Designing An Electric Guitar Part 3

In this video, I use Adobe Illustrator, Rhinoceros 3D, MeshCam, CAMotics and Universal G-Code Sender to prepare the necessary files for making an electric guitar neck with an Inventables X-Carve CNC Machine.
Adobe Illustrator:
www.adobe.com/p...
Rhinoceros 3D:
www.rhino3d.com/
MeshCAM:
www.grzsoftware...
CAMotics:
camotics.org/do...
Universal G-Code Sender:
github.com/win...
Inventables X-Carve:
www.inventable...

[@JacobDeanTVX]

Thank you so much for providing this info!!!! I'm buying x carve in about 2 weeks!!

[@dalgguitars]

I've said it before. I'll say it again. You totally Rock! Thank you so much for this video series.

[@kkmik5933]

Chris, do you run the truss rod file first, then flip your stock over (registered to a center line) for the neck contours? How would you do this with an angled headstock?

[@HighlineGuitars]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqazmnh6ltiefrc

[@ivenstein]

Thank you so much for this very interesting video!

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

Great work

[@avramidis3d]

Well, it's a bad unorthodox approach on designing without G2 continuity on surfaces in Rhino, but I assume you took care of it after the cnc cut. If you run a Zebra analysis in Rhino, you'll find out that there is no continuity at all. The whole structure of curves seems working, but it doesn't. There are better approaches to solve such a geometrical problem (that is challenging) as a guitar neck.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Wow, I learn something new every day when it comes to 3D modeling. Fortunately, my models have worked fine for what I need, but I can see how this will be of great value to know for future work.

[@avramidis3d]

Yep, as it works for your purpose it's already enough, but i doesn't mean it's always right! :) I face it all the time, and it's really mind struggling, but worth the time/effort put for next projects.

[@tontonsatan3093]

Would you mind enlightening us on which approach you would use to design a guitar neck in rhino if not using curve networks then?

[@avramidis3d]

@@tontonsatan3093 I kinda missed your reply and found it out today. Sorry for my... 3yr delay. :) I would set it differently, but let's say you use this kind of network. One simple change with huge difference: 12:22 Run NetworkSrf, but selecting the edge of the first surface instead of the curve existing there, will give you an option of G2 continuity.

[@jamescarter4175]

Thanks for the great videos. I'm just wondering, why is an angled headstock necessary? Why not have it parallel to the rest of the neck and use staggered tuning posts to get the needed angle of strings over the nut as is done by some manufactures?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Despite what some folks will tell you, they aren't necessary nor do they do a better job of keeping the strings in the nut slot. That being said, I do them just because I like the way they look. It's a traditional thing I guess.

[@pfmcnamara]

Chris, super helpful video, thanks for sharing. You mention that you use a scarf joint and therefore cut the contour of the angled head by hand. Do you cut and glue the scarf first to create a blank that you then CNC, or do you CNC first and then cut the scarf joint?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I make the scarf joint first then I CNC the neck's shape. The next episode will show the CNC work.

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Thanks for spending your time on these videos. Really great. Can I use Autodesk Maya for design work instead of Rhino? I used Maya in animation and modeling for special effects. Less of a learning curve in using 3d tool.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Sure, as long as the files can be exported to a CAM program.

[@tlgrimmy]

Thanks for the video! I'm a Rhino newbie and am having a bit of trouble. I'm designing a banjo neck and the heel has a shape more similar to a Martin acoustic guitar, where there's a curvy triangular portion for the heel cap. I'm trying to create the surface transition between my 12th fret profile and the heel area, but when I do the Network Surface command, it asks for the "first direction of curves" and then the second. I've tried numerous different combos there and can't get it to generate a surface. I have the neck profile shape, the heel cap profile, the fretboard sides, and the curves from the fretboard end to the heel cap included, as well as a guide curve from the tip of the heel cap to the neck profile shape. It's all nicely enclosed, but it always says, "Unable to use this curve network." Any chance I could pester you for ideas? No worries either way and thanks for the very helpful tutorial!

[@HighlineGuitars]

I focus on building guitars rather than software tutorials and advice. I tried that rout in the past and it's just not my area of expertise or passion.

[@tlgrimmy]

@@HighlineGuitars Not a worry at all and I totally understand. I appreciate you sharing this video. It really helped me get off to a great start. I'm sure I can jump on the forums and get this stuff figured out. Found that the "Patch" surface command seems to work in that area for now. Take care and happy guitar building!

[@terrisabella5966]

So when you are doing the curve (volute) at the headstock and neck pocket do you have specific measurements assigned for those curves? It appears in your video as if you are drawing those curves freehand on one side and then redrawing them freehand on the other side (instead of duplicating the finished side?), how do you make sure your curves are the same on both sides of the neck?

[@luketama1]

Hi Chris. How did you Learn the software?? Do you have a background outside guitar building in computer design? Or did you learn just for building guitars? How hard is Rhino 3d to learn would you say? Thanks for all the great videos!

[@HighlineGuitars]

I have a background in graphic design where I learned basic 3D design. As for Rhino, I just dove in and taught myself. I tried all of the different 3d CAD programs out there and found Rhino by far to be the easiest for me to learn.

[@kkmik5933]

@@HighlineGuitars I have 25 years experience in graphic design and trying to learn 3D software is like learning how to walk again. I love this video, I just wished you moved a bit slower and explained what you are doing with every click. I'm trying to draw the same thing as you with a regular mac mouse and its driving me crazy

[@AndrewScott1762]

Hey, Chris. How do you get your curved line starting points up in Z axis in perspective? Mine seems to be locked on X and Y axis?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Select the curve and view it from the right or left. Use the rotate 2d tool and rotate with the shift key pressed to snap to 90° rotation.

[@AndrewScott1762]

You the man. Thanks

[@Ludus4H1]

nice but too fast