Now that an SVG version of your design has been created, it is time to move over to Fusion 360. perimeter- the perimeter is the piece of wood that surrounds the inlay.inlay- the inlay is the part of the project that will fit in the recessed area cut from the perimeter stock.These are a couple of terms that I will be using throughout the project: There is also a video attached above that compiles all of the steps in one CAD/CAM video walk-through.

I have included both written/pictorial instructions as well as a screencast video accompanying each CAD/CAM step. After designing the inlay, we will add toolpaths to tell the CNC machine what and how to cut. I would recommend starting with the first couple sections of this this tutorial by the Fusion 360 team. It would be helpful to be familiar with the basics such as sketches, constraints, and basic 3D operations. This project is intended to be a beginner project for those getting started with Fusion 360 modeling and CAM. A design is imported, modeled in CAD, and then loaded into the built in CAM environment to generate toolpaths for a CNC machine.

This Instructable will describe a method for making wood inlays that I have found to work well. Fusion 360 is a powerful all-in-one tool that incorporates all forms of 3D modeling in one easy to use and free package. However, the software generally used for creating inlays costs several hundred dollars- quite of bit of money for a hobbyist or curious maker. The modern era has simplified the process with the introduction of CNC routers and capable software to do the hard work for you. From fancy guitars to handmade furniture to ornate wooden boxes, wood inlays are both stunning works of art and impressive examples of design that demand the question: how is that done? Traditionally, inlays are the result of careful craftsmanship and hours of tedious cutting and carving.

Fusion cnc