An easy way to make inlays using V Carve

[paul_z]

I have wanted to make some inlays with my shopbot but there were two issues:
1. the artwork has to be revised to accommodate the bit size and that would require a fair amount of CAD work for each inlay
2. the resulting inlay would have rounded edges.

I remembered that people who do intarsia will often angle their blade and rotate the piece as they cut to make up for the thickness of the blade. The resulting pieces fit perfectly even though they fit on a bevel. Could one achieve a similar effect using v bits?

It came to me that I might already have the necessary tools, both hardware and software (V Carve). Here is the process that I used:

1.

[rookie432]

impressive!!
Inlay with "sharp" points. Good thinking Paul.

Forney does this with tapered flutes but you still run into rounded corners.

Good Idea and another great use for VEE Carve Pro

[evan]

Wow. The folks at Vectric will be pleased, another use for their already versital product. It's worth saying again; Good Thinking.

[patricktoomey]

Nice work Paul! I'm going to try this myself, sharp edged inlays would be great to add to our arsenals. I've been using ArtCam for inlay work but having to drop to 1/16" bits to get semi-sharp corners is a pain in the butt. I like this idea much more.

What about using double stick tape on the bottom of the piece you cut the parts out of? That way you could cut all the way through (barely) and then peel the part off the tape instead of having to sand through the back of the board to free them.

[paul_z]

Patrick,

I didn't even think about using tape ... what a great idea! It might cause a fragile edge to break off, but it's all about to be glued together anyway. I'm going to try it!

Thanks,

Paul Z

[mikejohn]

Paul
That is really innovative thinking, well done!
Tony, slip the lad a bonus from Vectric


...........Mike

[tony_mac]

This is a great piece of lateral thinking by Paul and his 'Beer Token account' at the Bank of Vectric has been credited!

Tony

[mikejohn]

I have been thinking about this bit of wizadry all day, and Paul has really come up trumps.
I think a few of us will want to add to his beer token account.
It makes you wonder what other magic the Shopbot/Vcarve wizard is capable of


...........Mike

[paul_z]

I forgot to mention that because one is using "normal" size bits the cuts can be made very rapidly compared to using small bits. I used a 1 1/4" V Bit and a 1/4" end mill and cut at 1.5"/sec with both.

Paul Z

[patricktoomey]

Paul, that is a good point about bigger bits. I don't even want to think of all the 1/16" bits I've broken and the time I've wasted slowing down enough to not break them. Plus all the rounded corners that could have been sharp. I'm getting mad just thinking about it now