How to Do a V-Carve Sign on the CNC Router

How to Do a V-Carve Sign on the CNC Router V-carving uses a V-shaped bit to cut tapered grooves — wider cuts are deeper, narrower cuts are shallower. The result is clean, sharp lettering that looks hand-carved. It's the go-to technique for wooden signs. What You Need CNC router with at least 200×200mm work area 60° or 90° V-bit (60° gives sharper detail, 90° is more forgiving) Wood: MDF, pine, or hardwood — MDF gives the sharpest results CAM software: Vectric VCarve or Aspire (this guide uses VCarve Desktop) Workholding: clamps or double-sided tape Bit Selection Step 1 — Design in VCarve 1. New File → set job size to your stock dimensions 2. Create Text tool → type your text → choose font - Serif fonts (Times, Garamond) show V-carve depth variation beautifully - Script fonts work great but need slower feeds - Avoid very thin stroke fonts — they carve too shallow 3. Resize and position the text 4. Optional: add a border or decorative vectors around the text Step 2 — Create the V-Carve Toolpath 1. Select all vectors to carve 2. Toolpaths → V-Carve / Engraving 3. Select your V-bit from the tool database (or create it) 4. Flat depth: leave at 0 for pure V-carving, or set a small value (0.5mm) for a flat-bottomed look on wide areas 5. Preview the toolpath — check that all letters look correct 6. For wide open areas between vectors, enable Clear Pocket with a flat endmill pass first, then V-carve the edges Step 3 — Generate and Post-Process 1. Calculate the toolpath 2. Post-Process → select your controller (GRBL, Mach3, etc.) 3. Save the .nc or .gcode file Step 4 — Machine Setup gcode ; Set XY zero at bottom-left of stock ; Set Z zero at the TOP of the stock surface ; V-carving zeroes Z on the material surface, not the wasteboard 1. Clamp stock securely — V-carving puts lateral force on the material 2. Zero X and Y at your chosen origin 3. Zero Z carefully at the surface — use a piece of paper to find contact 4. Run the file Feeds and Speeds for V-Carving Finishing the Sign 1. Sand lightly with 220 grit across the surface — avoid sanding inside the grooves 2. Paint fill: brush acrylic paint into the carved areas, let dry, sand the surface flat to reveal crisp filled lettering 3. Oil or varnish the surface 4. Alternative: spray paint the whole sign one color, then V-carve — the carve reveals the bare wood underneath Common Issues Fuzzy edges on wood grain — climb cut the vectors. In VCarve, enable the climb cut option in the toolpath settings. Text too shallow — either the font strokes are too narrow for the bit angle, or Z zero is set too high. Try a 60° bit for finer work. Chatter on the bit — reduce feed rate, check collet tightness, ensure stock is clamped well. Preview looks wrong — double-check bit angle matches what you set in the tool database.

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