Alright, here are most of the pictures/videos I took during the project (order is roughly from the bottom to top). Explanations, troubles, headaches, triumphs, etc ... to come.
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g247/will_86ca/?start=all
Calling all 381 owners!!
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jingle_jangle
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Looks fabulous, Will! Could you give me some info on the CNC you used and the software?
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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8mileshigher
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Very interesting and informative picture sequence, Will. Looks like your project was indeed a success and certainly a wonderful learning experience in the luthier craft.
"What we've got is Blind Faith in each other" Steve Winwood, Newsweek July 28 1969
10 4003 FG
06 WB BRG
04 660-12 JG
03 360-12 FG
99 V64 six FG
96 650-A TQ
94 V64-12 JG
81 370-WB JG
73 480 DaphBlue
61 Cons Steel MG
10 4003 FG
06 WB BRG
04 660-12 JG
03 360-12 FG
99 V64 six FG
96 650-A TQ
94 V64-12 JG
81 370-WB JG
73 480 DaphBlue
61 Cons Steel MG
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jingle_jangle
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Richard, not meaning to diminish Will's wonderful work in the least, I would like to clarify things as I see them.
This was a terrific exercise in measuring, computer drafting, and programming and running a CNC router through the steps of testing the tool patterns on a foam block, and finally rough-cutting the pieces for a guitar.
Luthiery is the art and craft of building a playable string instrument. It's not done by machines, at least not yet.
I want to see this puppy fully kitted-out with electronics, fretted, given a decent finish, and finally, plugged in and played.
A big smile on Will's face at that time, will bring a big smile to mine.
This was a terrific exercise in measuring, computer drafting, and programming and running a CNC router through the steps of testing the tool patterns on a foam block, and finally rough-cutting the pieces for a guitar.
Luthiery is the art and craft of building a playable string instrument. It's not done by machines, at least not yet.
I want to see this puppy fully kitted-out with electronics, fretted, given a decent finish, and finally, plugged in and played.
A big smile on Will's face at that time, will bring a big smile to mine.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Alright, I was just awaiting approval from Mr. Hall and he said since the neck is different it's ok, so here we go.
Programs used: Mastercam V10 & V9.1, Autocad 2000 & 2005
CNC Milling Machine used: Mighty Comet VMC 500P, Fanuc controller
Other machines used: Manual lathe and milling machine.
I'll start off with the body.
The entire body as seen by the foam model, was created by Mastercam 10. It wasn't that tricky to create, but the thing that did challenge me was learning to use the software. I eventually got the hang of it. In all there were 3 solid drawings, but I had 11 programs.
1: Top of body
2: Inside of body
3: Jig to hold body
4: Top of cover
5: Inside of cover
6: Jig to hold cover
7: Top of neck1*
8: Top of neck2*
9: Bottom of neck1
10: Bottom of neck2
11: Fretboard radius sanding block
* The limits on the milling machine were not long enough so it had to be done in 2.
The body shape was first drawn in AutoCAD because it was easier for me to draw the arcs. Once that was done I exported it into Mastercam, extruded to a thickness and it was half done. After that there was some solid removal etc. The hardest part was filleting the "381 look". I also made some cylindrical "guiding pins" for easy assembly between the body and cover.
On the the machine the order went, Cut bottom program, cut jig, put finished bottom in jig, and cut top. Same goes for the cover. In all, the programs --in foam-- took maybe 3-4 hours to complete. In wood, easily double the time.
The main reason the wood body was not completed as seen like the foam model is because while cutting the top of the body (filleted part) the jig was not clamped down hard enough and it moved about an inch. By the time I realized it was too late, the roughing toolpath I had programmed gone through the body, leaving a little hole (as seen the in photos).
I think I covered most of what the body was about. I already posted some info on the neck on another forum so here it is:
"""Well, I'm in college right now and I recently completed part of a project for one of classes. I decieded to CNC myself a neck, which is much more involed than I would've thought. I figured you guys would enjoy seeing some pictures.
I have to say before-hand, the head design is not my own. It's modeled after a beautiful guitar I saw on this forum (unfortunatly I can't find it, I'm sure someone will recognize it).
