Prior to purchasing a cnc router and laser machine, I made all the guitars parts entirely by hand using conventional tools and machinery (i.e, planes, chisels, files rasps, bandsaw, tablesaw, linisher, drum-‐sander,
2017, I had the opportunity to make parts for a guitar on a friend’s cnc machine.
I was so impressed with the speed and accuracy that I decided to purchase my own cnc.
Through my friend’s recommendation, I looked at the omnicnc website, which I found appealing. To my good fortune, I made contact with Allen Zhang at OMNI. I was very impressed with his knowledge and prompt replies to my questions. In September 2017, I made an order for a 6090 CNC router machine.
After making the order, Allen invited me to go to the OMNI factory a three-day free training session on my cnc machine.
I went with my son and friend to Jinan in January 2018 to see my new machine and to do the training.
While I was in China, I also purchased an OMNI 6090 laser machine through Allen. Allen then organized additional training for the laser machine while we were there.
During our time in China, Allen was an excellent host. He made sure that our needs were met and that the training was enough to get me started with setting up and using the machines. He aslo took the time to show us around in Jinan.
Both these machines are the perfect size to help me build guitars and other stringed instruments.
The follow are examples of how these machine have greatly increased productivity.
Before purchasing the cnc machine, it would take approximate three days to make acoustic guitar neck by hand.
With the machine, it now takes approximate four hours ( including material preparation and machine setup time) to produce the neck parts.
Before purchasing the laser machine, it would take me approximately four hours to make an acrylic template that I use for guitar building – With the laser machine, it now takes approximately 15 minutes including setup time.
These machines also greatly increase precision and consistency, which is challenging to achieve by hand.
Productivity and precision will no doubt further increase as I become more familiar
with the software and with using the rotary devices on both these machines.
I am very happy with the current configuration of both these machines, particularly with the DSP controller and tool sensor on the cnc machine and the control panel on the laser machine.
If I were to purchase another cnc machine, I would consider an automatic tool changer.
Omni did a great job of packing both the cnc and laser machines.
They arrived in Australia in good working condition and with all the components needed to set them up and get them going.
Thanks to Allen’s very prompt after-‐sales replies to my Questions, I had both machines running within one week of them arriving in my workshop.
With WhatsApp, it was like having Allen at my side during the setup process.
I wish to give Allen and the other people I met at Omni a very big thank you for their great service and, particularly, Allen’s great pre-sale, training and after-‐sales service.
I would definitely recommend Omni to anyone here in Australia wishing to
purchase similar machines.
The keypart is program file creating. Firstly, you gonna make a 2d shape, trace the contour and interior curves, then use extrude command to 3D shape with solid surface.
In the process, you may also use trim command and fillet edget etc. And the the back of guitar is the same procedure to model it.
Then you do not need the flush trim bit, round over bit on manual router table, no need the angle grinder etc tool.
The photo is from http://ultimate-guitar-online.ultimate-online-services.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=402
Next you you create the tool path. 2D flat bits is for milling to the pocket by hollowing out way, and 3D ball end for roughting pass and finishing pass.
You will need 2 bits to cut this guitar body. One is a three-eighths inch down flute, which is a flat bit that we are going to use for all the 2d milling, and other one is ball end, also three eighths inch that going to be using to cut any 3D contouring.
And we suggest alder or cherry wood blank, one and three- quarter inches, which is the thickness of guitar. so need to fly cut it.
When CNCing wood this thick it needs to be rock solid secure so you need to screw your guitar body blank right to your waste board.
Or use the fasten tool to fix the blank to machine table.
By the way, 600*900mm cnc router is a nice choice, 2.2kw is suitable.
If you have enough budget, 1200*1200mm, 3kw spindle is a great option because this configuration is much stronger than 600*900 model because of machine structure and spindle power and motors.
Now processing start. The cnc router machine will do the 2d and 3d progress as your setting, when it is done, sanding it, adding some color you may like it. and then you may mount on the neck, nut, string, bridget pickup etc.
