Inlay within inlay

[robbycar]

I need to do a smaller inlay inside a larger inlay piece.

Do I need the treat these as separate operations and make a toolpath for each, or can I have the inlay toolpath also cut the smaller pocket at the same time? Same size cutter is used for both.

Rob.

[ohiolyons]

I've only done one inlay before. Not certain why everyone thinks they are so great.

Don't see how you could get by with one set of toolpaths.

You do the larger one first, glue it and then plan/sand/saw it down.

Then you cut the smaller inlay into inlay you just plan/sand/sawed down.
Since this surface wasn't available to cut into how could you do them simultaneously?

[litzluth]

I presume you are talking about regular inlays, not the Zank vbit method.

There will be 4 toolpaths: the male and female for the first larger inlay (M1, F1), and then the male and female for the smaller inlay(M2, F2). If you get the depth correct for the first set (M1 fitting flush into F1), you could do F2 into M1 before gluing it in and without any sanding.

There is an allowance offset possible for either/both the M and F toolpaths. When I have a new inlay model, I tend to cut the male first, so that when I cut the female (with a zero or really small pocket allowance) I can keep the part on the machine and test the fit and then adjust it as necessary with the pocket allowance.