Multi Stage Carves

Multi-stage carves, such as roughing/detail carves, allow you to use more than one bit on the same project. This allows you to carve as much of the project as possible with a larger (roughing) bit and then swap in smaller bits to finish intricate parts of your project.

There are many benefits to using the largest possible bit for carving the majority of your job instead of carving everything with the smallest bit. Using multiple bits can shorten the overall length of your carves. These types of carves also extend the life of small, delicate bits because these bits are only used to carve sections of the design that require a narrower bit diameter.

Adding bits

Click + next to the Bit menu to add another bit. You can use up to four bits on a project:

1. Bit: your roughing bit, which carves as much of the design as possible.
2. Detail Bit: a smaller bit for the intricate parts the roughing bit can't reach.
3. Drill Bit: carves the drill holes in your design.
4. Outline Bit: carves the outlines and cutouts in your design.

Click × on a bit menu to remove that bit.

Running a multi-stage carve

If you are using the z-probe and homing switches, running a successful multi-stage carve is straightforward. The process will go something like this:

• Connect USB
• Set up project in Easel
• Home Machine (Machine > Home)
• Click Carve
• Probe Material to set z-axis work zero position
• Move to XY work zero position
• Click Carve
• When carve stops, change the bit (assume machine has moved)
• Re-Home Machine (Machine > Home)
• Click Carve
• Probe Material with the next bit to set z-axis work zero position
• USE LAST XY to have the same starting point as the roughing carve

The process is the same for every bit. Repeat the last five steps, from changing the bit to USE LAST XY, for each additional bit you use.