Engrave

Engrave follows an open or closed sketch path at a fixed carve depth. Choose Direct for text, marks, and decorative lines; choose Trochoidal to cut a wider functional slot.

Requirements

Requirement	Value
Target features	Open or closed machinable paths; optional closed regions filter the cut
Tool	Compatible cutting tool
Passes	Single pass

The path is the machining target. A closed region can filter where it is engraved, but the region itself is not an engraving target.

Parameters

Shared settings are documented in Common operation parameters.

Parameter	Description
Carve depth	Sets the fixed depth of the path. Stepdown applies when this exceeds a safe per-pass depth.
Strategy	Chooses Direct centerline cutting or Trochoidal slot cutting.
Trochoidal cut width and Trochoidal advance	Control the channel and orbit spacing for a trochoidal slot.

Strategies

An engrave toolpath following an open curve once, with direction arrows along it — Direct engraving follows the line once, at the depth you set.

The same curve engraved with the Trochoidal strategy, the cutter orbiting in a dense chain of loops along the line instead of following it once — Trochoidal engraving orbits along the line, so the cutter is never fully buried in the cut.

The simulated stock after engraving, showing narrow grooves following the curved paths — The finished stock shows the engraved grooves at the chosen carve depth.

See Trochoidal cutting for the wider-slot strategy.

Verifying the result

V-carve offset: carve closed geometry with a V-bit.
Common operation parameters: shared feeds and entry settings.