first test inlay with Shaper Origin

[HowardH]

I got the machine about a week ago (early Christmas present to myself) and already have been learning things.  One of the things I wanted to try out first was the inlay functionality.  They have a butterfly inlay file ready to go so that's what I used.  It really is as easy as they say it is. There are few rules you need follow, ie. don't set the depth of cut deeper than the diameter of the bit, figuring out whether you need to cut inside the line, outside the line or on the line.  That will come with more familiarity.  These are my first attempt at doing an inlay.  I purposely left the pocket shallow so I could get the inlay piece in and out easily. 

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The real issue, at least for me, how to get familiar and at least capable with Affinity Designer.  For example, I have a longhorn logo I want to convert to an outline the SO can recognize so I can use it for an inlay.  It's probably not hard but I have to figure that out somehow.  I will say the machine performs as described and the fun factor is pegged.  I have a number of templates I want to make for cutting/cheese board designs. 

 

[PaulMarcel]

As for Affinity Designer, it doesn't have an automatic trace function you'd want to convert the longhorn logo into a vector, but there are a lot of free online services that do it. I did a search for "online vector outline" and found several including the one I use (doesn't mean it's the best, just what I tried first and the result was perfect for my needs: AutoTracer.org). Autotrace is a long-standing request from users, but it's never on the product path. I have to think there's a patent blocking that feature when there are so many easily licensed algorithms they could pull in over a weekend. That said, though, I love Designer. I'm using it to design a triple radial veneer top and include veneer photos from CertainlyWood.com to see which I'd want.