Project Information
Over the last couple of weeks I have been busy trying to come up with a way to use my CNC Router as an accurate way to do inlay work.
The first problem you encounter when you use a router for inlay work is square corners - it's simply not possible to produce a square inside corner with a round bit.
With a TON of thinking, I found the solution! I was so proud of myself for coming up with this idea - and then I found the same method laid out step-by-step on a YouTube Video! Doh! Oh well, I had fun tinkering and I think I learned more about my machine finding things out on my own.
My first real try was creating my Wood Shop Logo - The RRWW is walnut inlaid into QS Sycamore.
Then I wanted to see just how detailed I could get, so I inlaid a white oak Sugar Skull into a solid piece of walnut.
Then I wanted to see how accurate I could get, so I inlaid a red oak seahorse into a piece of walnut. It's around 4×12 inches in size.
The seahorse is as close to perfect as I can imagine an inlay being - every piece has no gaps and the grain in the wood is continuous. I love how this piece turned out!
I can see a TON of applications that this will be useful for already. The CNC is such a cool tool.
Cheers!
-bob
The first problem you encounter when you use a router for inlay work is square corners - it's simply not possible to produce a square inside corner with a round bit.
With a TON of thinking, I found the solution! I was so proud of myself for coming up with this idea - and then I found the same method laid out step-by-step on a YouTube Video! Doh! Oh well, I had fun tinkering and I think I learned more about my machine finding things out on my own.
My first real try was creating my Wood Shop Logo - The RRWW is walnut inlaid into QS Sycamore.
Then I wanted to see just how detailed I could get, so I inlaid a white oak Sugar Skull into a solid piece of walnut.
Then I wanted to see how accurate I could get, so I inlaid a red oak seahorse into a piece of walnut. It's around 4×12 inches in size.
The seahorse is as close to perfect as I can imagine an inlay being - every piece has no gaps and the grain in the wood is continuous. I love how this piece turned out!
I can see a TON of applications that this will be useful for already. The CNC is such a cool tool.
Cheers!
-bob