How to use the VCarve inlay toolpath in Vectric software | 2.5D Toolpaths | V12 Tutorials

[@neststewart4268]

I did my very first inlay. Wow!! This made it so easy. My wife saw the inlay and now thinks I am an expert. No need to burst her bubble. Love V12!!

[@vectric]

That is great to hear, thank you!!!

[@JimHaysTechGeek]

An excellent addition to V12. All of this is possible in V11 but this makes it much easier. Well done, Vectric.

[@vectric]

Thank you glad you like it!!!

[@olleroma]

Thanks Todd, this really is a game changer for me, V12 is a WINNER!

[@vectric]

Thank you, enjoy!!!!

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Good job andexplaining it Todd. I think this tool path will be really something people enjoy having now version 12 it will be so much easier to dothe inlay.

[@vectric]

Thank you!!!

[@thefaithfulcraftsman7471]

Very helpful tutorial and an awesome tool to have in the pocket! Thanks!

[@vectric]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@tk.designs]

This was a nice improvement, which I put to the test against my old method. I can say I am very impressed with the new tool. I like others would have preferred for it to be available in Desktop as well, but I had upgraded to Pro anyway since I bought a much larger CNC. Thanks for the video!

[@vectric]

Thank you, that is great to hear!

[@homtherobot]

I'm looking to switch from Carbide Create to VCarve Pro (at some point - still building up my piggy bank 😅). This exact feature is the main thing that had me wondering if I can make the switch. I do lots of inlays and have CC's inlay feature totally figured out, and I wasn't sure if it was even supported here. Now I see that it's not only supported, but much more sophisticated. A lot of the manual steps I got used to performing are eliminated here. The most impressive of all to me is the Plug Outer Boundary. Wow!! I had gotten so used to manually creating a .25" outer offset on my plug that it never even occurred to me this should be handled for me!

[@vectric]

That is all great to hear, thank you. Let us know how you get on!

[@stevecox552]

Awesome Todd,,,, thanks,,, can you do one maybe from scratch,,,, that would be really helpful. Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@vectric]

Well you just wait... there is one coming... :)

[@lars2837]

Todd, Thanks for a great tutorial. I must have missed something because I can't find the Thank You practice file. Can you help?

[@vectric]

Hello... if you choose to download and install the Toutorial files, the included file will end up in your Toutorial folder - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Vectric Files\Tutorial Files. If you have not managed to find the download link it is here just below the video window - www.vectric.com/support/tutorials/aspire/?search=Inlay&video=how-to-use-the-vcarve-inlay-toolpath. You will see 2 buttons, "Install" and "Download"

[@deanroadifer6013]

I was hoping I would qualify for the free upgrade but missed it by 6 months. But I know a line has to be drawn somewhere. I am amazed at how good 11.5 is and can only wonder what is new in 12 so will download the trial version and try it out then make my decision on upgrading or not or just wait till the next big upgrade then making the move. Thanks for continuing improvements to the program.

[@vectric]

Hello and thanks for the comment, sorry you missed the free upgrade. Yes, please go ahead and download the trial and see what you think... :)

[@aam50]

Seems really useful. Pity it's only in Vcarve Pro and Aspire (not Desktop)

[@vectric]

Hello, and thanks for the comment. Yeah you are correct, but you can, of course, still do it on the Desktop; you just don't have a dedicated tool for it.

[@GoatRidgeDesigns]

excellent thank you. Why does your screen and program seem to be so crisp and clear? Was that adjusted in V12 as well? When I am in my Vcarve Pro it is not a high resolution. Not to be confused with material settings and resolution choice. Just the Toolbar and text and basic items within software.

[@vectric]

We have done a pile of work on the interface, and how the icons are displayed. V12 is a big UI update. :) You can download the trial and have a look for yourself. www.vectric.com/free-trial/

[@alanbrouder5771]

Thanks for the useful video. A lot of people use a 6.2 degree tapered ball nose endmill for inlays but apparently these are 'incompatible' with the new vcarve inlay toolpath. Is there a workaround for this in V12?

[@vectric]

Hello Alan... you are correct, at the moment we only support V-Bit tools. As for a workaround, we would suggest defaulting back to the longhand method.

[@tk.designs]

Change the designation of TBN to V-Bit, and double the side angle. It works really well. I use a 5.26 degree TBN and have tested the vcarve inlay toolpath directly against the old method. Both methods were exceptional. The vcarve inlay toolpath did save a considerable amount of time though.

[@alanbrouder5771]

@@tk.designsThat’s a great idea - thanks so much for sharing it. I’m sure it’s fairly straightforward to change the designation within the tool database?

