I’ve only seen a few related posts here or elsewhere.
My woodworking focus has been woodturning, but I recently purchased a shapeoko XXl with the idea of combining the best of the CNC and my wood lathe. The CNC has proved to be a huge distraction from my lathe but I’m finally making some combined projects.
Anyway, first efforts include wood and resin inlays to shallow bowl and platters. All done with v-carve inlays to the round before turning. Minimal sanding during finishing doesn’t dig into the inlay enough to matter.
A bowl with an inlay in the bottom proved to be a disaster when the bit retract height didn’t clear the edge of the bowl. Not good.
I’m ready to try adding inlays to segmented turnings but think I’ll first experiment with v-carve inlays. I know, they can’t be turned down much without exceeding the depth of the inlay, that’s the experimental part. I think this may be a better as the full depth inlays are very hard to get perfect fits. My limited v-carve items have produced great detail with amazing results.
Woodturning has evolved from simple bowls to art. I am a member of American Association of Woodturners (AAW) and get a nice magazine every month from them. The mag is full of turning that has evolved into a lot of post processing with textures and piercing. If not a member of AAW it is worth the membership for the mag.
Very nice! The CNC has been a distraction for me too but I have more people interested in purchasing CNC projects over other wood related creations. Still, I have a few projects including both like a couple of 12-15 watch cases, one with a glass or acrylic etched top and an resin inlay beside table.
In regard to your bowl disaster, I know someone did an engraving at a certain depth at the bottom of the blank and then turned the bowl revealing the inlay/engraving at the bottom. I was trying to figure out how to do it so that you couldn’t see the engraving when you turned the bowl over. I guess you could glue another piece of wood on the bottom after it had been cnc’d.
