05-22-2025 Q&A: SketchUp Import Fixes, Tab Issues, Rotary Twists, and VCarve Layer Strategy

Note: You must be a member of the Learn Your CNC Academy Community to watch this replay. Benefits include weekly Q&A Meetups, weekly project lessons, monthly CNC challenges, an active community of Vectric users, past replay lessons & project files, and so much more!

In this call, we walked through a variety of real-world CNC questions and project files. Topics included cleaning up SketchUp files for proper Aspire imports, resolving issues with broken tabs and full-depth profile cuts, editing baked 3D text, and designing tapered spiral components for rotary projects. We also discussed the difference between Aspire and VCarve layer strategies, using AI tools, and how to calculate final thickness when slab-flattening.

Key Tips Learned in this Q&A:

• Fixing Broken Tabs & Depth Cuts: Turn off "Project onto 3D Model" when doing profile cuts in VCarve/Aspire to avoid full-depth plunges and missing tabs.

• SketchUp File Cleanup: Remove hidden geometry or place extras on a separate layer when importing complex SketchUp projects into Vectric software to prevent import failures.

• Text Replacement on Baked Components: If a component is not baked, simply turn off the existing text and add a new component. For baked ones, subtract the old text using a flat negative component before reapplying.

• Rotary Spiral Modeling: Use Aspire’s "Extrude and Weave" tool for precision spiral modeling, and calculate angles using Vectric’s measuring tools for wrapping alignment.

• Slab Flattening Math: To reach an exact final thickness like 1-11/16”, subtract your current thickness after the first flattening pass to know how much to cut from the opposite side.

Questions Answered in this Q&A:

• 00:03:04 – How to clean up a SketchUp file before importing into Aspire?

• 00:07:56 – Can you tell if a SketchUp model is made as a proper CAD design before downloading?

• 00:08:56 – How to lay out a foldable box pan from a carbide file (Cut2D)?

• 00:10:22 – Why does my badge file profile cut at full depth and miss tabs?

• 00:17:26 – How many levels can I have in VCarve?

• 00:18:33 – When should you use “Project Onto 3D Model”?

• 00:19:29 – How to replace text in a baked Aspire component like a police badge?

• 00:28:25 – Why didn’t Spindle Sam find a recent answer about HDPE adhesives?

• 00:31:34 – How to share CRV3D files in the community using a file extension trick?

• 00:33:32 – How to model and wrap a spiral on a rotary axis using Aspire tools?

• 00:45:33 – Can I taper spiral components or control their start/end diameters?

• 00:54:15 – How do I flatten a rough slab to an exact thickness in VCarve?

Keywords:

sketchup import, aspire, profile toolpath error, broken tabs, project onto 3d, vcarve levels, badge carving, rotary spiral, extrude and weave, text replacement aspire, slab flattening, hdp adhesive, spindle sam, tric ai, zero plane, component tree, 3d badge, carbide create, two rail sweep