the horse relief 3d routing. Thanks for the info!

[@441Dean]

What CNC machine are you using? Thanks

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Dean, sure its an Ooznest WorkBee. www.ooznest.co.uk

[@erics2670]

I'm looking at the VCarve software and wondering could this have been done on the Desktop version or did something that was used only come in the PRO version?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Eric, if memory serves I went for the Pro over the desktop due to the imposed restriction on working area allowed in the software, I seem to remember that there was a comparison chart on the website that you should check out before pressing the button. 👍👍

[@KatzStudioArt]

What router are you using here?

[@hdwoodshop]

How much was the selling price of those nice pieces? How did they sell? They look very nice!

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Hugo, the test will be next weekend at the craft fair, I'll let you know. 👍

[@richardfarwell6759]

Didn't see it in the comments, but if you double click on your clipart thumbnail image, it will automatically place in the center of the stock -- regardless of where your X-Y zero is.

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks Richard. 👍

[@oldNavyJZ]

You can also just hit F9 on the keyboard when the item is selected.

[@michaelgerrior2844]

where did you buy your finishing oil/beewaxes

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Michael, both came from Amazon. 👍

[@CaptCorpMURICA]

How would you price this type of product for craft fairs?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Kevin, I've found the venue location makes a huge difference. We've had comments from 'that's really cheap' up to 'I would'nt pay that'. I would price from £35 to £50, maybe more, depending on size / wood used and grain pattern etc.

[@mixedupguy4319]

Alright met, firstly, you sound like your from the southwest lol, I'm Cornish, so you shouldn't be to far away hopefully. Do you take coustom design orders?

[@GTWoodshop]

Yes mate, what you looking for?

[@eitantal726]

There's a good opportunity for rest-machining here, if you want to drastically reduce the finish time

[@lifeshort]

What's rest machining?

[@eitantal726]

@@lifeshort Rest machining is the idea that during 3D finish, some areas are already good enough and can be skipped. In practice: You break down your 3D finish into multiple passes. The first pass is done with a large radius tool, over the whole area. Subsequent passes with smaller radius tools will skip the good-enough areas. In a project like this, I'd expect to shave off 75% of the machining time

[@steinbierz]

Great video...thanks! Question--on longish projects do you leave the shop or are you always there when the CNC is running? I ask because I have heard of fires being generated during some CNC operations.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Larry, I still tend to hover around. Max I've left it alone is around half an hour.

[@keenefx321]

This looks a ton easier than FreeCad

[@23abed]

how can i get this file to try do it ?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi, You can purchase it direct from their website. 👍

[@KenNahari-h1t]

Mohr Grove

[@michaelm1753]

I think that’s the best boredom induced nap I’ve had in years! I have no idea why I tried to watch this. I think it was because I was considering a CNC router and wanted to know how difficult it was to set something up. To be honest, the finished ‘carving’ isn’t a result of good craftsmanship, just a good knowledge of tedious software. The joy of carving is that the result is something you’ve made with your own hands. This isn’t satisfying unless you’re batch producing and don’t care that you haven’t actually applied any craft skills to the finished item. The good that came out of watching this is that I won’t be spending any money on a router etc.

[@GTWoodshop]

In which case I'm delighted I could help. 👍

[@Townie001]

If you can afford Felder equipment you can certainly afford sandpaper!

[@steinbierz]

I sensed he was joking...I guess some people lack this perception.

[@MichelleTice-y6q]

Shields Wall

[@snrcomputers.nirmallouis]

Machine time very more

[@josepuentes7995]

tancks

[@bobheadzeek]

can someone send me their clip art

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi, You can purchase it direct from their website. 👍

[@dalcassian56]

If you've got all these tools in your shop, im fairly certain you can afford sandpaper😅😅

[@GTWoodshop]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dalcassian56]

@GTWoodshop and yes, the video was great! Thank you for sharing the knowledge.👍

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

your stepover was likely too much on the finishing pass.

[@GTWoodshop]

Good point Steve, quite likely. 👍

[@guymoschella2387]

WOW

[@Wooden-things]

How to go from a woodworker to a machinist in record time.

[@GTWoodshop]

Just dipping my toes in the water. 👍

[@tanddbi2005]

why does everyone skip the post process section of these videos. first 12 minutes you had my thumbs up the it went down hill. Sir your title says can it really be that simple?

[@GTWoodshop]

Could you expand on what you feel is lacking?

[@alexandersmith2441]

What are you talking about? He went from beginning to end. What else was there to expound on?

[@titianobsidian6549]

Looking into making money from cnc carving just now. When considering making time of 5 hours machine time band then 1 hour for yourself. If say £60 per hour cost, then that comes to £360, then allow £40 for the material and artwork. That makes the real wholesale cost around £400, retail cost should be double that... I guess you won't be charging that?

[@kellypurdue1990]

How did you come to the £60 per hour figure?

[@JohnGauntSega32]

Why are you charging for machine time?

[@titianobsidian6549]

​@@kellypurdue1990 Just google cnc machine time costs, comes to 50-100 per hour, that's depended on machine overheads running costs, probably includes labour, set up, maintenance etc. That's the commercial rate that companies need to charge to justify the machine. In house you might be able to reduce those costs. However also consider one comment I came across when reading some forums on making a living from wood turning and one post caught my eye from an experienced woodturner, 'if any wood worker wants to make a living off their work they need to charge $1 per minute for their time of making.' CNC might be different might charge of size of or and time to make. If a chair takes all day to make, there is no sense in selling it for £50 even £100.

[@titianobsidian6549]

​@@JohnGauntSega32 Looking into trying to justify the cost of a cnc machine, they are hugely expensive machines. Would you charge for size of work or some other factor? If its done for the love of making, then next to given away, then it's hobby.

[@patrickreade6119]

You haven't actually carved anything a machine has carved it. Do you tell people who but these that it is machine carved or do you let them think you actually hand carved it. People like you are the reason hand carving is dying out.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Patrick, you are absolutelky right sir, the machine did all of the carving for me and I make a point of telling people if they are actually interested how it was made. NEw technologies appear year in, year out, but the basic skills never die due to people like you. 👍👍

[@pierrick1705]

music in tutorials is so annoying

[@pierrick1705]

especially for those watching in 2x

[@GTWoodshop]

@@pierrick1705 Noted. 👍

[@JohnColgan.]

in 2x you can't hear his dialogue anyway, so why worry !!

[@pierrick1705]

@@JohnColgan. oh yeah you can I even have a Chrome extension that lets me listen in 3x or more. it all depends on how fast the host talk's, this host for example talks really slow.

[@richardg3232]

Why do you have that annoying background music. I had to click off.

[@GTWoodshop]

I've learned now. 😁😁

[@casualcarver4887]

NO ONE CAN USE HAND TOOLS ANYMORE

[@stanpayne5723]

Carving? LMAO

[@heartscards6335]

that annoying music sounds awful...get rid of it

[@GTWoodshop]

Yes Sir 😉