Everthing was designed -from scratch- on Mastercam. After all the line work was done I solided some parts (the rectangular portions) and surfaced the rest. Most of the neck is a parallel toolpath, with some contour toolpaths (head outline, truss rod channel etc). There was actually four programs created. Two for the top (truss channel side), and two for the bottom. I had to create two for each side because the Mill only had an X-Axis of 22 or so inches. For the top I zeroed it in the truss rod channel, which proved an accurate method.
The C beam in the gallery is the jig I used for the neck. Its pretty simple. It has some "aligning pins" which are a few cap screws that the truss rod channel can fit into for the two bottom programs, and also if I needed to take the neck off between programs for some reason, all I'd have to do was slide the neck back in.
Also I went with a simple piece of square stock for the "truss rod" due to time restrictions.
Some things I learned:
Four flue endmills are bad for wood
Big milling machines are good
Wood isn't metal, but you still have to clamp it good
Direction of cut still matters in wood
Going faster doesn't neccesarilly help ... """
At the end of it all, I got a 96% in the class, a success in my book.
Questions ... Comments ... all welcome.
Programs used: Mastercam V10 & V9.1, Autocad 2000 & 2005
CNC Milling Machine used: Mighty Comet VMC 500P, Fanuc controller
Other machines used: Manual lathe and milling machine.
I'll start off with the body.
The entire body as seen by the foam model, was created by Mastercam 10. It wasn't that tricky to create, but the thing that did challenge me was learning to use the software. I eventually got the hang of it. In all there were 3 solid drawings, but I had 11 programs.
1: Top of body
2: Inside of body
3: Jig to hold body
4: Top of cover
5: Inside of cover
6: Jig to hold cover
7: Top of neck1*
8: Top of neck2*
9: Bottom of neck1
10: Bottom of neck2
11: Fretboard radius sanding block
* The limits on the milling machine were not long enough so it had to be done in 2.
The body shape was first drawn in AutoCAD because it was easier for me to draw the arcs. Once that was done I exported it into Mastercam, extruded to a thickness and it was half done. After that there was some solid removal etc. The hardest part was filleting the "381 look". I also made some cylindrical "guiding pins" for easy assembly between the body and cover.
On the the machine the order went, Cut bottom program, cut jig, put finished bottom in jig, and cut top. Same goes for the cover. In all, the programs --in foam-- took maybe 3-4 hours to complete. In wood, easily double the time.
The main reason the wood body was not completed as seen like the foam model is because while cutting the top of the body (filleted part) the jig was not clamped down hard enough and it moved about an inch. By the time I realized it was too late, the roughing toolpath I had programmed gone through the body, leaving a little hole (as seen the in photos).
I think I covered most of what the body was about. I already posted some info on the neck on another forum so here it is:
"""Well, I'm in college right now and I recently completed part of a project for one of classes. I decieded to CNC myself a neck, which is much more involed than I would've thought. I figured you guys would enjoy seeing some pictures.
I have to say before-hand, the head design is not my own. It's modeled after a beautiful guitar I saw on this forum (unfortunatly I can't find it, I'm sure someone will recognize it).
Everthing was designed -from scratch- on Mastercam. After all the line work was done I solided some parts (the rectangular portions) and surfaced the rest. Most of the neck is a parallel toolpath, with some contour toolpaths (head outline, truss rod channel etc). There was actually four programs created. Two for the top (truss channel side), and two for the bottom. I had to create two for each side because the Mill only had an X-Axis of 22 or so inches. For the top I zeroed it in the truss rod channel, which proved an accurate method.
The C beam in the gallery is the jig I used for the neck. Its pretty simple. It has some "aligning pins" which are a few cap screws that the truss rod channel can fit into for the two bottom programs, and also if I needed to take the neck off between programs for some reason, all I'd have to do was slide the neck back in.
Also I went with a simple piece of square stock for the "truss rod" due to time restrictions.
Some things I learned:
Four flue endmills are bad for wood
Big milling machines are good
Wood isn't metal, but you still have to clamp it good
Direction of cut still matters in wood
Going faster doesn't neccesarilly help ... """
At the end of it all, I got a 96% in the class, a success in my book.
Questions ... Comments ... all welcome.