Good luck, you gonna have a custom made guitar!
A guitar is perfect for gifting on Christmas and New Year. If you are trying to make guitars, then you should probably read this blog:
Electric Guitar
An electric guitar is one that converts the vibration of the strings into electrical signals. Let us take a look at the below-mentioned points to understand how CNC machine carves and create an electric guitar.
1. Drilling 4 locating holes of the electric guitar body with CNC machine.
2. Use the CNC machine for the front of the body. The design for this guitar was created in 3D modeling software in accordance with the client’s requirements. This allows me to confirm the design as well as to take components out for the CNC operations.
3. Front of the body after CNC machining.
4. Back of body after CNC machining.
5. Body ready for cleaning up and sanding.
6. Final shaping and sanding of the body.
7. Sealing the body with amber shellac.
8. The body of the electric guitar will be mahogany with a spalted maple top. The spalted maple is ‘book-matched’ ready for gluing to the mahogany.
9. The CNC machined the recess for the inlay (mother of pearl) at the 12th fret.
10. The CNC machined fretboard (bocote).
11. CNC machine cutting the recess for the logo inlay (mother of pearl).
12. CNC machining on the neck of the electric guitar (maple).
13. Here are the materials and hardware that will go into the making of this electric guitar. The body will be African mahogany with a spalted maple top. The neck will be maple with a bocote fretboard. I will be installing Lollar pickups and a Wilkinson/Gotoch tremolo bridge. (I was too lazy to take the hardware bits out of their plastic packaging.)
14. The design for this guitar was created with 3D modeling software as per the client’s requirement. This allows me to confirm the design as well as take components out for the CNC operations.
Harp Guitar
A Harp guitar is a string-based instrument. CNC machine cut carves, engraves, and creates beautiful harp guitar used for gifting near and dear ones on Christmas new years. TO know more about how to make harp guitar, see the below-mentioned points.
1. Guitar making moulds. These are some of the parts that will go together with other parts to make up a set of moulds for guitar making (dreadnought body size).
2. Radius sanding dish. Here is the radius dish after the CNC machining operation is complete
3. Radius sanding dish. The stock material is firstly roughly machined to 0.6mm of the finished surface. This process quickly removes the majority of the material before the final smoothing.
4. Bent sides parts (Myrtle) and internal blocks (Queensland Maple)
5. CNC cutting the neckblock (Queensland Maple) — in Perth, Western Australia.
6. Inserts and countours together
7. Contours for the side bending machine
8. Inserts for the bening machine to bend the sides – 4 needed for the harp guitar
9. Back curve template – the back of the harp guitar will have a 30″ radius curve
10. The completed mould
11. CNC cutting the back curve part of the mould.
12. Creating a 3D model of the Harp Guitar for designing my version of the Sullivan-Elliott design. This will help resolve construction issues and develop parts for CNC operations.
13. CNC cutting logo inlays from Mother Of Pearl
Guitar for a Christmas present wish is right here!!!
Lou has been working all year in his workshop right in the centre of the metropolitan area of Perth to carve out the most beautiful and amazing Guitars. Lou has named his guitars after his father’s hometown in Italy (Sicily), ‘Mistretta’, and the town’s surrounding region of ‘Messina’. Both the Mistretta and Messina sounds so romantic and rich it can take you to the nostalgic places of Sicily or anywhere that your heart feels a bond. These guitars are made for those especially who have a talent to make them sing or for anyone that appreciates a great instrument. If you are looking for an extra special gift, this Italian locally handmade guitar will be an air loom to pass on for many generations and a Christmas present which will never be forgotten.
Check them out at the Rock Inn in Mount Lawley where the team will look after you!!! If you wish to view them on the website first, see https://therockinn.com/coll…/acoustic-guitars/brand_siragusa.
See Lou playing the Mistretta on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lousiragusa.
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