This project is a MOP ( mother of pearl) inlay in the shape of a diamond.
Using the inlay tool I got the (pocket) shape of a diamond with the (anticipated) curves around the corners. See picture.
This pocket is not a big deal as it would look fine in the wood. The problem is I do not have a piece of mother of pearl big enough to cut the corresponding male diamond inlay in one piece allowing me to cut the corresponding curves. If I break the diamond up into 4 separate pieces of MOP to inlay within the diamond, each piece would have sharp edges at the corners and would not fit properly in the diamond pocket.
Is there any way to cut the individual pieces of the diamond with curves that would fit into the pocket nicely?(I don't want to buy a larger piece of MOP)
Thanks
K
Since you will be cutting the mother of pearl to suit, I would suggest using the pocket toolpath to eliminate the rounded inside corners. You won't be able to eliminate the rounded outside corners of the pocket because they are formed by the radius of the bit.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgement.
Here are two examples of how the diamond would be cut with 4 sections.(As mentioned, I don't have a singe piece of MOP large enough to fit the pocket perfectly)
The two examples are:
A 4 piece profile cut (with the sharp edges)
A 4 piece inlay cut (with the rounded edges).
Neither would fit properly into the inlay pocket shown in the previous picture.
Any suggestions?
mmmmm... both shapes look pretty nice.
How would you go about making the shapes for the pieces that are rounded on one end and straight on the other , or the pieces rounded on two ends?
Can this be done simply or with a bit of "node editing".
kristenanne77 wrote:mmmmm... both shapes look pretty nice.
How would you go about making the shapes for the pieces that are rounded on one end and straight on the other , or the pieces rounded on two ends?
Can this be done simply or with a bit of "node editing".
Thanks
K
I would put each piece on a separate layer like this: Draw the arrangement you want, copy to two layers (Only two are required, as the parts are duplicates) , and on each layer delete the vectors you don't want. Then copy the parts to another layer and arrange them for cutting.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgement.
As Tom said, they'd look better with sharp corners. To minimize manual chiseling, I'd cut the pocket as you did, then define a V-carve toolpath with a flat depth the same, using a flat area clearance tool. You don't need to run the clearance tool toolpath...it's just so that the V-bit will only cut on the edges. In fact, it will only cut wood in the corners because most of the material will have been cut with the pocketing path. Then you just have a very small amount of hand-chisel work, with the sharp corners being defined by the v-bit.
I made some doors with inlayed imitation Ivory which was very brittle, try to cut mitres on the CNC the point always snapped off,
I resorted to cutting the strips on the CNC and bevelling the mitres on a disc sander with a guide jig
Salmon's lair wrote:I made some doors with inlayed imitation Ivory which was very brittle, try to cut mitres on the CNC the point always snapped off,
I resorted to cutting the strips on the CNC and bevelling the mitres on a disc sander with a guide jig
All of your extra investment in time surely made this a beautiful piece in the end.
