Inlay Question using Carbide Create

Software Carbide Create
1

I have been successful in creating inlays using Carbide Create build 815. What has worked is to use the V-Carve toolpath. The female is cut using a #102 1/8" upcut bit followed by a 30 degree Vee bit. I set the Start Depth at 0.000" and the Max Depth at 0.200". For the male plug I use the same bits but check the Inlay Plug Mode checkbox. The Plug Depth is set to 0.180" and the Top Gap is set to 0.065".

The problem I have is that I want to use a tapered ball nose bit instead of the 30 degree Vee bit. Using the same parameters, the plug is way too loose in the female. The bit I tried is a SpeTool W01016 which is a 6.3 degree (included angle) with a 1/64" radius (0.031 diameter) ball end.

Any idea what I need to change to get a good fit?

2

Offset the female pocket inward 0.016", Offset the male inlay outward 0.016". And use a 6.3° Vee Bit to program it.

You should notice that the gap you are getting is about the size of the ball end on your TBN. CC assumes the vee bit has a sharp point.

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So the offset should be the radius of the ball tip size? I will try that, thanks!!

4

Tod, those changes really helped! Still a little bit loose so will tweak until perfectly dialed in. Thanks again!

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5

Start with the Male a bit higher. Your plug depth & top gap total .245, so maybe start with plug depth 0.100 and top gap 0.145. If you set it up so you can place the female on top of the male after cutting you can check the actual gap without removing it from the machine. Make the adjustment & recut.

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