Simple question about inlays

[kydartmaster]

I'm thinking about playing around. If i wanted to try making my own inlays and my own designs. How deep do you normally cut them? I have 3 machining centers and 1, 2 axis CNC. I use Mastercam and can make them do whatever i want...I just need to know how deep and what you use to glue them in place.

Thanks.

John

 

[billiardbum]

I'm thinking about playing around. If i wanted to try making my own inlays and my own designs. How deep do you normally cut them? I have 3 machining centers and 1, 2 axis CNC. I use Mastercam and can make them do whatever i want...I just need to know how deep and what you use to glue them in place.

Thanks.

John

.125 of an inch

 

[rhncue]

I'm thinking about playing around. If i wanted to try making my own inlays and my own designs. How deep do you normally cut them? I have 3 machining centers and 1, 2 axis CNC. I use Mastercam and can make them do whatever i want...I just need to know how deep and what you use to glue them in place.

Thanks.

John

All depends on where on the cue and how wide the inlays will be. The cue is a cone so if the inlay is to wide or to shallow the edges will wipe out. If they are to deep then the integrity of the cue will be affected. Mine run from .100 to .175 with most at .125 at center.

If you only have a two axis machine, how do you set your Z movements? I use G-5 5 minute epoxy to glue in inlays.

Dick

 

[kydartmaster]

All depends on where on the cue and how wide the inlays will be. The cue is a cone so if the inlay is to wide or to shallow the edges will wipe out. If they are to deep then the integrity of the cue will be affected. Mine run from .100 to .175 with most at .125 at center.

If you only have a two axis machine, how do you set your Z movements? I use G-5 5 minute epoxy to glue in inlays.

Dick

The epoxy sounds great. I wanted to know what anyone used.

.125 deep sounds fine also. I i want to try something on my machining centers.

You made the comment about my 2 axis, that is only 1 of my 4. Machining centers are anywhere from 3 to 5 to whatever else they want to add on. I have 3...3 axis machining centers and i can program a shape into whatever i want or i can inport something and either redraw it or design my cue at the angle i need it and do a project path or just draw it all the way i want it.

Not trying to get in an arguement here but i am a CNC programmer.

I was just asking how deep the inlays were for me to have something to start with on playing around.

John

 

[Sheldon]

Like Dick said... it depends on the width of the inlay, and also how close to finished size the cue is. Too shallow, and when you cut everything down to finish, you lose the edges. Too deep, and you will have problems using the smaller bits, as the loc is quite small. (.060 on the .015 dia. bits I use)
Try some engraving by swapping your A axis with the Y axis... would work nice even on your 2-axis machines.