My Guitar Neck CNC CAM Strategies

This video will explain the CNC CAM strategies I use when I make a guitar neck. Show your support! Visit www.eguitarplans.com/ and buy a plan. Or visit highline-custom-guitars-2.cre... and buy a shirt!
My CNC Guitar Making CAM Strategy Playlist: • Making A Guitar With A...

[@OverlandTrailer]

Ha ha ha. The opening Troll of all the anti-CNC people. Great work as usual. Love it.

[@stevenhodgkiss442]

I really appreciate your videos Chris. You explain things very well. I am learning a lot from you.

[@HighlineGuitars]

I appreciate that!

[@FrugalFixerSpike]

Chris, I use confusion 360 myself, all in one place. All that changing programs would confuse me, lol Got my new machine ready, starting a build next week! Maybe I won’t burn it up this time!

[@christopherhall5315]

Thanks for the videos, Chris. If you ever need ideas for a video, I'd love to see something about strategies for using clamps, the proper way to use clamps, that sort of thing. Thanks again.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Noted!

[@_mysilentblue2227]

With a climb cut the leading edge of the cutter is spinning into the wood so less tear-out.

[@domingosraposo3029]

Thanks!

[@HighlineGuitars]

Wow, thanks @domingosraposo3029, I really appreciate the support.

[@planpirat]

We all know that Swiss Army knives are only used for ukuleles. For guitars you need a bowie knife and for basses even an axe... I'm not sure what to use for double basses, maybe a guillotine would be suitable.... 😉 Nice video, thank you 👍

[@FrugalFixerSpike]

Do you use bigger bits for roughing operations? Like a 1/2 or 3/4 flat bit, before finishing. I use a bigger ball end for final pass, like a 3/4. Just learning my machine, so I know my speeds and feeds. Great advice, thanks!

[@HighlineGuitars]

No. Most of my roughing and finishing operations are done with a 1/4" endmill. I've tried ball ends up to 3/4," but found it made little improvement. Certainly not worth the trouble of switching bits.

[@EmtonGuitars]

Question on this as I am doing my first angled headstock. The tip of the angled headstock and the sides along with the area around the volute isn't a straight up and down vertical surface. It's also angled as well. It seems like your contours/pencil operations seem to be 2D operations. I have set up some 3D contour operations in my CAD/CAM (Fusion 360). There still seems to be some unmilled portions on the outside contours of the headstock. Any recommendations on how this is supposed to work?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I haven't had any issues with unmilled portions on my angled headstocks.

[@stevereese6488]

This may be a dumb question but to cut the neck free from support tubes do you just use a band saw or a hand held router?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I sometimes use my band saw or just a small hand saw.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Awesome looking hair.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Thank you!

[@subd3]

Chris, have you used the built in Rhino CAM for any of your projects? Is it any good compared to your preferred CAM applications?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Rhino CAM is a plug in that you have to pay for. It's only available for Windows and I work on a Mac.

[@subd3]

I see it does have a hefty price tage. You're so good about answering questions. I appreciate it.🎸🎸⚡⚡@@HighlineGuitars

[@kkmik5933]

Hey Chris, curious as to why you bring everything back into Easel Pro, and not simply work with MeshCam?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I like using Easel Pro for 2D cutting because it's fast and easy. Also, I need to use Easel Pro as my g-code sender. BTW, next week, Inventables will be introducing a full 3D solution that may replace MeshCAM altogether.

[@kkmik5933]

@@HighlineGuitars Good to know! Thanks Chris

[@luisownerbr]

Sometimes Chris' sarcasm feels mildly threatening to the viewer, sometimes it feels like full blown gaslighting haha

[@tomyoung2065]

Swiss Army knife?! I just use a sharp rock.

[@ccchicken8889]

I can't lie, I admire the determination of Swiss Army knife luthier. Maybe don't give him your phone number though.

[@freemanmorey3655]

Why is this guy any better than the big guitar companies. One cnc is better than the other?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I have had 3 CNC machines, each one significantly better than the previous one.

[@harrypitts15]

It seems you're asking if there is any substantial difference between guitars made on CNC machines. If they're all automated, they must all be the same, you might conclude. Check out the Driftwood Guitars video that discusses this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4K8nKqtpNGAm8U To answer your question, a CNC machine can cut out shapes, but there is a lot more in the process of making a guitar, especially acoustics. Even in electrics, though, you need to get the neck to fit right, you need to set up the string action, get the nut right. The frets need to be leveled and shaped correctly. The fretboard can have any kind of radius to it. Getting the finish right takes skill too. All these things can affect the quality of the instrument.

[@marcingorycki8723]

Eat it Ben Crowe

[@freemanmorey3655]

Ok, fair enough, but I would guess the big companies have the best .

[@HighlineGuitars]

They have the best as far as speed is concerned. Their machines need to crank out parts at a very high rate.

[@ChristIsLord229]

If i had a cnc, i would make an Endure neck. The standard neck is too easy for that kind of machinery.

[@HighlineGuitars]

The CNC machine would have no problem making the Endure neck. It wouldn't be any more challenging than a regular Strat or Tele neck. In fact, it would be easier since there's no headstock.

[@ChristIsLord229]

@@HighlineGuitars lets see it happen!

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@ChristIsLord229 I've been toying with the idea, but I have to clear my schedule and it's going to be a while!

[@ChristIsLord229]

@@HighlineGuitars how much would you sell one for? Im interested

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@ChristIsLord229 Probably $2,000 to $2,500.

[@johnmiller9219]

i wish Gibson CNC'd their necks. I'm convinced the people that shape them dont play guitar