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V-Carve

In one sentence: Generate a variable-depth carving path using a V-bit where wider regions are cut deeper and narrower regions shallower.

Overview

Workbench: CAM
Menu: CAM → V-Carve
Command: CAM_Vcarve
Shortcut: none

Generates a variable-depth carving path using a V-bit. The V-bit's wedge geometry naturally follows 2-D artwork — wider areas are cut deeper and narrower areas shallower — producing crisp, tapered engraving characteristic of traditional hand-carved lettering.

Intuition

A V-bit is a wedge. When pushed into material, the width of the cut depends on how deep the bit goes. V-Carve calculates the correct depth at every point along the path so that the V-bit exactly fits within the artwork outline — wider strokes receive a deeper pass, hairline strokes receive a shallow pass.

This is different from Engrave, which ignores the tool shape and traces at a fixed Z depth regardless of width.

When to use it

  • High-quality engraved lettering using a V-bit.
  • Artistic carving of variable-width artwork or logos.
  • Producing the traditional "chiselled" look in wood or metal.

When NOT to use it

  • For constant-depth line tracing — use Engrave instead.
  • For chamfering edges — use Deburr instead.

Key parameters

Parameter Description
Discretize Number of sample points along each edge
Colinear Tolerance Threshold for merging colinear path segments

See Common Parameters for depth and height parameters.

See also