Vectric Aspire — Toolpath Settings Quick Reference
Aug 8, 2026 11:25am · 60 views
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Vectric Aspire — Toolpath Settings Quick Reference
Toolpath Types
| Type | Use For |
|---|
| Profile | Cut shapes, perimeters |
| Pocket | Clear interior areas |
| V-Carve | Text and decorative carving |
| 3D Roughing | Remove bulk from 3D models |
| 3D Finishing | Final detail pass on 3D models |
| Drilling | Spot drilling holes |
| Texture | Decorative surface texture |
Profile Toolpath Key Settings
| Setting | Notes |
|---|
| Cut Depth | Total depth of cut |
| Pass Depth | Max depth per pass (half bit diameter typical) |
| Climb/Conventional | Climb for final pass on hardwood |
| Tabs | Always use on through-cuts |
| Start Point | Set to minimize entry marks |
Pocket Toolpath Key Settings
| Setting | Notes |
|---|
| Pocket Type | Raster or offset |
| Stepover | 40-50% for roughing, 10% for finish |
| Ramp | Use ramping entry, not plunge |
| Leave Allowance | 0.2-0.5mm for finishing pass |
V-Carve Settings
| Setting | Notes |
|---|
| Flat Depth | Limits depth on wide areas |
| Start Depth | For V-carve inlay (0.2-0.4mm offset) |
| V-Bit Angle | 60 degree for detail, 90 for bold |
3D Toolpath Strategy
- Roughing: large ball nose or flat end mill, high stepover (40%), 0.5mm stock remaining
- Finishing: small ball nose (1/8"), low stepover (5-8%), full depth
Material Tabs
| Material | Width | Height |
|---|
| Softwood | 5mm | 2mm |
| Hardwood | 5mm | 1.5mm |
| Plywood | 4mm | 1.5mm |
| Acrylic | 4mm | 1mm |
Common Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|
| F5 | Calculate toolpath |
| F3 | 3D view |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| N | Node editing |
| T | Transform objects |