Workflow Overview; Create The Design And Toolpath(S) - Next Wave Automation CNC Shark HD4 Owner's Manual

Workflow Overview

It is important to recognize that unlike other wood working and machining tools, you just don't walk up
to the CNC Shark HD4 with your material, hit the power button, and start carving or engraving your
project. It is easiest to think of the workflow in two distinct components:
1. Create the design and toolpath (also called TAP file) - using VCarve.
2. Machining the part - using the CNC Shark HD4 LCD Control Panel, you will set your "Home
Location" then load the toolpath file and run the project (create your carving).

Create the Design and Toolpath(s)

VCarve is used to create the design of the part you want. It is a powerful user friendly program, if you
haven't yet gone to www.vectric.com
do this first.
The VCarve projects are saved with the file extension '.crv'. This is not however the file you will load
onto the CNC Shark HD4 LCD Control Panel to carve your design as VCarve does not directly control or
operate the CNC Shark HD4. This is commonly referred to as your 'project file' and can be opened and
edited at any time by using the VCarve software.
Once your design is ready, you will use VCarve to generate one or multiple toolpaths depending on what
you are trying to do to your project, profiles, drilling, carving etc. They all require separate toolpaths.
(Complete directions on this are available at www.vectric.com) You select the design component, the
cutting tool you want to use and then generate the toolpath. A great feature is that you can preview the
outcome of that toolpath in VCarve and make changes before ever cutting or wasting your material.
Then using VCarve to save that toolpath, and selecting the correct post processor (CNC Shark post
processor in post processor area of VCarve) it automatically creates the g-code needed by converting
into a .TAP file. Next save it onto a USB thumb drive and directly load this into the CNC Shark HD4 via the
USB slot on the right side of the pendant. The tap file contains the G-code instructions that will tell the
CNC Shark HD4 where to move in X, Y, Z to make the appropriate cuts using the cutter tool selected. (G-
code is the common name for the computer numerical control (CNC) language used by the CNC Shark
HD4.
It is important to also note that you can do all tasks associated with VCarve on a separate computer –
i.e. you may choose to use a computer in your office or home to create your designs and generate the
toolpath files and then download them to a thumb drive and plug this into the Shark HD4.
April 2018
and watched their instructional tutorials on designing you must
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