[Review] How I Made a Wood Inlay Using the Genmitsu PROVer XL V1

Written by Joseph

Hi everyone, Joseph Carrasquillo here from Joliet Central High School. I want to give a big thank-you to SainSmart for gifting us the Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 V1 CNC machine. It’s been an awesome addition to our workshop, and I recently used it to make a wood inlay project that turned out really well. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I did it so you can try it too.

What I Used

CNC Machine: Genmitsu PROVerXL V1 (gifted by SainSmart)
Software: Carveco Maker
Bit: 1/8” downcut
Wood: Pine, 6” x 6” x 3/4”
Hold-down Method: Painter’s tape, superglue, and tabs
Female Inlay Depth: 0.30”
Male Inlay Thickness: 0.25”

Step 1: Designing the Inlay

I started by creating the design in Carveco Maker, which works great with the PROVerXL. I designed both the pocket (female) and the insert (male) parts of the inlay, and made sure to size the male parts just slightly smaller than the pocket. I left a small tolerance—about 0.005 inches—so the pieces would fit snugly but still slide into place easily without being forced. This helped make sure the final inlay would fit clean and tight.

Step 2: Holding Down the Wood

The wood I used was a 6x6 inch piece of pine, ¾” thick. To keep it secure during cutting, I used:

Painter’s tape on both the spoilboard and the back of the wood
A few drops of superglue between the taped surfaces
Tabs in the design to help hold the parts in place

This method kept everything firmly in place while the CNC worked its magic.

Step 3: Cutting the Pocket (Female Inlay)

I used a 1/8” downcut bit to cut the pocket area. The downcut helped keep the edges clean.

The pocket was cut to 0.30 inches deep
I used several shallow passes to keep the cuts clean and avoid tear-out

The result was a smooth, well-defined pocket, ready for the inlay.

Step 4: Cutting the Inlay (Male Pieces)

Next, I used the same bit to cut the male inlay pieces. I made these 0.25 inches thick, which is a little thinner than the pocket. This made the pieces sit slightly lower, which gives a nice visual effect.

Step 5: Gluing and Finishing

After cutting, I cleaned up the tabs and dry-fit the pieces. Everything fit nicely, so I glued them into place with wood glue and clamped it all down.

Once the glue dried, I gave it a light sanding to make the surface smooth. The final result looked great—tight joints and a clean, finished look.

Final Thoughts

This project was such a fun way to explore the capabilities of the Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 V1. I’m so grateful to SainSmart for donating this CNC machine to our school—it’s been a game-changer for our workshop and a fantastic learning tool for students like me.

If you’re inspired to dive deeper into CNC woodworking, I’d recommend checking out SainSmart’s Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 V2.

It builds on the V1 with a faster 8000mm/min speed, a quieter closed-loop motor, and a precise 1204 ball screw, making it perfect for hobbyists or small businesses looking for pro-level results.