Design (CAD – Computer Aided Design)

For the design you need create the computer data that will define either the 2D or 3D forms you want to cut on your CNC. This is done in what is typically called “CAD software” (CAD = Computer Aided Design) and you may also hear this type of software referred to as a drafting, drawing or design program.  

The finish point of the Design stage is to have prepared all the 2D data (Vectors) or 3D data (Components) you require to start calculating the specific movements the CNC machine will follow, these moves are typically referred to as the “Toolpaths”.

Most of our customers use one of the Vectric products (VCarve Pro or Aspire) to do their design although there are many other design (CAD) programs available for either 2D drawing or 3D modeling and depending on the file format export options available, this data can be saved and imported into the Vectric programs for Toolpath creation (CAM) which is discussed below.