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Cut my first bridge, ok second, the first one didn't come out. Model done on MOI 3D and cut using Cut3D cam. Came out pretty well, but next time I'll run separate tool paths for the saddle slot and pins. The top of the bridge is straight off the machine while the rest has been lightly sanded, oh and one coat of tru-oil to make it pretty. So far I'm really happy with my machine. I still need to spend some time getting the router a plumb as possible then I can surface my spoil board.

"Thanks" to everyone for their input in this section of the forum.

Bob

Looks good! Looks like you're off and running now...!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Feels good when a plan comes together doesn't it Bob!
Nelson

Thanks guys. Yes, the first time you press the button on mach and the thing comes to life and it actually makes what you wanted is pretty cool. Been working on fretboards. I think I've got it down after some hiccups during the switch from 3d (radius the board) to 2d for slotting, inlays etc. Kept getting mixed up setting all the different tool paths. Wrong bit, forget to change a feed speed, cut on the wrong side of a vector - all the typical newb mistakes. Next up: necks. I think I might have gotten the heel figured out but I haven't had a chance to cut a test file yet. Then I have a bunch of jigs I want to rebuild. My 30 day trial on MOI3D is half up and I'm hooked. I thought I'd demo Rhino next, but MOI has set the bar pretty high.

Bob

MOI is coded by one of (or the) original programmers on Rhino, so they're quite similar. MOI is about as close to Rhino Lite as you can get: same file format, many of the same tools, same programmer! I'd think of it as a subset of Rhino (identical, minus some features).

If you can get done what you need to get done with the tools in MOI (which I think is quite doable now) then there's nothing out there that compares dollar for dollar. Rhino has a few extra tools added onto those in MOI, but it's also five times the price! If you can get the educational version of Rhino ($200), then go for it, but I wouldn't recommend the commercial version over MOI unless you absolutely needed some functionality that MOI doesn't have.

So you should try out Rhino, because you can for free, but if there's not a specific feature in Rhino that isn't in MOI that you need, then MOI is just as good in every area that they overlap.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Why didn't you tell ME that Bob!!! Oh well, I will just have to move on I guess.

Shane

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Canada