My CNC Fretboard Process | Fusion360 and Mach 3 | Stratocaster Neck

[@coiledspringofapathy]

I make things on CNC as a hobbyist. I quite often get comments like "yeah, but the machine did the work". No-one turns on a CNC and simply says "make me a guitar neck!". Your video eloquently explains and shows that there is effort and skills required with this method

[@TwoCherriesIns]

Thank you, I do my bests to attempt to explain this, and things are slowly changing. I still get a lot of these kinds of comments, and I do my best to reply positively; I will admit that from time to time my whit my gets the better of me, I can fall off this perch I've built for myself and drop down into the muck of irony and sarcasm that feels so good. In the end, the only tink that will convince people is what you can do. I haven't met the person that loved an instrument but refused to play it based on the tools it was made with; It's almost as if precision is what people are looking for in musical instruments, and maybe that's just it, they know there is no way to compete. Without putting in a bunch of time learning a new skill, they know they are bested.

[@Metalbass10000]

You, sir, and I are a bit of kindred spirits with respect to applying CNC capability, a tool, to a process when bringing a musical instrument to life, getting it to an approximation of its shape, precisely and accurately locating critical features such as fret slots, but bringing the final shape, the final fits, the final finish, always feeling the instrument under my hands.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

That's exactly how I feel about it.

[@martine.210]

For me the biggest advantage of cutting fret slots on a cnc, is that you don't need to cut throught the edge of the fretboard. You missed that chance 😉 Great build nevertheless. I love your channel 🤘

[@TwoCherriesIns]

If I'm making a fretboard in that style for sure, you don't usually see that on this type of neck as it was designed to be easy to manufacture.

[@tpguitars]

Your channel is so underrated. Keep up the good work

[@TwoCherriesIns]

I have been getting a lot more attention in the last month or so, I plan on continuing anyway. This process has been very rewarding.

[@macmaniacal]

Amazing work. Custom 3d printed sanding block. I like!

[@TwoCherriesIns]

I needed a 9.5" radius and I only had a 12". I could have CNC milled it, but it was two birds with one stone situation. I can keep the CNC going and run the 3D printer at the same time.

[@bivoauc]

@@TwoCherriesIns What kind of infill did you use on this. Thought about doing the same thing but was worried it wouldn't hold up well. Great work as always!

[@TwoCherriesIns]

@@bivoauc this is PETG so it's pretty tough, I use thick walls around five layers and relatively sparse gyroid infill around 15%.

[@unboxoverkill]

So good, it’s like an amazing documentary or video essay. I subbed!

[@TwoCherriesIns]

Thank you, that's exactly what I'm going for.

[@HoustonRoden]

Great videos and explanations. Apologies if I missed this in another of your videos…Curious what your hold down method is on the Fender Style neck when you have to flip the neck. The tape and glue works great for the fret board blanks, but thinking about setting up dog hole corners similar to Jay Bates spoil board design. Any advice would be great. I have the same machine and use Fusion. Redesigning my spoil board for a new guitar neck design. Thanks so much.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

I have several videos discussing my work holding and setup workflow for multi-setup milling. Everything I make is custom, and I rarely make more than one or two of them, so I cant use a work-holding system that doesn't compensate as I need. Once you get into it, you will find many other upsides to this method. I am curious about exploring some vacuum work holding techniques, but many of the other systems can not adapt to the different sizes and varied styles that I build.

[@RickMolloy]

Thank you as always for sharing this with us

[@TwoCherriesIns]

You are very welcome!

[@spitfirekid1]

Excellently produced video and a nice process too. my only question is what’s the reasoning for not gluing in the truss rod? I’m not suggesting it’s wrong, just wondering.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

The way I apply the glue it will press out right up to the truss rod slot.

[@giantato]

Your process is one of a kind. How about a scalloped fretboard. I even think u could be capable to produce a scalloped fretboard without frets, i mean metal frets.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

I made a couple of multi scale five string violins with scalloped fingerboards.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

instagram.com/p/BK3k6Euj8PB/?igshid=kligf2uiy631

[@marcingorycki8723]

What kind of ballnose router bit are you using for fingerboard shaping? I am thinking of getting one like that, but I am not sure what is good.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

Its just a 3/4" ball nose from the big box hardware store, nothing fancy. The trick is to use a big tool with a small step over.

[@marcingorycki8723]

@@TwoCherriesIns haha. Ok, so I am buying one like that. Only metric :)

[@TwoCherriesIns]

@@marcingorycki8723 shouldn't be hard to find, assuming you're in a country that regularly has metric tools available, in the US that would be difficult to find.

[@marcingorycki8723]

@@TwoCherriesIns actually, big box stores over here are a bit terrible. But a bit like that is easy to get online for ~20 euro. Proper spiral bits from China are more expensive than that :)

[@lloydpittonet]

Not that I don't want to know how you go through making a neck, but where did you get the tape dispenser from exactly? That is something I would love to have!

[@TwoCherriesIns]

www.amazon.com/TADPOLE-3PackTad-Cutter-Combo-Piece/dp/B01N4P0LUL/ref=asc_df_B01N4P0LUL/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198095501005&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17104433243725746520&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029770&hvtargid=pla-370230492387&psc=1

[@lloydpittonet]

@@TwoCherriesIns you sir, are a hero.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

@@lloydpittonet I do my best.

[@mdsnjms]

whats that bit you use to contour the fretboard? I'd love to get one just don't know what it's called.

[@TwoCherriesIns]

I get that question all the time, and it's nothing fancy. 3/4" ball end router bit from the local big box hardware store.

[@benweiss897]

How do you accurately align the fretboard to the neck when gluing?

[@TwoCherriesIns]

In the case of a strat neck, a dead-on fretboard glue alignment is not necessary. I generally cut the board 0.03" oversize and shape it to size along with the CNC milled neck. The adjustable bridge can take up any error on these instruments. When I build an instrument, I like to take up any manufacturing error, whether the parts are made by myself or anyone else, by placing the bridge with the neck fitted anyway. It's good to work to the plan, but better to know how to adjust through the process; things will never fall into place perfectly, especially glue joints.

[@johnmiller9219]

traditional vestiges of experience are conceived by deep understanding of conceptual norms overarching the technical prowess of artistic endeavors unrealistic to the common man.