Getting Started

How to Get Started

License Registration

Edit Sheet - Single Sided

Job Setup - Single Sided

Edit Sheet - Rotary

Edit Sheet - Double Sided

2D View Controls

Document Variables

Job Setup - Double Sided

Job Setup - Rotary

Edit Sheet Form

Calculation Edit Boxes

Sheet Management

3D View Controls

Join Open Vectors

Interactive Vector Trim

Auto Layout Text

Interactive Selection Mode

Snapping Options Dialog

Join / Close Vector with a Straight Line

Grouping and Ungrouping

Overlap Vectors

Group Selected Objects

Object Selection Tools

Join / Close Vector with a Smooth Curve

Copy Along Vectors

Vector Boundary

Fit Curves To Vectors

Freehand Drawing

Plate Production

Join/Close by Moving End Points

Vector Selection Mode

Node Editing Mode

Text On A Curve

Vector Validator

Vector Unwrapper

Measure - Inspect

Ungroup Selection

Subtract Vectors

Convert text to Curves

Create a New File

Alignment Tools

Paste Operation

Layer Management

Create Component from Bitmap

Scale Model Height

Positioning an Imported Model

Export Model as an STL File

Emboss Component

Baking Components

Import 3D Model into Single or Two Sided Job

Create Component from Visible Model

Create Zero Plane

Create Texture Area

Add Draft to Model

Import a Component or 3D Model

Smooth Components

Component Properties

Clearing or Splitting Components

Extrude and Weave

Create Vector Boundary From Selected Components

Importing a 3D Model into Rotary job

Preinstalled Gadgets

Create Rounding Toolpath

Keyhole Toolpath

Wrapped Fluting Layout

Wrapped Spiral Layout

Drag Knife Toolpath

Job Setup Sheet Editor

Celtic Weave Creator

Modelling 3D Rotary Projects

Importing External Models in a Rotary Project

2D Design and Management

Simple Rotary Modelling using 2D Toolpaths

Interface Overview

Advanced Modelling of 3D Rotary Projects

General Workflow

3D Toolpath Files

3D Design and Management

Creating a Rotary Job

Rotary Machining and Wrapping

Right Mouse Click Menu

Build Date: 13/03/2024, 08:30:46

Options Dialog

Note

Many of the choices in this dialog will not take effect until the software has been exited and restarted.

Window Layout

Save Tab Layout	Save the layout and the 'pinned' state of the command and toolpath fly out tabs.
Save Dialog Layout	Save the size, position and visibility for dialogs such as the Layer control and Toolpath Control dialogs.
Save View Layout	Save the layout of the 2D and 3D view windows.
Display Splash Screen	Display the program Splash Screen, while the program is loading.
Top Side Ruler Color	The colour of the ruler on the top side in a two-sided project.
Bottom Side Ruler Color	The colour of the ruler on the bottom side in a two-sided project.
Tab location	Determines where handles for switching between tabs are located

3D View Settings

Shaded Background Style	Allows to choose between *Solid, Gradient* and *Image* background styles.
Background Color	Change the background color used for the 3D view. Used with *Solid* and *Gradient* background styles.
Gradient Background Color	Change the bottom (lightest) color used for the 3D view. Used with *Gradient* background style.
Draw Origin	Draw the origin arrows by default on startup.
Draw Material Block	Draws Material Block boundaries by default on startup.
Use Color Shaded View	Draw shaded model in 3D view by default on startup.
Print 3D View Shaded Background	Include the shaded background when printing.
Animate Camera Moves	Switch on/off animation in the 3D View when selecting View positon from the Iso View, Down X, Down Y or Down Z icons.
Image File Path	Path to the image to be used as background. Used with *Image* background style.
Use Software Renderer	If ‘Yes’ this option switches from hardware GPU rendering to Software rendering which instead utilises the CPU. Software rendering can be preferable in cases where there is limited GPU capability or there are compatibility issues. This will require a software restart for any changes to take effect.
Anti - Aliasing mode	Anti-aliasing can improve the graphic resolution by preventing the distortions and artefacts within the rendering caused by two or more points becoming indistinguishable from one another. There are four different options for the level of anti aliasing you would like to apply; None, 2X,4X and 6X depending on the level required.
Smooth Shading	Select ‘Yes’ to enable smooth shading in the rendering of components which will give them a smoother less faceted (many individual sides) appearance. Turning this feature on will utilize more graphics memory than when disabled.

