[Greolt]

The title says it all. Hear there is Ver 4 coming in May.

Price increase planned for new version?

Greg

[Tony Mac]

Hello Greg,

Version 4 will be released later this month and more details on the new features and functionality will be posted soon.

Thanks for asking the question about pricing.

We are planning to raise the price of VCarve Pro to $599 but will hold the current $495 price until the end of June 2007. It's worth noting that customers purchasing the software now will receive a Free upgrade to version 4.

Customers who have had VCarve Pro for less than 1 year will receive the upgrade to Version 4 Free of charge.

The upgrade price for customers who have had the software for longer than 1 year is US$130. A Trial version of V4 will be available for people to assess whether they wish to upgrade.

Thanks again and let us know if you have any questions about this,

Tony

[Greolt]

Thanks Tony

I'll look forward to giving the new version a trial.

Greg

[Greolt]

Now into June, where is the new version? What's the hold up.

[Tony Mac]

Hi Greg,

We are running slightly behind the planned schedule and it's going to be a couple more weeks before V4 is ready to ship. We received some requests for additional functionality that wasn't on the original plan and decided to include them in V4.

The Beta Testing has been going very well and the software is pretty much complete and looking very stable. The bottle neck at the moment is the associated documentation - Help Files + Tutorials etc.

Will keep you posted.

Tony

[Scroll'ng Dave]

I too am waiting anxiuosly! Any hints or clues as to what this new releasae is going to include?

[Scroll'ng Dave]

I too am waiting anxiuosly! Any hints or clues as to what this new releasae is going to include?

[Tony Mac]

Hi Dave,

Please remember that customers who purchase VCarve Pro now will receive version 4 when it's released.

Here you go - A summary of the new functionality in VCarve Pro 4.

What’s New in Version 4
The new machining and layout functionality developed for this release lifts VCarve Pro from being a decorative toolpath engine, to an industrial strength product that has the tools and flexibility demanded by commercial shops and users.

New Toolpath features

Profile Machining
With Lead In / Out and options for linear or circular leads and an over cut distance.

This enhancement is ideal for machining high quality edges onto components.

With Ramp moves that reduce the load on the tooling and router spindle, making it much easier to plunge machine into hard materials. Options for smooth, zig-zag and spiral ramps into the material.

Ramp moves can also be limited to the lead in region of the toolpath, helping to ensure the best possible edge finish can be produced.

Pocket Machining
Now includes the option to use a Raster cutting strategy with a final pass machining allowance to ensure the internal edge of the pocket is precisely machined.

Ramp moves can also be applied to pocketing toolpaths and this helps reduce the load on the cutter and spindle and minimizes heat build-up and tooling wear.

Quick Engrave
This is a new machining strategy specifically for Diamond marking and light engraving with rotating / stationery cutters and floating nose cones. The options include outline and fill patterns - offset and hatch / cross hatch plus pressure loading when marking with a spring loaded attachment.

Additional Cutter Types
The Tool Database has been enhanced and now supports Radiused End Mill, Radiused Engraving and Diamond Drag tools.

Recalculate All Toolpaths
This functionality is perfect for automatically updating all calculated toolpaths when a design change is made such as the actual job size.

Toolpath Sequencing
The algorithm for linking toolpath moves when vcarving or engraving has been updated to make the process much more efficient and logical, which results in significantly reduced cutting times

The Toolpath List interface is now much easier to use with the option to drag the list around and resize it to suit the number of toolpaths listed. No more scrolling up and down trying to find a toolpath. Toolpaths can now be easily renamed without having to open and recalculate.

The Estimated Machining Times can now be copy and pasted from the form. Making it much easier to transfer the times into a document such as a customer quote or setup sheet.

************************************************** ****************************************

Design and Layout Tools

Image Tracing or Vectorization
Import colour and black & white image files - jpg, bmp, tif, gif, png and create high quality vector boundaries ready for machining.

With options for colour / threshold reduction, controlling corner definition and a noise filter to prevent small unwanted vectors being created.
No need to use products like InkScape or Corel Trace for image conversion!

Layer control
The new layer control makes working with complex designs is now much easier. Different elements of a design can be placed on different layers that can be drawn in different colours, made visible or invisible or locked / unlocked. Vectors can also be moved onto different layers.

Import Cut3D Files
This allows Toolpaths from Cut3D files to be imported, positioned and previewed in a VCarve Pro project.
Making it much easier to design and machine complete projects that require 3D elements to be combined
with 2D pocketing, profile, drilling, engraving and VCarving toolpaths.

Improved Polyline Drawing
Lines can now be accurately drawn using XY coordinates, angles and incremental distances.
Also includes the option to step back / undo points if incorrectly entered.

Wrap Text on a curve
Align text on, above or below any curve with options to control the text size, spacing, alignment and distance from the drive curve. Text can also be aligned vertically or normal to the curve.

Plate Production
This functionality allows text from a database file to be merged into a template to make large numbers of badges, plates, plaques etc. A master badge template is easily drawn and text variables added. The template is used to layout multiple copies of the design and the associated toolpaths automatically calculated.

For example, badges for 300 conference delegates can automatically be setup ready for engraving by merging their names from a CSV file into a template drawn in VCarve Pro. The software calculates how many badges can be cut from the sheet size being used and creates the associated designs on multiple layers and toolpaths when multiple sheets of material are required.

Block Copy
This tool is perfect for making multiple copies of a design and laying them out by specifying an offset distance or a simple gap between each design. Also includes options for circular copy and paste with control over the angle and whether the copies are aligned relative to the circle.

Copy objects (or groups) or circles along curves
This design tool is very useful for sign makers who drill holes around features
and plug LED’s into the reverse side of signage.

Engraving Fonts
Single line / stick fonts that are perfect for marking / engraving badges, gifts, awards industrial plates etc.

Break Text
Multiple lines of text can be broken into separate lines that can each then be edited to include different fonts and font sizes.

Arc Text
Lines of text can now be interactively arced through 360 degrees (previously + or - 180 degrees) to create circular text.

Draw rectangles
Includes options to fillet the corners either externally or internally to instantly create interesting sign and plate shapes.

Node Editing
The exact coordinates for a selected node / point can now be specified making it easier to draw more precisely.

Additional keyboard shortcuts have been added that make 'fixing' designs much easier and quicker.

Measuring Tool
The size of a design can instantly be checked using the new Measuring Tool. This tool can be used to measure true, horizontal and vertical distances plus the angle and cursor position. The measuring tool can also be used to show the properties of an object - Area, Perimeter and number of spans.

The 3D Graphics view has been updated making 3D previews much easier to manipulate and view. Switching off the colour shaded also removes the perspective, making it easier to review toolpaths.

************************************************** ****************************************

The new functionality certainly makes the software significantly more powerful and flexible, and we have spent a lot of time trying to ensure it remains easy and fun to use.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Tony

[Jason Marsha]

Hi Tony,
As usual doing lots of work with VCarve Pro. I have pictures of signs that I have carved but cannot post. I will email you some soon.

Was the ability to adjust the plunge speed on tabs included in VCarve Pro 4?

Jason

[Tony Mac]

Hi Jason,

Yes - The plunge move on a 2D Tab is now at the specified plunge feedrate.

Good to hear from you and I hope all is well on your side of the world.

Tony