[Miranda]

Hey Scott,

Glad you like them! I would suggest looking at Etsy or Kittl, or having AI generate some for you.

Hope that helps!

[Miranda]

Some course projects use 1/4-inch bits, while others use 1/8-inch bits. For example, the Bit Organizer project uses both a 1/8-inch upcut bit and a 1/4-inch downcut bit.

Before buying any 1/4-inch bits, check whether your Cubiko’s spindle and collet can safely hold a 1/4-inch shank. Since every machine is different, Cubiko’s manufacturer or support team will be the best source for confirming which bit shank sizes your specific model accepts.

If your machine only accepts 1/8-inch shank bits, don’t force a 1/4-inch bit into it. You can still follow the course to learn the workflow and core techniques. Your machine may limit certain projects, but the skills you learn will transfer if you upgrade later.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[Miranda]

Hey Robert,

As you move through the CNC Kickstart projects, the main bits used across the course are:

1/4″ downcut bit
60° V-bit
3/4″ bowl and tray bit
Surfacing bit
30° V-bit
1/8″ upcut bit
1/4″ compression bit
1/8″ ball nose / 3D carving bit

The starter guide gives you the core bits to get moving, but a few later projects introduce more specific bits depending on the technique being taught — like inlays, plywood cutting, small detail pockets, and 3D carving.

For recommendations, Andy’s course playbooks commonly point students toward IDC Woodcraft bits, especially for the 1/4″ downcut, 30° V-bit, 1/8″ upcut, compression bit, and 3D carving bit.

Hope that helps!

[Miranda]

Hi Robert,

Congrats on finishing your first project, that’s a big step. Nice work getting that sign made!

For tear out on the top surface, the first bit I’d look at is a downcut endmill. A downcut bit pushes the wood fibers downward as it cuts, which helps leave a much cleaner top edge. That’s why we use a 1/4″ downcut bit for pocketing and profile cuts in several of the course projects.
For pocket letters and larger shapes, a 1/4″ downcut bit is usually a great starting point. For smaller details or tighter areas inside letters, you may need to use a smaller bit, like a 1/8″ bit, depending on how fine the design is. In the Cutter Caddy project, the larger pockets use a 1/4″ downcut, while smaller detail pocketing uses a 1/8″ bit.

A few things to check too:

Make sure your bit is sharp. A dull bit will tear fibers instead of cutting cleanly.

Lightly sand and inspect the surface before cutting. We recommend checking for knots, cracks, warps, or rough areas before machining.

Also double-check your speeds and feeds. Tear out can happen when the bit, material, feed rate, RPM, or pass depth are not working well together.

Hope that helps!

[Miranda]

Hey Chuck,

Since your router maxes out at 10,000 RPM, you are right to slow things down and not just run the included settings as-is.

Inside VCarve, make sure you are editing the actual tool assigned to each toolpath, then recalculating that toolpath after the change. Some toolpaths may still show the old values until they are recalculated. Also double-check that you are updating each toolpath separately, because the pocketing, engraving, and profile cuts use different bits on the Flag Tray.

For this project, the order is pocketing first with the 3/4″ bowl and tray bit, then engraving with the 60° V-bit, then the profile cut with the 1/4″ downcut bit. Re-zero Z after each bit change before running the next toolpath.

If VCarve itself is not saving the tool change, not updating the tool callout, or acting like it is not responding properly, that sounds like a VCarve-specific software issue. In that case, the best next step is to reach out to Vectric support directly. They’ll be able to walk through your version, tool database behavior, and any settings that may be causing that.

Hope that helps!