Toolpath Settings

Show Toolpath Operations with Preview	When the toolpath Preview form is visible, keep the 'Toolpath Operations' section visible (requires more screen space).
Auto Open 3D view	Automatically swap to 3D view after calculating a toolpath.
2D Solid Preview Color	Color used to draw the solid 2D toolpath preview with.
Create 2D Previews	Create 2D previews of toolpaths in 2D view.
Select Sheet When Edit Toolpaths	If a toolpath is associated with a sheet, select sheet when edit toolpath.
Toolpath Geometry Fixing Timeout	Number of seconds the program will spend trying to fix problems with geometry when calculating toolpaths.
Drop Tool	When projecting a toolpath onto the model, drop the tool on surface rather than project. If this is set, the toolpath will follow the surface of the model better, but could be slower to calculate.
2D Toolpath Tolerance	Tolerance to apply to 2D toolpaths after calculating to reduce file size.
3D Toolpath Tolerance	Tolerance to apply to 3D toolpaths after calculating to reduce file size.
VCarve Toolpath Tolerance	Tolerance to apply to VCarve toolpaths after calculating to reduce file size. Note We strongly recommend that the Toolpath Tolerance should be left at their default settings unless different values are recommended by your machine tool manufacturer. If you do have a machine which struggles with the default settings, try doubling the values and cutting a test-piece to assess the tradeoff between machining times, file size and final machined quality. We have done some limited testing and on a sample complex 3D model, increasing the '3D Toolpath Tolerance' to 0.001 inches gave a 40% decrease in file size and no noticeable difference in quality on the test machine and job. In the test case there was no measurable difference in machining time on the CNC machine the test was carried out on.
Maximum Toolpath Undo Stack Size (MB)	Maximum size in MB of Toolpath data undo stack for storing toolpath delete state.
Append duplicated toolpath	When duplicating a toolpath, this determines whether it places the new toolpath next to the original or append it to the end of the list.
Append new toolpaths to selected group	If a toolpath group is selected, add newly created toolpaths to the end of the selected group rather than to the end of the list.
Use new raster	Generate raster toolpaths that are more consistent in regards to machining direction, even for complex shapes.
Check depth of all toolpaths	If this is set to try then when job size changes are made then all toolpath depths are checked. If it is set to false then only the toolpaths which are visible have their depth checked
Default toolpath filtering mode	Allows you to choose the toolpath filtering mode used when new file is created or opened.

General Settings

Use Graphics tablet	Switch on support for graphics tablet drivers, if installed - for use with the sculpting tool.
Process User Files	Enable/disable processing of files in the 'Vectric Files' folder in your common user document folder.
Recent File List Size	This sets the maximum number of items that will be displayed in the Recently opened files... list in left hand side bar of the interface when there is no file currently loaded. The list will not increase in size until the software has been re-started and more files have been opened and/or saved.
Recent Font List Size	Sets the maximum number of recently used fonts that will be listed at the top of the font selection box.
Show the clipart Subfolder Contents	If set to Yes then this will show the contents within the selected Folder in the Clip Art browser along with up to 3 sub-folders if they exist and contain appropriate file types. If set to No it will only display the contents of the selected folder, not sub-folders.
Always open local documentation	Force open the local copy of the documentation when accessed through the Help menu. Aspire for ALPHACAM automatically opens the local documentation if you have no internet connection or if the server is taking too long to respond.
Smooth Join Vectors	Produce a smoother join between 2 vectors. This is option is there mainly to support older behavior.
Default to last used text anchor position	Control the default location of the anchor when creating a text object. This is to either default it to the last set location, or always default to a specific location.
File Dialog Default	This option controls the default directory that is opened when opening or saving files. The default Global options will open the last used folder as per the Operating Systems default behavior. If you choose Operation, the software will remember the last used folder for that particular operation. We divide operations in broad categories, such as, vector import / export, model import / export, toolpaths, tools, etc... If you choose Job, we will always default to your saved job's location.

Confirmation Choices

Sheet Toolpath Deletion Check	When a sheet is deleted, you can choose whether the associated toolpaths will also be deleted.
Toolpath Vector Intersections Check	If vector intersections are detected calculating a V-Carve or Pocket toolpath you can choose to be asked what to do next or to open the Vector Validator. Alternatively, you may forgo the intersections check entirely.
Radiused Offset Intersections Check	If vector intersections are detected when performing a radiused offset you can choose to be asked what to do next or to open the Vector Validator. Alternatively, you may forgo the intersections check entirely.
Sharp Offset Intersections Check	If vector intersections are detected when performing a sharp offset you can choose to be asked what to do next, to open the Vector Validator or to proceed with the offset anyway.
Warn about unsuitable components for embossing	When attempting an embossing operation on a low relief component, display warning to indicate that this model may not be suitable.
Ask which version of the tool database to download	When downloading a tool database from your portal, display a dialog to allow you to specify a database associated with a different product. Otherwise always download the database associated with the current product.