Community Project: Fender Telecaster

Hi all,

Hopefully you have all seen the results of using my CNC machine to make a Fender Jaguar replica and I'm very happy with how it came out. If you followed that thread you have also seen me mention on occasions that the next project will be a Fender Telecaster and that a couple of the guys here are interested in collaborating with me on it.

I'm not too familiar with how Fusion works when sharing projects, but we'll have a go (how hard can it be? ;) ) and make it up as we go along.

Anyway to get the ball rolling I have taken some pdf plans (PM me if you want the source files) and converted these to dxf in Vectric Cut2D. I have then imported the neck and body (after a fair bit of clean up) into Fusion 360 and now have a project going in there. Here's a screenshot (I hope):

Attachment 19327

I have started with the neck as this is where most of the work is and the conversion has worked OK for dimensions (I've checked the fret spacing against a calculator) however there is much more to do and the tasks are roughly as follows:

Convert as many of the curves, which are made up of 100's of short lines into splines or other Fusion 360 geometry. I have already done the circles and the upper neck with fillets and splines for the headstock. The way you can tell is if you hover over a line and the whole curve highlights then it is done. If it is just a small line amongst hundreds of others then it still needs doing.

Sort out the truss rod on the side view (top view if you were playing the guitar), so that a standard double action truss rod will fit (we'll be going for a heel adjuster with a walnut plug at the headstock).

Probably combine or layer the fret slot marks onto the top most plan view so we can extrude and model from that one rather than trying to align extrusions from both.

Extrude the plan view into a solid body and start the process of "carving" the neck profile, fret board etc (going for a solid maple neck as its a lot easier than a cap rosewood but if someone wants to do that in a branched model then by all means go ahead).

OK in order to get access I will need a PM with a valid email address, so I can grant you access and we'll try the collaboration side of Fusion 360 out and possibly get some video footage for my channel as things progress.

I have no idea how version control works so we'll find out - it'll be fun :)

Cheers


Chris

I'm in Chris, PM sent......looking forward to this!!!

Thanks Neil - I've granted you access to the model, but I've no idea what that will look like on your end. It shoudl let you start working in it directly or at least on a version that you can upload back to the master.

Let me know as I can't see what it looks like from your perspective.

Cheers

Chris

Cheers Chris, I'll hopefully have a very quick look tonight and see what happens!

Thanks Neil,

BTW - until I work out how version control works I'm taking regular copies of the models into another Project folder as a backup, so don't worry about messing anything up when editing.

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Washout

Thanks Neil,

BTW - until I work out how version control works I'm taking regular copies of the models into another Project folder as a backup, so don't worry about messing anything up when editing.

Chris

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That's good then :biggrin:

Looking forward to seeing this take shape guys..!

Wal.

I'm in :)

.Me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lee Roberts

I'm in :)

.Me

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Check PM Lee.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wal

Looking forward to seeing this take shape guys..!

Wal.

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You're more than welcome to join in if you want Wal.

Chris

Cheers Chris,

Not sure I could bring all that much to the party body and neck wise, but maybe inlays, or a badge of some sort? Perhaps the pick-ups? I mention those as I'm currently making a set of 10 prototype Rosewood P90's for a local builder, pics and vid of an earlier effort below. I could always ask if he'd wind you a custom built set if you wanted to go off the beaten track - might be a bit cheeky but he's going to be dabbling in CNC himself at some point next year - I've already had the thought that you might make a good contact for him regarding learning about the machine and a solid introduction to CNC guitar making...

Attachment 19347Attachment 19348

https://youtu.be/9hpygLMEH00

Wal.

Hi Wal,

That might be an idea - I was going to go with some kind of vintage Fender reissue pickup in the bridge (the original guitar I'm copying is a '62) and a '57 PAF re-issue in the neck, but if I can get closer to "vintage" by going custom that might be worthwhile.

No problems on me helping your mate out with guitar CNC'ing - I try to respond to any questions on my YouTube channel the day they're posted and get some PM's etc as well - happy to help people get inspired to build/buy/learn CNC.

Cheers


Chris

First of the videos for this project - intro and CAd for the neck in Fusion 360:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuD5eih6R_E

I have also done most of the CAM apart from working out final workholding and indexing for the doublesided nature. For those with access to the model - have a look and see what you think.

