VCarve Desktop
VCarve Desktop from Vectric is used to design jobs for the X-Carve CNC router. A CAD like interface allows one to specify all the elements of a design and to specify the toolpaths and router bits to be used. The output products of VCarve Desktop are gcode files – essentially a text file of commands specifying absolute and relative movements in the x, y and z axis to the router controller.
gSender
I use gSender by Sienci Labs (sienci.com) to send the gcode files produced by VCarve Desktop to the XCarve controller.
Lightburn
Lightburn – Better Software for Laser Cutters – is a design, layout, editing and control software for laser cutters/etchers. With Lightburn, I can import artwork in a variety of common vector graphic and image formats (including AI, PDF, SVG, DXF, PLT, PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP). I can also arrange, edit and create new vector shapes within the editor. Lightburn interfaces directly with my laser to control laser position, laser power, speed, number of passes and cut order as well as other functions.
xTool Creative Space – XCS
While Lightburn is capable of interfacing to the xTool P2 for direct output of designs, it cannot access the P2 cameras. In order to access the P2 cameras for positioning of images onto the materials to be lasered, I use XCS to output designs created in Lightburn. XCS has some of the features of Lightburn but is painfully difficult to use in comparison.