VCarve Inlays

[canman77]

When you do a vcarve inlay, I've been reading that for the male inlay portion, you set the start depth deeper than the female inlay portion. But the numbers that a lot of people use end up being pretty deep depth of cut overall (0.2", which isn't super deep, but deeper than my machine likes to make in one pass).

It looks like you can change the tool max depth of cut, which would normally be fine, except that the initial start depth more or less would create a deeper cut than the max depth. How does one avoid that?

Could you use numbers like this?

Female inlay:
Start depth - 0mm
Flat depth - 2mm

Male inlay:
Start depth - 0mm
Flat depth - 3mm

Will this allow the male portion to be taller so you can stuff it into the female portion and have the gap so you can cut off the excess? Or am I completely misunderstanding how the vcarve inlay method works?

Are you supposed to surface the male portion down to the start depth? If so, why not just set the start depth to 0..?

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[victorofga]

heres a simple explanation.. because theres some description what makes confusion indeed


look for the picture
you make a 50 x 50 mm square inlay
you use 90 deg v-bit
10 mm deep (for simplicity)

then the bottom of female 30 mm

so you make offset as 10 mm inward

that is your top of the male you can see on right side

and from here you can make any depth which deeper than female

of course you calculate your bit and your depth
but this is the simple explanation

[victorofga]

so, after you see trough its logic you make it easy

sure you make a sample first example a squre
chop off two corner of male then try it how much is it fit
because program calculates with zero diameter on the tip and you have at least 0.1 mm tip on your bit

[canman77]

Right...so the idea is to have the male piece essentially longer than the female pocket depth?

I came across these numbers (inches) on another forum with reports that they work:

Pocket:
Start depth: 0
Flat depth: .1

Inlay:
Start Depth: .07
Flat depth: .09

So basically the full cut of the inlay piece is .16, which is deeper than the inlay pocket. Makes sense.

My question now is, what is the advantage of using a different start depth and a shallower flat depth vs. a zero start depth and a deeper flat depth? There must be one, otherwise the directions would not specify using a non-zero start depth.

[victorofga]

probably they try to playing with depth from same zero height

that logic will work if female depth say 0.1 from zero the male is start from 0.1 and go down additional 0.1 plus the excess you want
of course don't forget outside - inside

the excess need for the male proturing out from female..


but again you need to count on the program calculate with zero diameter tip , what you wont get in reality..

best idea is start to cut samples..
make your own experiment..


reason I suggest use an offset because you can zero on the material top
when you cut male as start from 0.1 then you need either way set zero in the midair or milling off the excess

================================================== ====================

your example the inlay should start from 0.1 as the depth of pocket..

[canman77]

Hmm. Yeah I'll play with it and see what happens!

[victorofga]

DO NOT GO with depth people suggesting

first get the logic of this then you are ok

look for the picture I posted..

that's why everyone has difficulties to figure this.. because you try to follow suggestions..
its a simple geometry issue..

not depth and height feed
geometry

[canman77]

OK. Been busy with work but I'll mess around with it hopefully today and tomorrow and see if I can't wrap my head around everything! I'll post back with my findings.

Thanks!