Trouble with Inlays

[BB2]

Howdy,

Still fairly new to the CNC world, trying to get some experience with creating inlays.

I’m unsure if this is something the forums are for, or if this is even the correct place in the forums. If not, just let me know.

I’m having difficulty with inlays. Currently working on a cutting board for a friend, but have been testing my inlay skills on test pieces. The plugs aren’t “filling in” the pockets completely. So when the extra plug material is removed, there are areas where the plug is missing, & sometimes only glue is left. In other areas, there are gaps around the plugs. Also getting some chip out on the smaller/ finer details of the plug.

I’m unsure if I’m not applying enough clamping force, using the wrong bits for this job, not using the right feeds/ speeds for this job…

Here are the details of my last inlay job:

• Machine: Sienci LM MK2
• Pocket material: Soft Maple
• Plug material: Red Oak
• Clearance bit: Bits&Bits 425-CM125LR 1/8″ Long Reach Spiral Compression Bit
• V-carve bit: Sienci 60 Degree V-bit
• Clamps: 2, 35# weights, stacked on top of each other
• Glue: Titebond 3
• About 1 week from glue-up to surfacing extra plug material
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

[_Michael]

I have some posts that might help you.

Check the opening post of this thread for pictures of my end result. There is a v-carve inlay cheatsheet and I do my best to explain what the settings mean.

My latest cribbage boards

[ArcaneTombOfInlay] TLDR; Copy settings from pictures, win! These are my settings for the cribbage board inlays along with part of this other post. Use the top link if you want further reading because there is a description and procedure file that’s a good read there. Okay so what do these settings mean you ask? Well let’s start with the pocket or female part. It’s just a plain old v-carve and all you need to decide is how deep you want to go into the receiving part. I chose 4mm and might …

That post also links to this one where I posted the cheatsheet and a PDF about the v-carve procedures that I found somewhere.

VCarve Inlay Cheat Sheet

I was searching for something else on my hard drive when I found this cheat sheet that I had saved. I thought it might be useful so I’m posting it here. It explains what all the numbers do as far as start depth and flat depth for both parts. [VCarve_Inlay_Cheat_Sheet] VCarve_Inlay_Cheat_Sheet.pdf (188.8 KB) Edit: A recent , thanks @Scottp, reminded me that I wanted to put the other V-Carve Inlay PDF that I learned from here so they can be found in one spot. Basically, all that I know …

If you have any questions after looking at that stuff let me know and I’ll do what I can.

EDIT: Another tip I’ve heard is to do the clearance pass last because that way you have more wood supporting intricate areas of the carve and are less likely to get chipout. Not sure if that is mentioned in the other stuff I linked.

[gwilki]

@BB2 What CAD/CAM application are you using?

[BB2]

Thanks for the detailed reply, @_Michael! I’ll comb through the info & get back with you if I have any follow ups. Thanks again!

@gwilki I’m using Vectric V-Carve’s V-Carve Inlay + gsender.

[_Michael]

Your welcome! I also wanted to mention that the cheatsheet and my posts were using VCarve before they added the V-Carve Inlay toolpath. I don’t have a new enough version to know exactly how the old way, with plain V-Carves, translates into setting up the new toolpath.