Project Files

[Bryan]

i am currently taking the Kickstart course. I am at the flag tray project and can’t get any of it to work. I have to import the SVG file since I am using Carveco Maker. When I try to cut the bowl using a bowl and tray bit no matter what depth I set the tool plows right through one inch of material cutting a hole all the way through. Weirdly it also leaves about a .50-inch circle in the hole. I tried using a different bit and can clear the pocket but then it won’t cut the flag saying it loaded with closed vectors. I am at a loss now. Any Help?

[Miranda]

Hey Bryan,

Based on what you described, the first thing I’d go back and verify inside Carveco Maker is that your imported SVG workflow is matching that original setup exactly:

-Make sure your material thickness is set to your actual board thickness, not assumed thickness.

-Make sure your bowl pocket is referencing top of material for Z-zero.

-Make sure the pocket toolpath is a true pocket / area clearance style operation and not something that is being interpreted as a full cut-through.

Before cutting, preview the pocket toolpath and confirm the maximum depth is staying inside the tray shape instead of treating the center like a through-cut.

That leftover center circle you mentioned sounds like Carveco may be reading part of the imported geometry differently than the original project file, which would also line up with the “closed vectors” message you’re seeing on the flag pass.

Since you’re using Carveco Maker instead of the original Carbide Create file, that part becomes a software-specific issue. We don’t troubleshoot third-party software settings directly, so the best next step for the closed-vector/import behavior is to reach out to Carveco Maker support and ask them how they want that SVG cleaned up or converted for a pocket plus flag-carve workflow.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[James]

I have reached the part in the course where it is time to cut out a state. The video mentions starting with the file that was provided. Where do I find that file? I did not see anything in the written section below the video and I have not been able to find anywhere on the website where the files are located. Sorry to be asking such a basic question before I even begin my first project.

[Miranda]

Hey James,

No problem, happy to help!

In each unit, above the video, there is a tab that says materials. That is where you will find all the files.

Also, if you ever have a problem finding something, check out lesson 1.2 and it will walk you through how to navigate the course and where things are located.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[James]

Very helpful.

Thank you

[Bryan]

I was trying to do the small table project, but the link for the SVG is just a blank page. Also, there is no crocodile SVG at all. That was the project that made me take this course. Can you provide files for these projects please? There is not much reason to go on with the course if those files are not available

[Team]

@miranda we received below reply from Bryan in the support email regarding his concern:

I’m not sure what is going on. Carveco says the flowers on the welcome home sign contain several vector intersections and will not create a toolpath. When the svg files are downloaded they come as an html file that has to be converted. I’m not sure if that conversion is causing an issue but lowing up the flower the vectors are a mess. I even deleted everything but the outline and still got the intersection warning. On the flag tray I had to go in and clean up some crazy vectors deep in the middle of the stars. Also when I try to download the table file nothing shows up. And the big one there is no crocodile svg file offered. That was the project that sealed the deal in taking this program. I’m not real happy about that. I think you brush over the file types to lightly and should explain upfront about svg issues.

• This reply was modified 6 months ago by  Team.

[thomas]

Stuck!

[Miranda]

Hey Bryan,

The small table project and 3D crocodile project should both have downloadable zipped project files in the lesson area, under the materials tab. The table project opens in Vectric, and the crocodile project is also a Vectric 3D carving file, not a standard SVG.It’s important to note that Vectric’s VCarve Pro or higher is required to machine 3D reliefs, so be sure you’re using the right software version.

[Miranda]

Hey Bryan,

For the Welcome Home sign, the course workflow is to download the zipped project file, extract it, then open the extracted project file in Carbide Create. That project uses the flower design with V-carve toolpaths, so I’d avoid converting an HTML download into an SVG if possible. That conversion could definitely create messy vectors or intersections.

For the Flag Tray, the same applies: download the zipped file, extract it, then open the extracted Carbide Create project file. After that, preview/simulate the toolpaths before exporting.

For the Table and 3D Crocodile projects, those are Vectric-based projects. The Crocodile lesson uses Vectric VCarve or above and is built around the 3D relief workflow with separate roughing and finishing toolpaths. It is not listed as a standard SVG-only project file.

The cleanest next step is to go back to each lesson, download the zipped project file again, extract it first, and open the intended project file type directly in the software shown in the lesson instead of converting the browser download. If the download is opening as HTML or nothing appears, try right-clicking the download link and choosing “Save link as,” then make sure the file is saved as the original zipped project folder before extracting it.

Sorry for the confusion,

Miranda

[Miranda]

Hey Thomas,

Thanks for reaching out, this is a very common question.

Here are a couple solid ways to handle it:

Option 1: Scale the project down
Open the file in your software and scale it proportionally so it fits within your machine’s cutting area. Just make sure:

• Your hole sizes still match your bit shanks after scaling
• You recheck toolpaths after resizing

Option 2: Modify the layout
You can adjust the design to:

• Reduce spacing between holes
• Remove a row or column
• Split it into two smaller organizers

Either way, the key is making it fit your machine while still keeping it functional for your workflow.

If you want the simplest path forward, I’d recommend scaling it slightly and doing a quick test cut on scrap to confirm your bit fit.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[thomas]

thanks for the suggestion!

[Bob]

I made it to the Troop Tray, but I am using Vcarve Pro, not what you are using. I did one pass and I had the wrong depth designated. So while I had the toolpaths correct, I didn’t have the depth correct. I didn’t find any walnut and ended up with a 3/4 pine.

Any recommendations?

Thanks, this is a great course, just a knucklehead.

Bob

[Miranda]

Hi Bob,

First off, congratulations on making it to the Troop Tray! That’s a fun project, and honestly, what happened is one of the most common CNC mistakes out there. You’re definitely not the first person to discover a depth setting after the machine already has.

The good news is that you had the toolpaths correct. That’s the hard part. A depth setting issue is usually just a setup detail, and now you’ll probably double-check it every time moving forward.

For the Troop Tray specifically, the playbook recommends measuring your actual material thickness and updating the project settings to match your stock rather than assuming the board thickness. That’s especially important on tray projects where the pocket depth directly affects the final appearance.

Since you’re using VCarve Pro instead of Carbide Create, I’d recommend:

• Verify your material thickness in Job Setup before recalculating toolpaths.
• Run a full simulation and check the final model height and pocket depth before posting toolpaths.
• If you’re switching from the recommended 1″ walnut to 3/4″ pine, consider reducing the pocket depth slightly so you leave plenty of material on the bottom of the tray.
• If you have enough thickness remaining after the incorrect pass, you may be able to adjust the depth and continue from where you are rather than starting over. Use the VCarve preview to confirm the final result before cutting again.

As for the pine, don’t worry about it. Walnut looks fantastic, but pine is actually a great learning material because it’s affordable and forgiving when you’re dialing in a workflow. I’d much rather see someone make a mistake on pine than on a nice piece of walnut.

And thanks for the kind words about the course. The fact that you’re making projects and learning from mistakes means you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. Every CNC owner has a collection of “learning experiences” sitting somewhere in the shop.

Good luck,

Miranda

[Scott]

flower files where can I get more