Inlay confusion

[snarejdv01]

I'm sure this is probly a very easy question but I'm having such a hard time wrapping my brain around it. I'm trying to do an inlay of a block O. When I cut it it keeps coming out either to small or to big to fit inside by the width or the cutter. I'm sure it has to do with the arrows but I can't figure out if they should be on the inside out outside of the line. Also with the block O there is a center part arrows that I have to contend with also

[aforww]

I'm assuming since you mentioned arrows, you are talking about fusion. If the arrow is inside the pocket, then it's cutting inside the contour. If the arrow is outside the contour, then it's cutting along the outside. Now there's a couple of things to note here. (I need to do a video on this topic).
1. Cutter diameter. If you want tight tolerances and excellent fitting inlays, you will need to measure the actual diameter of your tools and add them to Fusion's library. Otherwise, you will end up fitment issues.
2. Tool Deflection is a real thing. As your tools move around the material it will have some amount of deflection. This is what finishing passes are for. Always use "multiple finishing passes" when doing stuff like this. A finishing stepover of .001-.002 inches will work very well.
3. I'll always suggest V-carve inlays over standard inlays. you are guaranteed to get a much better fit and retain way more details doing the V-carve inlays. Fengrave is your go-to for this.

[kec-10238]

IDK which s/w you use but you can probably set on offset to the cut by the width of your cutter tool

[Hommer Woods]

Here is a thread with some inlay thoughts. V-Carve inlays are probably the very best for fitting with no gaps. I have managed to get the gaps pretty small using small straight bits too. The detail of what you are inlaying determines if that method has a chance or not though.

millrightcnc.proboards.com/thread/662/inlay-experimentation

[snarejdv01]

This v carving is a really cool technique. I here trying to cut out tiny little pieces and getting so frustrated. Thanks again for the help everyone

[Derek the Admin]

What's happening when you try it? Maybe we can help.

[Hommer Woods]

This inlay was done in 1/4 birch plywood with 1/8 birch plywood for the inlay parts. At the site below you will find the gcode files if you want to try it out. The cutting was all done with a 1/16 straight bit. Cutting the pockets took about 20 minutes and the inlay parts about 6 minutes.

drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B--JQhAUtkeeeHFmYVZ3emJpZVE

Attachments:

[Derek the Admin]

Very nice looking inlay work.

[snarejdv01]

thanks again everyone for the help. I started using f engrave but the one thing i cant figure out is how to program the clean up around the actual text. Every time i set the cleanup it keeps trying to clean up the inside of the text not the wood around it?