I've started cutting little pyramids with the V-carving bit, running in straight lines that cross (see image below). The bit runs up one vector line, then comes back down to finish the cut, then does the next row - can chips the resulting "peak" right off.
For the most part, my company makes stuff out of basswood - until we got the CNC, this soft, shaggy wood was the norm so we have a LOT around. It's awful. On the other end of the scale, I have a bunch of brazillian ebony so dense that nothing will chip the peaks off. SO!
1) is it safe to assume that if I can cut the basswood without chipping, I can scale the process up from there, and...
2) what is the best method to avoid this kind of chipping? Sharp cutter, of course but fast RPMs, hard & fast tool speed? Low RPM, fast tool? High RPM, fast tool?
The piece is very well secured, so I don't think it's a matter of...chatter (ugh, rhyme, sorry) but feel free to NOT rule that out...
This one is ebony. All the chips & voids were there to begin with....