# Visualization of carve before carving

**URL:** <https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [May 3, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251 "2016-05-03T17:06:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DavidSpencer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@DavidSpencer](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidSpencer)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251/1 "2016-05-03T17:06:48Z")

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What is the best way to get an idea of what a carve will look like before it is actually carved?

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**Author:** ![JkWestphal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jkwestphal/32/53751_2.png) [@JkWestphal](https://community.inventables.com/u/JkWestphal)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251/2 "2016-05-03T17:10:36Z")

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It depends on what design software you are using.

I run vcarve pro and it has a preview window and ugs has a visualization window that tracks machine movement in near real time.

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**Author:** ![DavidSpencer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@DavidSpencer](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidSpencer)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251/3 "2016-05-03T18:21:22Z")

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inkscape

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**Author:** ![GeoffSteer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7c8e57/32.png) [@GeoffSteer](https://community.inventables.com/u/GeoffSteer)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251/4 "2016-05-03T22:23:15Z")

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[Camotics](http://camotics.org/) will show you the end result and the toolpaths as it is cut, not is real time though.

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**Author:** ![ScottWhite](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/scottwhite/32/22120_2.png) [@ScottWhite](https://community.inventables.com/u/ScottWhite)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/visualization-of-carve-before-carving/23251/5 "2016-05-04T22:12:46Z")

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Another vote for Camotics. I run every potential cut through the software and has saved me countless number of times. It’s free, Open-source and looks to be available for all platforms. My entire tool chain is OS and this is a main part of my arsenal.

> **[CAMotics](https://camotics.org/)**
>
> CAMotics is an Open-Source GCode simulator which simulates 3-axis CNC. Fast, flexible and user friendly, CAMotics runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.