In Vcarve you can change the safe Z height by clicking the “Set” button at the top of the Toolpath form on the right side of the screen.
Then enter the height you want in the “Clearance (Z1)” box.
Always set your Z0 to the top of your work surface (unless you change the home position in Vcarve). Also, be sure that all your coordinate values in UGCS are zero for work and machine positions before you click send.
When you click the Send button in UGCS the spindle will immediately move up to the Z Clearance (Z1) value you set in Vcarve. Then the spindle will move to the starting X/Y location and lower to the work surface minus the first pass depth and begin cutting.