Carve flutes#

Flutes are grooves whose depth changes along their length — down a column or a table leg, deepest in the middle and fading out at the ends.

1. Draw or import the lines the flutes run along. Open strokes are usual.
2. Select them all.
3. Click CAM Operations → Fluting.
4. Pick a V-bit (V-groove) or a ball nose (round-bottomed flute).
5. Set Depth — the deepest point of the flute. The line under it says how wide the groove will be there.
6. Shape the Height Profile:
   • Drag the points. Left is the path's start, right its end. Top is the surface, bottom is full depth.
   • Set Points for more or fewer breakpoints. The shape is kept.
   • Click a point to type its exact position and depth.
7. Leave Smooth on for a curved flute, or turn it off for straight lines between points.
8. Click Generate Toolpath.

The profile runs the wrong way#

Tick Reverse. The profile then starts at the other end of each path. It only matters when the profile is not the same at both ends.

Different lengths#

One profile fits them all: it is stretched over each path's own length.

Related: Fluting settings · Fluting in the user guide