[@tk.designs]

@@alanbrouder5771 Yes. You only have to change the designation, from TBN to V-Bit, and double the side angle so that it is the measurement of both sides, as opposed to 1 side in the TBN configuration.

[@alanbrouder5771]

@@tk.designs Thanks - I did it just now. Had to play around a little with the other parameters to get it to work. Progress!

[@ydoucare55]

After my first test with this, the cuts looked excellent, but the fit is too loose. There ends up being zero surface gap when I mate the 2 sides together and I can wiggle it a bit. I'm using a 60 deg v-bit from IDC woodcraft on a Makera Carvera (pretty precise and tuned machine). I used a pocket depth of 0.12 in and a glue gap and surface gap of 0.015. I'm working with 1/4" thick stock. Very new to inlays so not sure if my parameters are causing it or what.

[@vectric]

Hello and thanks for the comment. It might be best if we had a look at the file to make sure there is nothing obvious that went wrong. It would appear that all sould have worked and there should not have been any wiggle. My only thought, without have the file is "was your pocket material's surface flat"? If it was I would suggest sending your file to [e-mail] so we can rule out any issus with it.

[@ydoucare55]

@@vectric Thank you! I will check the material closely and do some tests first.

[@jeffcoh3440]

Hi there, Cannot find tutorial file as listed. Could you please send me the link?

[@vectric]

Hi, here is a link to the tutorial and files on our website: www.vectric.com/support/tutorials/aspire/?search=vcarve&video=how-to-use-the-vcarve-inlay-toolpath hope that helps! Thanks

[@jeffcoh3440]

Thank you for your time but still just a link to the video, no file. Ist here a vcarve file i can use to view?

[@vectric]

Hi, there is a download button under the tutorial videos on our website under the training videos section. Here is the direct link to the file: storage.vectric.com/tutorials/v12.0/how-to-use-the-vcarve-inlay-toolpath.vtutorial once downloaded you will need to 'install' this file. If you have any problems accessing the file you can locate it by opening up the Vectric software and clicking the 'Open Tutorial Files Folder' located on the left hand side (this is in the window before opening any files or anything else). Hope all this helps!

[@cncMike304]

I get the first error message. Can you explain what adjustments I need to make to get more glue gap? Thank you.

[@vectric]

Hello Mike... thanks for the question. If you feel that you do need a "glue gap" in every area, then I would suggest making your "Pocket Depth" less... or more shallow. Some users don't use the glue gap at all. If that does not help, please email [e-mail] and they can work through it with you. :)

[@cncMike304]

@@vectric Thank you. I'll try it.

[@goodwoodwoodworks]

I can’t seem to be able to select a tapered ball endmill for the v carve tool like I can for the regular v carve. Other than that, this would be very handy for cutting board inlays

[@tk.designs]

@@goodwoodwoodworks Change the TBN to a desigation of v-bit, and double the side angle. I did this with a 5.26 degree TBN, and it works flawlessly. The key is to make sure it is listed as a V-Bit, so make a copy of your TBN, and then modify it.

[@garywood3699]

How do you set up the sheets? I thought you were including a link.

[@vectric]

Best practice is to set up your sheets before you create the toolpath. That way you can tell he toolpath what sheet to put the plug.

[@rschulz01]

I'm following along with a test project in Vcarve pro 12, and when I calculate the toolpath, I get an error message telling me "insufficient glue gap." What am I doing wrong?

[@vectric]

Hello... thanks for the question. That is a warning telling you that some of the plug elements come to a point, so there will not be a glue gap in those areas. If you are concerned then you can reduce the plug depth so that you don't have this issue. In most cases that is OK if you are using alot of glue. Again... this is just a warning... not an error. There is another video that might help you with this where I explain what to look for - kzbin.info/www/bejne/boK0n5Skm9ucrbc

[@JD-nq4vb]

Mine puts the male and female on the same work piece. You didn't show how you got 2 work pieces on there so this is no help.

[@vectric]

Hello... I do point out that you should create the 2 sheets you need for the pocket and plug. If you do this ahead of time you will see in the VCarve Inlay Toolpah and option to pick the "Plug Destination Sheet", choose the sheet you would like your "Plug" vectors to be placed.

[@patrickparisius6614]

Why is there no option for tapered ballnose available to choose from in the list? Like the 6.2 degree Amanda bit.

[@JD-nq4vb]

@@patrickparisius6614 You can add it yourself by clicking the "+"(which will say add bit) at the bottom left of your bits list. Just highlight where you want to add it(v-bits).

[@TimWarris]

Go ahead and...

[@vectric]

Sorry Tim... I do say that a lot... I do keep working on it... will get better.