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How deep do you mill the slots then? Do you follow the radius of fingerboard? I was milling straight across, so the slot depth at midpoint had to be around 0.145", which is deeper than any 0.023" end mill I've ever seen can cut.

{edit]
I just found one at https://www.harveytool.com/products/min ... long-reach

You can follow the radius of the fretboard, so you get a consistent slot depth.

In VCarve, look for Project toolpath onto Model.

most slots are straight cut what you need to pay the most attention to is the depth at the side so that the tang sets with a little room to spare

Skarsaune wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 2:05 pm

In VCarve, look for Project toolpath onto Model.

VCarve Desktop doesn't appear to have that. Or am I just not seeing it?

Down at the bottom of the profile tool path, right above calculate.

Only shows up if a model has been brought in, though.
From their documentation:
"This option is only available if a 3D model has been defined. If this option is checked, ✓ after the toolpath has been calculated, it will be projected (or 'dropped') down in Z onto the surface of the 3D model. The depth of the original toolpath below the surface of the material will be used as the projected depth below the surface of the model."

I use different software to 3D model, then bring the model of the fretboard or neck or whatever in.
It doesn't let you spec a fretboard radius and machine it. You have to have the 3D model of the fretboard to bring in to Vcarve.

Where it normally gets used is engraving text on curved surfaces. Pretty common in signmaking, which seems to be where Vcarve started. If you use their 3D clip art for plaques, etc, it will let you engrave text on the raised/rounded surfaces.

the toolpath feature lets you designate the depth on the upp right of the screen