Multiple inlays and retaining X, Y and Z

How To Machining
1

I need expert advice. I do many inlays (maple in walnut, etc.) and my settings have always treated me well after I honed in all the details. Now, I’m doing a multi-wood inlay and need to move the female board for clamping the male plugs, which will be pre carved. Each plug requires I cut the female counterpart and remove from CNC, glue up with matching male plug, clamp, let dry overnight, put back on CNC and carve waste. Then repeat 4 times.

How to retain the original x, y, and Z point during all the moves. I plan to keep the X and X referenced using 3-4 asymmetric dowels (as done on 2 sided 3d carves.

But what about the Z. How do you folks solve?

My CAD is VCarve Pro, CAM in Carbide Motion, Machine is Shapeoko 5 Pro, Spindle is 65mm VFD and I use bitsetter.

Thanks,
Jimmy

2

If your male & female stock are the same thickness to start, i.e. the Z zero is in the same plane,
in theory your bitsetter should retain the correct tool length offset to keep Z zero accurate.

That being said, I would never trust it, so I would always double check my Z zero to the stock before each cut. I put my bitsetter in a drawer & just do it by eye.

2 Likes
3

Thanks Tod1d. I will give this a try.