A simple way to make inlays

This forum is for users to post tips and tricks they have found useful while working with VCarve Pro
User avatar
Tony Mac
Vectric Alumni
Posts: 1985
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:24 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Post by Tony Mac »

Not sure about Vinlay because anyone reading it for the first time will read vinlay,
as they probably won't understand the V link to VCPro.

Any other ideas on a name for this technique would be appreciated?

Thanks again guys for taking the time to develop and document this process.

Tony

User avatar
Les_linton
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 5:52 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ViperX7
Location: Pekin, IL

Post by Les_linton »

How about simply what it is....

Tapered inlay.

I find it easier to learn things when the names are what you are trying to do.

Les

MZiegler
Vectric Apprentice
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:06 pm

Post by MZiegler »

Damian , you are doing better work on your homemade machine then I am current doing on my shopbot! Mark

User avatar
dman
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 182
Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:52 am
Location: Weirton,WV USA

Post by dman »

Thanks for the kind words Mark. Believe me, I still make my fair share of prototypes :D

Paul Z
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 517
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot PRT Alpha 96x48
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Post by Paul Z »

Another test case. Pine heartwood in black walnut.
Attachments
Butterfly small file.jpg

User avatar
Les_linton
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 5:52 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ViperX7
Location: Pekin, IL

Post by Les_linton »

Paul,

What are the dimensions and what bits did you use for this?

Thanks,

Les

Paul Z
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 517
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot PRT Alpha 96x48
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Post by Paul Z »

The inlay is about 5" tall by 6.5" wide and was cut with a 60 degree bit. I'd be happy to post the design files if anyone is interested, but I don't want to waste the disk space unless someone wants it.

Paul Z

Paul Z
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 517
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot PRT Alpha 96x48
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Post by Paul Z »

I already got a request for the files so I'll post them here.

Forgot to mention that the inlay isn't going to look much like the artwork when it is cut, but be patient. Also, when you glue the inlay into the pocket, it looks like it doesn't fit right because it rides high, but once again, it's part of the grand plan. When everything gets sanded smooth, it's there and it's usually dead on.

Paul Z

PS I tried to use epoxy ... it was big learning experience (huge mistake). The viscosity is to high and I couldn't press the inlay in far enough. Use wood glue, make sure that the sides of all of the cuts are well covered with the glue, clamp it tightly, and wait a full day for it to set.
Attachments
Anmin312 5in High pocket.crv
(418 KiB) Downloaded 1697 times
Anmin312 5in High inlay.crv
(398.5 KiB) Downloaded 1921 times

CRFultz
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1160
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:21 pm
Location: Longview, Texas

Post by CRFultz »

Paul, how thick is the material you are cutting your inlay from?
the crv is showing one inch but I can't imagine you are face cutting over 1/2 inch of waste material from the back side

with a max cut of .4...I'm guessing .5 thick is suitable?

Have you tried this on thin stock...like veeneer material with a backing substrate?

Chuck

Paul Z
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 517
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot PRT Alpha 96x48
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Post by Paul Z »

Chuck,

All measurements are made from the surface of the materials, so as long as the material is "thick enough", it doesn't matter how thick it is. If I remember correctly, the pocket was 0.3" deep and the inlay was 0.4" deep. The inlay was designed to fit 0.2" into the pocket with a gap of 0.1" from the bottom of the inlay and the bottom of the pocket when the inlay is installed. As you have deduced, one would need at least 0.5" thick material for this setup.

In this specific case, the inlay was made from 0.75" heartwood pine.

I have not tried this with thin stock.

Paul Z

CRFultz
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1160
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:21 pm
Location: Longview, Texas

Post by CRFultz »

Makes sense...I wonder if it would be possible to skim cut my 1/2 inch stock
to make it exactly .41 in height then cut the inlay....just to separate it...then sand it flush in the pocket to remove the interior regions....just thinking...may not work

Paul Z
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 517
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot PRT Alpha 96x48
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Post by Paul Z »

Here is the latest test. I used superglue to bond the inlay to the pocket. Total time from two somewhat flat scraps of wood to the first coat of varnish was less than 50 minutes. The inlay is about 5" tall.

The artwork and the results are below.
Attachments
SWA001Cmod1 small.jpg
DSC_0103 cropped small.jpg

User avatar
busch
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:33 pm
Location: Minnesota

Great work

Post by busch »

Paul, those inlays are very good.
Do you think that you could build a multi-color picture by taking the first inlay group and rerouting it and adding another inlay?

I'm thinking that you could just keep adding colors and end up with a spectacular result.

Great job.
Trent

Paul Z
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 517
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: shopbot PRT Alpha 96x48
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Contact:

Post by Paul Z »

Trent,

The reason for experimenting with super glue was to make a multi-wood inlay. I think one would want to make the base with index holes and pins to be able to reregister it to the cutting machine. For each colr/type of wood, one would repeat the pocket/inlay process. Using superglue, one should be able to lay more than one color per hour.

Paul Z

User avatar
busch
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:33 pm
Location: Minnesota

Post by busch »

Paul, I agree. It's kind of similar to multicolor silk screening . You add one color using registration pins, then add more as you need them.

Using your sea horse as an example, you could route and glue 3 or 4 sea horses, then go back and add sea weed in and around the horse detail.

That would be quite neat.

Thanks for sharing.
Trent

Post Reply