Hello, I'm new to this forum. I am a Tool & Die maker living in Rochester, NY
I have always liked woodworking, & I bought a K2 CNC router to help a friend build guitars. I use mastercam & Mach3 to do my programing & toolpaths, but I still have a lot to learn. I hope I can pick up some useful info & shortcuts from all of you
Wood Chuck 59

Hey Woody,

I have a K2CNC and make Signs and Guitars too. Post back here or PM me any time. I can help you. :D

Just out of curiosity, what size is your K2? Are you using Mach2 or Mach 3 to control it? I have a 25 x 14 " travel, and am using Mach 3. It took some getting used to, but I'm getting a little faster now. All things considered, it's not as rigid as I would have liked. What do you think?
This is a cutting board I finished this week. Do you have any photos of projects you've done?

I have the K2CNC KG3925-G which has a 39" X 25" travel. I am using Mach3 and it is not as rigid as I would have liked either.

Here's a sign I made recently: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55692

Check out my Guitar stuff here: www.ballardguitarworks.com

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56744&d=1207015925

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56742&d=1207015925

Very cool Mike, I still need to make a vaccum shroud to collect the wood dust. My partner Greg & I will be making a guitar using cocobolo wood, & I hear that you don't want to breathe that dust. How well does yours work? Do you have to adjust the height durring the program? Did you buy it or make it?
His website is Rockbeach guitars. http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/boggs.com/
I hope this link works.
I tried to load a picture, but it didn't seem to work . I'll try it again.
Chuck

K2 sells the dust hood. I am surprised you did not order it when you bought your machine. Mine works well. You adjust it when you load the tool. Your website is nice. You are a luthier, I'm just a CNC guy who wants to make parts for luthier's.

Here is a picture, I think

Nope, no pic. :D

Actually, Greg is the luthier. I'm just a cnc woodworker.
I guess the photos won't load tonight. Maybe it'll work tomorrow.

Cool. Tomorrow I will tell you how to post a big pic. :D

Here are 2 photos of a bass guitar in the process of being built. the first pic shows the body cut with the hollowed out resonance chambers. the second pic shows the neck pocket cut with the neck in place, & the bridge pockets cut & bridge pieces in place. The main body is Cuban Mahogany. The cover wood is Purpleheart. There is not any stain used on the guitar. That is the actual color of the wood. The neck was purchased.

Woody,

Nice looking Guitar Body.

Making, Reverse Engineering, and Progamming Necks is a Specialty of mine. :D

"Kellering" the back of the Neck with a 1/2" ball end mill:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62156&d=1214518087

K2CNC KG3925-G CNC router:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62157&d=1214518087

The finished Neck:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62158&d=1214518087

The "Volute"

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62159&d=1214518087

Mike,
Very nice looking. Do you also do the truss rods & the frets?
I don't know how to get the large pictures on the web page like you did.
What's the trick?

To post pics large you must have it posted on the internet somewhere else. It could be here or anywhere else. Then you need to get the URL of that pic and in "Go Advanced" you insert a pic which will look like this:



So it's the [IMG] + URL + in "Go Advanced" that does it. :D

P.S. I mill the Truss Rod slot in the face of the Neck and the Fret Board is a separate piece (with the slots) that glues onto that face.

breathe coco bolo dust!!!!!!!

wear a mask and vacuum all particles before removing mask, dispose of mask and use a new one every time you work with this wood. jim mcgrew

Jim, thanks for the advice about throwing out the dust masks. I will also make a vaccum shroud around the router bit before I cut the wood.
Here is the completed Purpleheart Bass Guitar
Mike, I think I'll just post small pic's.
(Wood)Chuck

Chuck,

Nice Bass Guitar my friend. Happy to send you a blueprint of my vacuum shroud if you are interested. :D

Mike,
It probably wouldn't work because I made my own router holder to mount on the Z axis. I sketched up a dust shroud & I'll start making it this week. When I get it to fit & work, I'll post a pic of it.
Chuck

Chuck,

Well, let me know if there is anything I can help you with. Looking forward to seeing your pics. :D

My dust shroud is about 3/4 complete.
here is a picture of a mahogany guitar body being cut.
I made the router holder so a K2 dust shroud won't work.
Chuck
The dust shroud will slide on, and the side curtains will be adjustable for the height of the part & cutter length. I am using soft paint brush bristles at the bottom of the curtain. Pics tomorrow!

Chuck,

Wow! Fantastic work on that body. I am impressed. :D

Here are the pic's of the dust shroud. I still need to enclose the back. The parts are made I just need to glue the bristles to it, & drill & tap 2 holes in the main body of the dust shroud. But I gave it a test run & I think it will work well once I finish & mount the last piece. I thnk it has enough up & down adjustment for most parts I will cut.
I would like to see photos of projects you have done on your machines.
Post some pics.
Chuck