And for stepping up…

AJ Fine Woodworks is now the proud owner of Vectric’s V-Carve Desktop software. In the world of the CNC machines, the X-Carve is the entry level machine, allowing someone to learn 2D CNC practices. The free software that comes with the X-Carve is called Easel, and it’s great for getting up and running quickly. Within a day I was using the software to create jigs for the shop, latches for the folding table the X-Carve sits on, hold down clamps for the machine, a lightbulb wall lamp, and a lot of other stuff. It's intuitive, easy to use, and won’t let you break anything with wrong settings… for the most part.

But you get to a point when 2D carving is not enough. Easel basic allows 2 axis to work at once, but I needed to have all 3 axis move together to form more complex designs. The function is called v carving, and it’s necessary for more intricate design work, like inlays and intricate sign building. (both of these things will become evident shortly, keep your eyes peeled!)