Create your own designs for press-fit inlay projects. Open the project in the Cuttle Editor, arrange filled shapes of different colors in the Design component, then go to the Cut component for all of your pieces laid out with kerf compensation automatically applied.

Video Tutorial

How to Use

Unlike other templates, this “kit” allows you to create your own design in the Cuttle Editor. Then you go to the Cut component for all of your pieces laid out with kerf compensation automatically applied.

1. Scroll to the top of this page and click “Open in Cuttle Editor” to start editing.

2. In the Design component, arrange filled shapes of two different colors to create your design. Note: your shapes must be filled as it uses fill color to know which shapes correspond to which material.

3. When you have a design you like, go to the Cut component to see your shapes laid out. Adjust the kerf to get the perfect press-fit for your laser and materials. You can use the Press-fit Inlay Kerf Tester to easily find the perfect kerf setting.

4. Do File > Export SVG on the Cut component to download your SVG, ready to cut.

Tips for Design

• This uses the Flatten modifier behind the scenes. This means that all the things you can do with Flatten will also work here:

  • You can create holes by making shapes filled with white.

  • You can also use non-hairline strokes. Uncheck the hairline checkbox in the Stroke and set your own stroke thickness and alignment to easily create borders around shapes.

• If you’re making earrings, you can check the earrings checkbox to automatically add an additional mirrored copy of your design to the Cut component.

• For earring finding holes, we like to use 0.06 inches as the diameter. These holes should be about 0.06 inches from the edge of the material — any less you risk breaking the material.

Tips for Assembly

• Keep track of which side is “up” as you take your pieces out of the laser cutter.

• If you have small pieces, you can press blue tape over the cut to help lift everything out all at once without dropping pieces.

• If you’re using the flipInnerPieces option (which we recommend), you’ll be cutting your inner pieces with the material upside down. For example if you have acrylic that’s sparkly on one side, you probably want to put the sparkly side faced down in your laser.

• If you’re using flipInnerPieces, make sure to flip over the inner pieces when inserting them into the outer pieces for the appropriate fit.

• You can often just press fit the pieces together with your fingers. If you’re having trouble, place your pieces on a flat surface, then press down with a piece of flat scrap material. This will help you apply even pressure. You can gently tap the scrap material with a mallet or hammer to get the piece in.

Designs made with this kit

You can cut these or use them as starting points for your own remixes.

Rounded Teardrop Inlay Earrings

Cuttle Official

Cat Face Inlay Earrings

Cuttle Official

Curved Wedge Inlay Earrings

Cuttle Official