12-23-2025 Q&A: Butterfly Inlays, Rotary Pockets, and 3D Model Troubleshooting

Note: You must be a member of the Learn Your CNC Academy Community to watch this replay. Benefits include weekly Q&A Meetups, weekly project lessons, monthly CNC challenges, an active community of Vectric users, past replay lessons & project files, and so much more!

In this Q&A session, we discussed a variety of topics ranging from inlay strategies to complex rotary setups. We covered the best methods for creating butterfly keys using the Straight Inlay toolpath, troubleshooting double-sided alignment for 3D ornaments, and creating flat pockets on rotary projects. The session also addressed specific software questions regarding node editing, reducing 3D carve times, and fixing G-code errors caused by special characters in tool names.

Key Tips Learned in this Q&A:

• Butterfly Keys: For structural inlays like butterfly keys over cracks, use the Straight Inlay toolpath rather than the VCarve Inlay. This provides a better glue surface and allows you to cut the plug thicker to sand flush later. Always cut the plug first to test the fit.

• Rotary Flat Pockets: To cut a true flat-bottomed pocket on a round object (without it wrapping/curving with the cylinder), set the job up as a standard single-sided project in the software, but physically mount the material in your rotary axis to hold it.

• Joining Open Vectors: When standard joining doesn't work, use the "Join with Tolerance" feature (e.g., 0.01 tolerance). For stubborn gaps, use the Node Edit tool (shortcut 'N') to manually snap nodes together or the "Join with Smooth Curve" tool for larger gaps.

• G-Code Errors: If your machine rejects a file due to "Invalid G-code," check your tool name in the database. Special characters like the degree symbol (°) can sometimes cause syntax errors in the G-code for certain controllers.

• Rotary Z-Zero Safety: When Z-zeroing to the cylinder axis (center of the stock), ensure you never command the machine to "Go to Z Zero" or run a toolpath that plunges to zero, as this will drive the bit into the center of your material.

Questions Answered in this Q&A:

• 00:04:24 - Theodore: Should I use Straight Inlay or VCarve Inlay for butterfly keys on a walnut board?

• 00:12:17 - Parents Disappointment: How do I align double-sided 3D ornaments when moving them on the sheet?

• 00:17:04 - Dustin: Why is my pocket toolpath curving instead of staying flat on my rotary project?

• 00:21:04 - Leo: How can I reduce the estimated 41-hour cut time for my 3D AI-generated image?

• 00:23:42 - Dan: How do I fix stubborn open vectors and nodes on a traced epoxy sign project?

• 00:32:45 - Rick: Why am I getting four toolpaths instead of two when creating a VCarve Inlay?

• 00:35:23 - Richard: Why is my image blurry when opening a CRV file, and can I convert it to a 2D carving?

• 00:37:22 - John: Is there a way to change the software ruler increments or use guidelines for squaring a board?

• 00:41:27 - James: Why did my 3D stocking project turn out faint with poor detail?

• 00:49:33 - Philip: When should I use the Molding Toolpath vs. the Two Rail Sweep?

• 00:51:17 - Gino: What allowance should I use for a separate last pass?

• 00:52:49 - Bonnie: Can I set different rest machining amounts (coarse vs. fine) for different bits in the same toolpath?

• 00:55:57 - Scott: Is it useful to project a sketch carving onto a 3D model?

• 01:00:10 - Barry: Can I rotate a project 45 degrees to fit a board that is slightly too long for my machine bed?

• 01:06:19 - Eric: What tools do you recommend for sanding detailed 3D carvings?

• 01:08:17 - Ken: Why won't my VCarve Inlay plug file start on my Next Wave machine (Invalid G-code error)?

• 01:16:10 - Alfred: Why is my rotary rounding toolpath diving too deep and ruining the blank?

Keywords:

butterfly keys, straight inlay, vcarve inlay, rotary pocket, double-sided alignment, node editing, open vectors, 3d cut time, g-code error, special characters, next wave, rounding toolpath, cylinder axis, sketch carving, molding toolpath, two rail sweep, guidelines, ruler increments, sanding brushes, 45 degree rotation, tiling alternative