Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi folks,

It’s been a while. Life and all that. Not been building a whole lot. Got married. Had some kids. That sort of thing. But I’m finally completing my XZero Raptor CNC that I never received all the parts for, and upgrading the designs little along the way (dual ballscrews, servos, stiffer gantry) as funds permit. Controller and spindle are next on the list.

In the meanwhile I’m teaching myself to use Fusion 360, mostly with help from YouTube videos (Austin Shaner’s YouTube channel in particular). I’ve mostly been modeling my own designs, but decided to do a ‘59-style Les Paul based on the ‘Gold Standard’ plans from MyLesPaul.com and various other sources for some details as a design exercise.

Since I don’t plan to build it, and it isn’t my design, I’m sharing the Fusion 360 file for anyone interested. The neck is non-Les Paul in the headstock area (volute + generic shape) because so don’t want any trouble on that account. Neck is parametric, mostly. Though the heel modifications break something unless you roll the timeline back before changing the parameters.

I’ve been modeling since mid-July, so still a lot to learn, but getting reasonably good at getting the shapes I want. Hopefully this can help others starting their modeling journey.

Comments welcome!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10_f9i3ldi4Z-IzITnqSqzAMZvvoC_py-/view?usp=drivesdk

A couple of quick renders. Keep in mind the focus here was the top carve and geometry, something machinable, so no decorative stuff.








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Very cool.

We've come a long way from wire frame rendering of objects in 3D....

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Hi Mattia, good see your post!
Looks like your off to good start on your modeling.
If I was doing it for a nc program, I'd suppress or delete all the pockets and holes so I had a clean surface to machine, then come back and add the cutouts and holes after the whole surface was machined.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind! Suppressing the extrudes for the pockets should be enough for that. Haven’t really looked at the CAM end of things yet, focusing on getting the machine built and actually being able to create models first.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hi Matthias. Long time hobby CNC person here. Ball screws and servos are probably overkill for making guitars. If you haven’t spent the money yet, save it.

The actual running of your machine has a learning curve. Use it for a while and then see what upgrades you may want.

Also, I suggest you start with some simpler objects. I don’t mean forever, but make a dozen wood projects first to get a sense of your machines capabilities and needs. Every machine has its own feeds and speed and it’s own best hold down and indexing practices. Develop yours with low stress projects like cutting boards or shop jigs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks, I know I’m overdoing it, but I’ve never really regretted buying too much tool - and the machine frame (XZero Raptor) I’ve had for years now was designed for ballscrews and square rails. Already bought those and the servos, which cost me about 300 more than the closed loop steppers I was also considering and have a decent user base locally. Got some very competitive prices from BST automation on AliExpress for HiWin rails and custom machined rolled TBI ballscrews. Seller was based on the recommendations of several guys on a UK CNC forum.

My plan was to start with simple projects, and a few sets of MDF/ply templates - I need new radius dishes, a few bending forms and outer molds/spreaders for the guitar, and I’m looking at some simple Etsy CNC files (decorative stuff/small toys for my little girls) to test the waters with before attempting anything like a carved top electric. That is the end goal. But I figured learning to model what I eventually want to build is a skill best developed long before I have a machine to use.

I’ll probably try things like fretboards and bridges on cheap wood for the fine control stuff, and a simple telecaster or LP jr ish guitar for my first actual guitar body. I’ll definitely swing by again as I run into the inevitable issues of learning an entirely new class of tool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro