Building a Guitar on a CNC – Part 1: Design

Ever wanted to make your own guitar on your CNC? Well this is the right place to be! In Part One of this series we’re going to give you an overview of what it takes to bring your own axe to life. We’ll give you all the files you need and we’ll even teach you some of the basics you’ll need to know to modify the freebie files in OnShape so you can get started on making you very own, custom made solid body guitar. Buckle up, it’s time to ride the lightning!

Chapters:

00:00 Guitar Video Series Intro
01:27 So What Are We Going To Do?
03:23 My Dirty Confession
05:02 Reasons for Doing it This Way Explainer – 3D vs Vectors
07:01 Hybrid Theory
07:25 3 Key Things I Learned – First Piece of Advice
09:10 Second Piece of Advice Before Starting
11:20 Third Advice – Expectations
13:50 You’re Going to be a Rock Star
15:12 Let’s Dive into Onshape
17:31 Helpful Tips
18:37 Let’s Start Modifying Things
19:09 Sketches and What They’re About
22:25 Suppressing Features
23:36 Roll To
24:45 Extrude Tweaks
28:15 Changing Shapes of Pockets
34:10 String Holes and Ferrules
38:25 Thickening Theory
40:39 Summary
42:18 My Musical Mouth

Bits used in Parts 2 and 3:
Sienci 1/8” Downcut End Mill

1/4″ Flat Downcut End Mill

Sienci 1/8” Upcut Ball Nose End Mill

1/8″ Ball Upcut End Mill Pack

Sienci 1/4” Upcut Ball Nose End Mill

1/4″ Ball Upcut End Mill

Sienci 1/4” Downcut End Mill

1/4″ Flat Downcut End Mill

Sienci 1/8” Precision Collet for Makita RT0701

1/8″ Precision Collet For Makita RT0701

Feeds and Speeds:
We’ll add these in the complementary parts of the video series when we start working in Vcarve. In the meantime check out our handy Feeds and Speeds Tables!
https://resources.sienci.com/view/lmk2-feeds-and-speeds/

Materials Used:
Body and Neck: Black Limba.
Body blank dimensions: 383mm x 427mm x 44.5mm (15.0787in x 16.811in x 1.752in)
Neck blank dimensions: 80mm x 735mm x 25.9mm (3.1946in x 28.937in x 1.0197in)

Fret board: Black Ebony
Fret board blank dimensions (before surfacing): 69.4mm x 613mm x 10.9mm (2.73in x 24.125in x 0.43in

Sand paper:
120, 180, 240, 320, 400 grit random orbit and hand sandpaper

Guitar Parts Links:
Pick ups, bridge, selector, jack, tuner keys, neck plate, strings:
https://rb.gy/uyqyx8

Fret wire:
https://rb.gy/cghwkp

Ferrules: (Mine are black, but they don’t seem to be selling the exact same ones in black at the time of posting this)
https://rb.gy/hogo5k

Nut:
https://rb.gy/pwz6cp

Truss Rod:
440mm version
https://rb.gy/xeay5g

Pickguard:
https://rb.gy/tm25ow

Fretguru Dagger 2.0
https://rb.gy/cnaf54

Fret rocker/gauge: (a nice to have, but not necessary)
https://rb.gy/ayaeh4

Fret trimmers: (I already own a pair of flush cut end trimmers, so any pair similar to these should work)
https://rb.gy/3pexhz

Other Supplies and Materials Used:
12” long 3/16” Drill bit:
https://rb.gy/u3knjy

1” Aluminum tube for sanding:
https://rb.gy/nqqyb3

Sandpaper for aluminum bar:
https://rb.gy/nqqyb3

Crazy glue, painters tape, red sharpie (just not black),

Project Files:
https://rb.gy/9rylxd

Onshape:
https://rb.gy/osqdyk

Know the new AutoZero Touch Plate

AutoZero Touch Plate

Know the End Mill Starter Set
https://sienci.com/product/end-mill-starter-set/

Know the Woodworker End Mill Set
https://sienci.com/product/woodworkers-end-mill-set/

Know the Crafters End Mill Set
https://sienci.com/product/crafters-end-mill-set/
Know the Machinists End Mill Set

Machinists End Mill Set


Know the LongMill MK2

LongMill Benchtop CNC MK2


▸ Resources

LongMill Resources Page l Sienci Labs
https://resources.sienci.com/view/lm-welcome/

// FEATURED TOOLS & SOFTWARES

▸ Softwares

gSender l Sienci Labs

Introducing gSender

Vectric V-Carve Pro V11

Vectric VCarve Pro V11.5

Vectric V-Carve Desktop V11

Vectric VCarve Desktop V11.5

Carveco Maker

Carveco Maker Subscription

▸ LongMill Add-ons

Dust Shoe l Sienci Labs
https://resources.sienci.com/view/lm-dust-shoes/

TouchPlate l Sienci Labs
https://resources.sienci.com/view/lm-touch-plates/

Checklist Poster
https://bit.ly/checklist_LongMill_SienciLabs

// PROJECT IDEAS

▸ https://resources.sienci.com/view/lm-more-projects/

// JOIN US

▸ Facebook Group | https://www.facebook.com/groups/mill.one
▸ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/siencilabs/

Hashtags:
#LongMill #Sienci #CNC #touchplate #autozero #gSender #train #DIY #Maker #gift

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