Preview Toolpaths

The Preview Toolpaths feature simulates your calculated toolpaths against a 3D model of the material, so you can see exactly what the job will produce before cutting anything.

Watch tutorial: How to Preview Toolpaths

Playback Controls

The preview offers video-like playback so you can study the tool moves in detail.

• Run plays the simulation through to the end.
• Single Step advances the simulation by one tool move.
• Run to Retract runs the toolpath up to the next retract move.
• Reset clears the preview back to solid, uncut material.

You can preview the selected toolpath, all visible toolpaths, or every toolpath — and, for a two-sided job, preview both sides.

Animation

• Animate preview shows the material being removed as the simulation is drawn.
• Draw tool displays a scaled wireframe animation of the cutter as it moves through the job.

Material Appearance

Click the material colour icon to open the Material Appearance dialog and change how the previewed job looks.

• Use Solid Color renders the job in a single colour of your choosing.
• Use Material renders it with a predefined material effect — wood grains, metals, stone or plastic.

Machined Area Color

The regions cut by the tool can be coloured independently of the surrounding material:

• Material Color leaves the machined areas in the base material.
• Fill Color paints all machined regions a single colour.
• Toolpath Color gives each toolpath its own colour, making it easy to tell them apart.

Saving a Preview Image

The current preview can be saved as an image file (BMP, PNG, JPG or GIF) to share or keep as a reference.