Blender, Rhino, Aspire or Fusion 360 for guitar design and milling?

[jo_ky]

Hi all! I have just ordered a laguna cnc with the rhino software for guitar building. I am brand new to cnc besides having my current guy cut my bodies on his cnc. He uses bobcad and aspire and has all my drawing in those programs. What format will Rhino take for me to be able to use those files?

If all you want to do is get the shape of the solid into another program, and proceed with CAM, that may be possible to convert. But if you ever want to make any changes to the drawings that define the model, or other changes of that nature, you'll need to recreate it in the new program. (There are translators, and interoperability formats like IGES, but as a practical matter it's not likely to work.)

[VGcustomshop]

VG, let's just bang a model out and cut it. I am doing the LP neck today
you are correct most any software that can do surfaces can do necks.
How ? you nay want to know. PM me

Awesome - I've hesitated contacting you because I know you're plate is already full! Been making some progress in Fusion - today the guys at BobCAD offered me their package for the hobby price - I may have to take them up on it. I need a Tele neck right now if you have one! Many thanks

[VGcustomshop]

Awesome - I've hesitated contacting you because I know you're plate is already full! Been making some progress in Fusion - today the guys at BobCAD offered me their package for the hobby price - I may have to take them up on it. I need a Tele neck right now if you have one! Many thanks

UPDATE: A rep at BobCAD gave me the online demonstration - he is very knowledgeable and helpful, however, he said that Fusion is a much more full featured program. He said that BobCAD is NURBS and Fusion is Parametric. He also said the basic package I would be buying for around 700 bucks doesn't have BobART (which lets you bring in .pdfs or photos to trace) or the pro mill module. He said that Fusion has richer and more numerous features - and since I get to use it free - why buy BobCAD? Seems a parametric program makes more sense for milling guitars. Although BobCAD does look like a nice program with a smaller learning curve than Fusion. Opinions?

[ger21]

I've never used BobCAD, but I think you'll find the learning curve every bit as steep as Fusions, if not steeper.
Do some research on other's experiences with BobCAD.

[VGcustomshop]

I've never used BobCAD, but I think you'll find the learning curve every bit as steep as Fusions, if not steeper.
Do some research on other's experiences with BobCAD.

I've had BobCAD demo for a couple days - it's very different from Fusion - maybe it's just that I'm more familier with Fusion but BobCAD seems limited in comparison - at least the standard mill package. That said, it may be all that is needed for guitars. The guy at BobCAD Al Depaulo was the one that told me that Fusion has way more advanced features.

[daniellyall]

Have a look at ZW3D

[VGcustomshop]

Have a look at ZW3D

Will do! Found one other modeler that is used mostly for graphics - but it's quite user friendly called Hexagon - you can download it here: https://www.daz3d.com/hexagon-2-5-download-version

[VGcustomshop]

Have a look at ZW3D

Nice program - should be for the price . . .out of my price range.

[VGcustomshop]

I've never used BobCAD, but I think you'll find the learning curve every bit as steep as Fusions, if not steeper.
Do some research on other's experiences with BobCAD.

Good advice thanks: Been doing a lot of research and have the demo - it's going to take some work to learn it. Still on the fence. Been working with Fusion since last August - with the same about of time spent in BobCAD - would I be as far along? Don't know - there doesn't seem to be nearly as much 3rd party documentation available for BobCAD - and some of the videos on Youtube are frankly terrible. Onward!

[VGcustomshop]

Still working on improving this but did it in MOI3D and very happy with the direction it's going . . .

[ScanGuide]

+1 to Rhino (and addons of course)
I'm not a designer, the most of my work is 3D scanning and reverse engineering. That's why in the most cases I'd rather have a 3D scan model and modify it instead of creating from scratch =)

[fretman_2]

That's looking good. I'm working on a neck design in Fusion360.

Still working on improving this but did it in MOI3D and very happy with the direction it's going . . .

[VGcustomshop]

Here's a more recent version - love MoI3D really fantastic program. Took down the heel on the side the hand is in the upper register - this is just the neck. Don't see any reason to model the fretboards as making em by hand is super fast and easy. The rendering was done in Fusion 360.

[daniellyall]

I need to look into MoI3D

[VGcustomshop]

I need to look into MoI3D

MoI, 3D modeling for designers and artists

[Kosh]

Don't know how I missed this thread for nearly 3 months.... oh yeah, was too busy building guitars!

VG - do you still want to do it it in F360? Looks like you got it handled. I can make a demo video of how I ended up doing it if you want. It's just not fully parametric, and I'm not sure if it can be.

[VGcustomshop]

Don't know how I missed this thread for nearly 3 months.... oh yeah, was too busy building guitars!

VG - do you still want to do it it in F360? Looks like you got it handled. I can make a demo video of how I ended up doing it if you want. It's just not fully parametric, and I'm not sure if it can be.

Sure! I'd love to see what you figured out. My latest in MoI is attached . . . just the neck no fretboard . . . Hope I can turn my machine on soon . . .lol

[VGcustomshop]

Finally milled a neck - still have more work to do but it's a start.

[Kosh]

Finally milled a neck - still have more work to do but it's a start.

That looks great VG! In fact, it looks like you're at that "99%" stage where a little sandpaper will suffice to clean it up?

One thing, looks like you ran your parallel finish up in the direction of the neck? Try running it perpendicular instead with a small stopover, you might like the results better.

[VGcustomshop]

Hello Kosh - appreciate the input - I will try that! The settings I used were waterline roughing and finishing.