Starting my build...

**fretman_2** · 05-15-2017, 03:37 PM

Cool...I wish now that I would have built a steel frame for mine rather than 2X4's. It works great for now, but I will likely have to rebuild it at some point.

Originally Posted by ynnek

I will get around to building mine, soon. I found someone to trade with to get my frame built. Steel tubing, 4x4. Similar to the FLA Saturn series. But with round rail, as I already have plenty of that I got free. 25mm on the x and y, 20mm on the Z. 6" gantry clearance.

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**fretman_2** · 08-16-2017, 10:18 AM

Here's a little something that I'm working on. I used my machine to cut out the neck and body. Neck is maple and body old growth cypress. It'll be a tribute guitar to a Navy Petty Officer killed in a motorcycle accident.

**Biggs427** · 08-16-2017, 09:19 PM

What kind of cutter / feed / speed are you using to cut hard wood? Do you have to do lot of hand finishing?

**gregoose** · 08-16-2017, 10:32 PM

Beautiful work!

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**fretman_2** · 08-17-2017, 12:53 PM

Thanks man!!!

Originally Posted by gregoose

Beautiful work!

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**fretman_2** · 08-17-2017, 01:03 PM

I believe 60ipm feed..I forget DOC. I used a high speed steel 2 flute upcut spiral bit. Yes...lots of hand finishing. I use the CNC to cut the outline of the neck and peck drill tuner holes, and thickness the peg head. I hand finish the neck after that doing the neck profile with rasp, file and sand paper.

For the body, I use the CNC to cut the outline of the body, and then to pocket control, pickup and neck pocket cavities. On this guitar I'll also use the CNC to do some custom engraving on an aluminum control plate...possibly the neck plate too.

Here's some CNC engraving I did on one of my earlier builds.

Originally Posted by Biggs427

What kind of cutter / feed / speed are you using to cut hard wood? Do you have to do lot of hand finishing?

**fretman_2** · 09-06-2017, 01:55 PM

Did some custom engraving with my homebrew CNC machine for the tribute guitar I'm building. The tribute person was a Sonar Tech 1st Class on a sub. This is the control plate. I created a fixture for the vise (drill press vise from Harbor Freight). I also cut gemstones and had some diacut lubricant that I used on the 6061 aluminum. That worked great and kept the 30 degree vbit sharp.

**fretman_2** · 09-08-2017, 10:57 AM

...finished control plate...

...new fixture...

**Biggs427** · 09-08-2017, 01:40 PM

That's very nice work!

Does your router clamp stretch under heavy cuts?

**fretman_2** · 09-08-2017, 04:43 PM

LOL...I've not had any issues with my huge hose clamp yet. Not a very elegant solution, but it does the job!

Originally Posted by Biggs427

That's very nice work!

Does your router clamp stretch under heavy cuts?

**bostosh** · 09-09-2017, 05:23 PM

Fretman_2
Do you want to do these control plates?
I have the 5 plates finished.DXF files ready.
Neck plates also. Brian O.

**fretman_2** · 09-11-2017, 08:33 AM

I haven't really thought about doing these for others. What material would you want? I've only done the 6061 aluminum.

Thanks for asking!

Originally Posted by bostosh

Fretman_2
Do you want to do these control plates?
I have the 5 plates finished.DXF files ready.
Neck plates also. Brian O.

**fretman_2** · 09-11-2017, 11:43 AM

A couple of pics...had to get a little mockup going...LOL.

**fretman_2** · 09-19-2017, 03:22 PM

This is the main reason I built my CNC machine...to do stuff I can't do by hand...like engraving. This is going on the tribute guitar build. 30 degree vbit, 8ipm, 3ipm plunge, .008 total DOC. It took too long, I'll be a little more aggressive next time.