[Miranda]

The price of everything has gone up but here is the cheapest 1/4″ bits I’ve found. https://amzn.to/4ezaSS4. There are some really cheap 1/8″ bits though here https://amzn.to/44CG1Ov

amzn.to

9PCS Carbide CNC Router Bits Set 1/4 Inch Shank, Multiple Uses Nano Coating Spiral Router Bit for Woodworking Detail Carving Trimming V Groove Engraving - Amazon.com

9PCS Carbide CNC Router Bits Set 1/4 Inch Shank, Multiple Uses Nano Coating Spiral Router Bit for Woodworking Detail Carving Trimming V Groove Engraving - Amazon.com

[Miranda]

Hey James,

Carbide Motion is built for Carbide 3D machines, so it may not connect properly to a Genmitsu 4040 Pro. For Genmitsu projects in the course, Andy’s playbooks use UGS / Universal Gcode Sender with the Genmitsu setup, and the files are exported using the Genmitsu post-processor.

[Miranda]

Hey Maurice,

Since this involves the Genmitsu 4040 Pro Max, the CFL10-40 laser module, and V-Carve settings, this is most likely a machine/controller/laser setup issue or a software-specific laser output setting. Every laser module and controller handles that a little differently.

The best next step is to reach out to Genmitsu/SainSmart support for the laser and machine connection side. They’ll have the correct wiring, firmware, power, and controller diagnostics for that exact model.

For the V-Carve side, I’d also recommend checking Vectric’s official laser/post-processor support resources. If the machine moves but the laser does not fire, the issue may be tied to the post-processor, laser toolpath setup, output commands, or controller configuration.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[Miranda]

Hey Thomas,

You can find the bits Andy uses here: https://www.andybirdbuilds.com/tools-i-use

andybirdbuilds.com

Tools I Use | Enhance Your CNC Skills Today — Andy Bird Builds

Explore tools, software, and machines for CNC projects, plus educational courses to elevate your woodworking and CNC skills.

[Miranda]

Hey Dan,

On the Welcome Home sign, the playbook doesn’t list a specific flat depth value for either the 30° or 60° V-carve toolpaths because the project uses Carbide Create’s V-carve toolpaths, where the depth is typically driven by the design geometry rather than a manually entered flat depth value.

If you’re opening the provided project file, I recommend leaving the V-carve settings as they are in the file and simply confirming your material thickness is correct before calculating toolpaths.

Hope that answers your question,

Miranda

[Miranda]

Hey Mark,

Here are a few things to check:

• Make sure the file was fully extracted from the ZIP folder before opening it.
• Verify that the file you’re trying to open is actually the .crv3d file and not still inside the compressed folder.
• Confirm you’re opening it from within VCarve rather than double-clicking the file in Windows.
• Check that your VCarve installation is up to date.

One thing that stands out is that .crv3d files are 3D project files. If VCarve Desktop 12.510 doesn’t recognize the file type at all, it may be worth contacting Vectric Support, as this falls into a software-specific issue. They can confirm whether there are any version restrictions or licensing limitations affecting .crv3d files.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[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

[Miranda]

Hey Thomas,

Here are the biggest things I’d check:

• Make sure you’re buying the exact collet for your router model, Bosch has several palm routers that look almost identical but use different collets.
• Avoid cheap aftermarket collets when possible. Bosch collets usually hold much better and have tighter tolerances.
• Double-check the bit shank size. A 1/4″ bit in a metric collet (or vice versa) will never clamp correctly.
• Inspect the collet for dust, resin, or tiny cracks. Even a little packed sawdust can keep it from tightening properly.
• Don’t bottom the bit out fully before tightening. Insert the bit, then pull it back out about 1/8″ before tightening the collet. That helps the collet clamp evenly.

Hope that helps,

Miranda

[Miranda]

Hey Bryan,

Yes, we highly recommend having a right angle corner where you can register your workpiece. Andy has used a lot of things in the past. The one you see in the videos he 3d printed himself. But he’s used something as simple as 2 pieces of wood brad nailed to his waste board. Just use a square to get them aligned. He didn’t use the tslots to mount, but you totally could. He just used screws or brads. Hope this helps.

[Miranda]

On most computers, download the ZIP file first. Then right-click the zipped folder and choose “Extract All” or “Unzip.” Once it extracts, open the new unzipped folder and use the project file inside.