Vinny

Very Cool John -Vinny

Quoted from Perry: "Most of the time the most popular guitars Ive built are the ones where I have no client "holding me back"... I came into this guitar building thing with a background of being an Artist for most of my life. And like my art, my guitars are very personal. Its because of this I don't see myself doing a commission. When the customer likes a combination of elements that I disagree with, I cant see putting my all into it. That being said, I plan to build what I think looks good and appeals to me, and hang in the home shop of course. If a friend stops by and likes what he sees then thats cool. A commission to me would take all the fun out of it and put pressure on me that I don't need. PRESSURE = NO FUN -Vinny

I'm glad you posted on this topic Perry, a lot of us here consider you a mentor and I myself aspire to someday build guitars at the level you do. Well said, thanks, -Vinny

Heres what I imagine both options would look like. -Vinny

Granted, an Acoustic is a whole different animal, one that I am no where near attempting. The Builders of Acoustics to me, are the Enzo Ferraris of the Guitar World. -Vinny

10 is also a target for me, when Ive built that many I should have a good understanding of the process. Number eleven is what I plan to show around to some pro players to get their opinion on quality, feel, overall finish etc. -Vinny

Man, that looks like its right out of TV's "When Dyed Tops Go BAD' season 1. -Vinny

Selling for the cost of parts and wood might be considered 'break even' for some starting out who want to get to the next project. Add a marginal profit to finance the next one and you're off and running. Note, I have not sold any, My CNC build has put guitar making on hold but when done I hope to stream line the build process by using the CNC Table. Remember: Time = Money. -Vinny

Mike, I downloaded CoCreate to have a look at it, I haven't tried exporting from it yet but was wondering would I go from a drawing in CoCreate and export to Mach3 ? When trying Cut2D I quickly grasped the importing of my DXF drawing from Corel and the material set-up, tool selection and how it creates g-code at the end for Mach3. Am I missing something with CoCreate like setting up the material size and tool selection ? Is Cut2D more of a milling program that generates g-code with limited design elements? Using Corel, then Cut2D and Mach3 makes sense to me. Just wondering - Thanks, Vinny

Thats something I didnt realize, could have been one of those 'Oh Crap' moments. -Vinny

Yup, you said it. Everything's in there. Just replace every reference to table with guitar . -Vinny

Steve, I can print the overlay if needed. -Vinny

Thanks Mike for the info, I was building and typing and taking pictures all at the same time. I thought I mentioned that I create my flat drawings in Corel Draw 10 and export as a dxf file into Cut2D in the last post, but after re-reading it I left it out. The G-code Cut2D produces will be used in Mach3. Boy thats a mouthful !!! 18 months ago this was completely Chinese to me, I'm just starting to wrap my brain around it all. But having fun all the way ! I have the little belt and pulleys assembled for the Y axis and realized its waaaaay toooo fast, something like 1 turn of the stepper motor equals 1½ inches of travel. Im going back and using threaded rod and a HPE nut across instead. The Z axis runs really nice with that set-up. -Vinny

I installed the work surface and got most of the Z axis together today. This is the most work on the CNC Ive done in probably 4 months. The work surface is height adjustable from below to get the surface as flat as possible. I drilled holes into the board to use for clamping down work pieces. In the Z Axis picture, the threaded rod runs through a white block nut thats been cut and tapped for the 5/16 thread, its a piece from an old cutting board (HPE Plastic) -Vinny

RestorationAD, when you say you're going mechanical do you mean like a Duplicarver type set-up? I really think if you're already building guitars, the leap to CNC is not a big one. Your signiture mentions 'IT' in it, if you're computer savvy then you're half way there already. If cost is a factor, consider the TableTop version Im building (see above post with YouTube link) as I will probably have under $200 invested in that CNC when its done. $150 of which is for the 3 motors, driver board and breakout board. the other $50 is for the piece of MDF, hardware store stuff like pipe, aluminum angle, skate bearings, various bolts nuts and screws. The Dremel I had already Other costs for me that may be helpful to others who want to know what CNC will cost: I will purchase a CAD program such as Vectric's Cut2D $149 I will also purchase a CAM program: Mach 3 $175 The above programs come at a cost, Realize that there are similar FREEWARE programs that will also get the job done. Thanks, Vinny some pics:

I posted a video on Youtube showing the table top CNC progress, -Vinny

When it came to binding the F holes, I was nervous about mucking it up. Turns out they weren't hard at all and I found that any small gaps could easily be filled with scrap plastic binding pieces and acetate mixed to make a paste, this of course matched the binding and I scraped and sanded back any overhanging edges. I was happy with my first attempt. There is definitely two schools of opinion on whether to seal the inside on a acoustic/hollowbody guitar depending on who you ask. -Vinny

HuntingDoug mentioned this a while back, its worth looking at again: With the guitar builders on here using/making CNC machines, I believe that this will spin off into a New Topic Section eventually. And I also hope see our members sharing files that they created with each other in a download area. Last I counted 8 members here with CNC's or are building one: Vinny HankMcSpank HuntinDoug Mikro Spoke JpMarsh Factory5150 Mattia What's your thoughts on this? -Vinny

Nice pick up rings John, were they hand made or machine made? Did you make the design/template yourself? -Vinny

I think this one blew past everyone, -Vinny

Wow, thats a sweet set-up. Geez I gotta get my work finished so I can get back to my CNC build. -Vinny

Drak, I bought it on your recommendation a few years ago (2007 ?) and was glad I did. probably have read it 3 times like other PGer's on here. Should be required reading. Thanks !!! -Vinny

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, markers on WOOD, a NO NO ! Use pencil otherwise Im diggin this build, -Vinny

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, markers on WOOD, a NO NO ! otherwise Im diggin this build, -Vinny

Im diggin the 2nd one also, has a 60's muscle-car surf thing going for it. -Vinny