06-24-2025 Q&A: Rotary Carving Fixes, VCarving Script Fonts, and Bit Change Strategies

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This session dove into some tricky CNC challenges, including how to convert two-sided Aspire projects for rotary use, troubleshooting rotary toolpaths that only carve 180°, and tips for carving elegant script fonts when VCarve doesn’t cooperate. We also explored methods for photo VCarve and sketch carving enhancement, how to export round 3D models from rotary for better side detail, and covered bit change behaviors across machines.

Key Tips Learned in this Q&A:

• Convert Two-Sided to Rotary: Two-sided Aspire projects must be exported as closed STL models before importing into a rotary setup. Direct conversion won’t work.

• Fix Rotary Only Cutting 180°: Ensure molding toolpath rails run full length of the material; short rails = partial rotation.

• Better Script Carving: Use a profile toolpath directly on the vector with a shallow cut to mimic a clean VCarve look when vectors are too tight or open.

• Enhance Photos with Sketch Carve: Layer a photo VCarve with a sketch carving pass to boost detail in fine areas like faces or clothing wrinkles.

• Simulated Rotary for Detail: Build detailed cylindrical models in rotary first, export as STL, then reimport into 2D to preserve detail on rounded shapes.

Questions Answered in this Q&A:

• 00:01:22 – Why won’t a half-inch collet fit my Makita router?

• 00:05:33 – How do I convert a two-sided Aspire model into a rotary file?

• 00:16:15 – Why does my rotary job only carve 180° instead of full rotation?

• 00:23:07 – How to fix carving issues with script fonts and use sketch toolpath?

• 00:32:30 – Can I combine Photo VCarve with Sketch Carve for better detail?

• 00:40:52 – Will my CNC stop for bit changes when saving multiple toolpaths into one file?

• 00:43:34 – How do I create cleaner cylindrical components for Aspire?

• 00:53:46 – Where can I get Altmill maintenance tips and lube suggestions?

Keywords:

aspire, rotary carving, two-sided to rotary, vcarve script font, sketch carve, photo vcarve, molding toolpath, bit change, stepcraft, altmill, spindle collet, IDC woodcraft, 3d model conversion, vectric rotary tips, CNC STL export, er collet, toolpath troubleshooting