Inlays with F-engrave

F-engrave 1.73 is being used in this blog post.  The YouTube videos are excellent but the gui has changed enough to need a bit of explanation.

If using linuxcnc: settings -> general settings -> un-check 'suppress comments' can be useful.

Click on any image to enlarge.

The dxf file is a simple set of rectangles.

The main items of interest are the image height and the v-carve selection checked.

In General Settings you may want to enable center format arcs.

The origin is set to center in this example.

Settings used as shown.

Calculate v-carve.

Calculate clean-up.

Save clean-up gcode.

Save v-clean-up gcode.

In this example cuts were deep enough that no clean-up was needed.

Close settings window.

File menu -> save gcode as "name"_female.  This is the v-carve tool path.

Next...

Mirror image.

Re-open v-carve settings.

Check 'add box' and 'prismatic'

Set gap, in this example 1/16"  (-0.0625)

Calculate v-carve.

Calculate clean-up.

Save clean-up g-code

Save v-clean-up gcode.

Close vcarve settings window.

In main window: File menu -> save gcode

Save as "name"_male.  This is the male v-carve path.

There will be up to 6 g-code files.  If using a tool change routine or a tool changer this can be reduced to 2 files using the Linux cat command.  Remove unneeded M2's and add T# and M6's as needed.

For illustration purposes STL files were created using Camotics.

Meshmixer was used to mate the 2 STL files.  The result was brought into QCad to add the dimensions.  If the result isn't exact to the decimal place blame the weird mix of software.  The gap is very close to the intended 0.0625".  This gap provides space for a saw blade between the 2 surfaces.  See why sanding away the pointy tops of the male part before clamping/gluing is a good idea ?

A small note on using F-engrave for inlays: the software calculations are based on a cutter with a true point.  If the cutter has any amount of flat on the end the tool height must be adjusted accordingly.  Even a flat of 0.030" can result in a failed inlay.  Other pit-falls are an off-center cutter point,  a spindle with run-out, and v-bits labelled with a  nominal (not exact) included angle