[JacquesLeDick]

Hiya Guys,

One of my first posts here.
As a belgian guitar builder/tech I'm trying to understand the world of CNC.
Most of the guitar I build are semi and hollow body's with carved tops.
Soon I'll order my first CNC machine. Gonna go for a Excitech 1312.
Ordering a machine is a piece of cake, but running it is something else...
Now I've got all my blue prints of my guitars on paper. I can get them scanned to a pdf file. But how do I start for there? Got artcam pro software.
Is there any source where I can find out more how to do this/learn CAD and CAM programs?

May the cnc force be with you,

The Belgian Waffle

[bostosh]

"Is there any source where I can find out more how to do this/learn CAD and CAM programs?"

Try your local schools,
Here in USA the local two year colleges teach the subject.
It takes longer than that to get it totally.

First tell us what you currently know.
Cartesian coordinates?, plain and analytical geometry?

If this subject were easy,
everyone who could flip a burger would be doing it.

[JacquesLeDick]

Thanks for your reply bostosh!
I'm a pen and paper man... Realizing this is not a piece of cake I'm looking for the best information I can get.
Checking schools over here in Belgium. Are there online courses you could advise?

[Montabelli]

Jacques, I don't know if art cam has changed to make it more functional for exact control of 3 dimensional parts, but I would suggest you look around at various programs designed for creating your parts then manually enter the coordinates and sections to create your surfaces. it is easier if you think in terms of building the assorted parts of your instruments, then you need draw only what you need to make the tool paths. are you planning to use a 4th axis for necks? if you are make sure your software package will handle it.

art cam will work to make inlays etc.

[JacquesLeDick]

At the moment I'm using Rhino for mac to draw. It's going ok at the moment still a lot to lear...
I'm wondering if there is any CAM software available for mac?

For those who are interested here is a photo of a guitar I'm working on. This is hand carved, can't wait till I can draw my tops/guitars and CNC rout them... time time time...

[JacquesLeDick]

Forgot to add a link that got me started with Rhino.
http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~maryi..._Rhino.html#s2

[turmite]

At the moment I'm using Rhino for mac to draw. It's going ok at the moment still a lot to lear...
I'm wondering if there is any CAM software available for mac?

For those who are interested here is a photo of a guitar I'm working on. This is hand carved, can't wait till I can draw my tops/guitars and CNC rout them... time time time...

Jacques, I do not know if Madcam works for Mac or not, but it is a great cam plugin that sits right inside of Rhino. It is what I use for my guitar building...a grand total of 1 so far!

Here is a jpg showing what it can do. All done on cnc!






I had never built a guitar and with Rhino and Madcam this is what I did for my first attempt. Frets and all.

Mike

[JacquesLeDick]

Cool stuff Mike!

[fabconv]

try solidworks before going on with rhino
much more powerful, i think

[JacquesLeDick]

try solidworks before going on with rhino
much more powerful, i think

Solidworks is a lot more expensive or am I wrong?

I'm using Rhino for mac (beta) for free at the moment. I would like to do the Rhino academy as I'm planning to learn to draw "carved tops".
Couldn't find a "Solidworks -school" here in belgium or holland.
But once I'm on my way with Rhino I can allways try Solidworks?

Anyways Wednesday I start the academy in holland... there is nothing wrong with learning...

[fabconv]

it is more expensive, but more powerful and easier than rhino

the SDK (student) version it's free!