MakerVault Documentation

Welcome to the MakerVault documentation. MakerVault is a local-first desktop file organizer built for makers who use laser cutters, CNC routers, vinyl cutters, and 3D printers.

Find any design file in seconds. Tag it. Open it. Done.

What MakerVault does

MakerVault solves the universal pain point of having thousands of design files scattered across folders with no way to search, tag, or attach context to them. It handles:

• File indexing — Point MakerVault at your folders and it automatically scans and indexes 25+ file types including SVG, DXF, AI, STL, G-code, LightBurn, xTool, ZIP archives, and more.
• Instant search — Full-text search across filenames, tags, notes, and source URLs. Deep search lets you search inside file contents.
• Hierarchical tagging — Create nested tags up to 3 levels deep (e.g., Holiday > Christmas > Ornaments) and filter by any level.
• Spacebar preview — Press Space to preview any file without opening another app. SVGs, images, PDFs, fonts, LightBurn files (interactive canvas), 3D models, and ZIP archives all render natively.
• LightBurn integration — MakerVault reads inside LightBurn files to extract notes, cut settings (including kerf, interval, and Z offset), text elements, and font names. Renders an interactive canvas preview showing actual cut layers.
• ZIP archive browser — Browse files inside ZIP archives without extracting them. Preview images, SVGs, text, and fonts directly from within the archive.
• Machine tracking — Assign files to specific machines (laser cutters, CNCs, etc.) and filter or sort your library by machine.
• Material tracking — Track what physical materials you cut or print. Assign materials to files and filter by material type, brand, or supplier.
• Project builds — Group design files into projects that record your actual builds. Log the machine and material used, attach finished-work photos, and track each project from idea to complete.
• Source tracking — Record where files came from (Design Bundles, Etsy, personal designs) with auto-detection from URLs.
• Grid and list views — Browse files as thumbnails or as a sortable table with configurable columns.

Getting started

1. Download and install MakerVault
2. Add your first folder
3. Learn the basics

Core features

• File Management — Watched folders, file types, machines, duplicate detection, grid view, column sorting
• Search & Filtering — Instant search, deep search, multi-filter, saved views
• Tagging — Hierarchical tags, bulk tagging, tag manager
• Preview — Spacebar quick preview, ZIP browser, LightBurn canvas, 3D viewer, custom photos
• LightBurn Integration — Canvas preview, cut settings, notes, font linking
• File Actions — Open, reveal, context menu, notes, custom photos
• Sources — Track where your files came from
• Materials — Material inventory, categories, brands, suppliers
• Projects — Build tracking, cuts, photos, project status
• Data Management — Export, import, licensing

Need help?

If you run into any issues, reach out to us at hello@makervaultapp.com.