X-Carve is a 3D carving machine that can carve projects in wood, a variety of plastics (e.g. acrylic and HDPE), and other materials. Many other companies refer to machines like X-Carve as CNC milling machines, CNC routers, or CNC routing machines.
After you have created a project design with our free, cloud-based Easel software (or another CAD/CAM program), secure your carving material to the X-Carve workspace with clamps. Typical materials used with X-Carve include hardwoods, softwoods, and different kinds of plastics. X-Carve is also strong enough to carve harder materials without compromising on precision.
Send your files to your X-Carve using the Easel software. The design file is sent to X-Carve's motion controller (called X-Controller) in the form of specific X, Y, and Z coordinates for every toolpath. The official name for this data file is a gcode file. Gcode is the standard coding language for CNC-controlled machines like X-Carve. The gcode coordinates instruct the machine where to move, how fast to move, and how deep to carve into your material during the course of your carve.
Luckily, Easel automatically generates the correct gcode for your project! This is one of the biggest benefits of using X-Carve, especially if you are new to CNC milling. Easel takes the guesswork out of generating the gcode required to carve your design.
Easel continues to control the spindle the entire time X-Carve is carving your project. X-Carve's spindle houses the bit that carves your design into the material. The spindle moves along the workspace by sliding across a set of rails. As the machine moves, the bit removes unneeded material and leaves behind the material that makes up your design. When finished, the remaining material is your completed product.
When your project is completed, we encourage you to share your project with other makers! You can also see what other makers are doing with X-Carve on our YouTube channel.
Makers of all skill levels have used X-Carve to make incredible things, supplement existing project designs, and start a business out of their homes.
For any X-Carve questions, technical or otherwise, you view the X-Carve FAQs within this support center. Additionally, our online forum is filled with passionate X-Carve owners who can help beginners get started or assist advanced users with supplemental CNC knowledge.
You can also reach out to our Customer Success team: they have many years of experience using X-Carve and Easel and are happy to answer your questions.