Bugger.....been meaning to start up Fusion but life (grandson most recently) keeps getting in the way....myst try harder (sounds like my school reports!!!) sorry Chris........

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No worries Neil,

I'll be starting on the body soon, but there will be two versions - one with the standard single coils and then the Andy Summers variant, with the extra routing plus humbucker.

Looking good Chris..! Very neat bit of modelling there.

Wal.

Thanks Wal

I should have the CAM video up soon, but have a cockpit project vid before that and I got an Oculus Rift a couple of weeks ago and that has been keeping me "immersed".

Video showing the CAM process fro the neck is up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh_mODWuBec

@Neil and Lee - I haven't tested the toolpaths yet, so beware.

Merry Christmas all,

I got some time on the machine and for video editing. Here is the test machining and I'm glad I did this as there were a couple of issues (for the next video) that needed solving before machining in real wood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzM0JJdTme8

Next part of the build - fixing a CAD problem in Fusion 360 and then cutting it out in maple:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HtRQXMhZdc

Chris, rather belatedly looking at this now, sorry (got to learn 360 first though, hoping that as I use Geomagic it won't be too steep a learning curve!!) have managed to log into the project but a little daunted!!

Hi Neil

No worries. I have taken backups of everything in the Telecaster Project folder, so you can tinker with impunity.

If you want to just try creating toolpaths by all means use the neck model for that or to practice modeling the raw sketch is waiting in the Tele Body.

I've also created a neck profile sanding block and a copy of the dot inlays model from the Jaguar project (been working on the neck today getting it ready for a scary bit of drilling).

Looks like I've got to tinker with my laptop as it won't open the model in Fusion, it's telling me it can't find the QT platform for windows.....or something!

Hopefully you have your Fusion 360 install sorted Neil.

Here's some more progress on the neck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAOwgYZc7aQ

I've also put the dot inlay and profile board CAD and CAM in the project folder - hopefully you can see them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Washout

Hopefully you have your Fusion 360 install sorted Neil.

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Not yet, uninstalled it ready to reinstall and now Windows has gone and done done a bl**dy update and now my WiFi doesn't work....bl**dy Microsoft :thumbdown:

Next part of the Telecaster build is up and this time dealing with some walnut inserts on the neck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLICEn9SpjM

Posted the next part of the Telecaster project - this time its a tutorial/walk through of Fusion 360 CAD for the body:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brzcfIgjlow

Hoping to join in on the fun here. Recently got my homebuilt CNC up and running and am looking for a good project to run it through the paces!

Id like to jump into this build. Can I get a copy or access to the Fusion files?

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Originally Posted by ericmac

Id like to jump into this build. Can I get a copy or access to the Fusion files?

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Hi Eric

Shoot me a PM with the email address you used to register to Fusion 360 and I'll give you access to the project - be very aware though that the CAM that's there is "tuned" to my machine so its best to take a copy of the CAD and do your own with feeds and speeds for your machine.

Cheers


Chris

Here's the next part where I walk through the CAM for a machine that can cut the whole body in one set of operations and also for a smaller machine where indexing is required (like mine).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQPGEDgfIN0&t=25s

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Washout

Hi Eric

Shoot me a PM with the email address you used to register to Fusion 360 and I'll give you access to the project - be very aware though that the CAM that's there is "tuned" to my machine so its best to take a copy of the CAD and do your own with feeds and speeds for your machine.

Cheers


Chris

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Not sure if I already sent this to you... lll run my own cam, thanks a ton for the cad! Great videos! Please keep it up.




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Hi Eric

Good man - I seem to be getting a lot of requests for the CAM, from the uninformed that think they can load my GCode and press start on an X-Carve. That will only get them a floor full of broken machine parts if they try milling at 15mm depth on an 8mm cutter :tongue:

Best to delete the email addresses off of your post there - bots will be picking those up and phishing will commence (Lee might be able to do this if he picks up on it first).

Cheers


Chris

Hi Chris,
I haven't been able to find any files on A360 under either account? Is it shared through the fusion? Also, thanks for the HU regarding the email addresses!
Best,
Eric

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ericmac

Hi Chris,
I haven't been able to find any files on A360 under either account? Is it shared through the fusion? Also, thanks for the HU regarding the email addresses!
Best,
Eric

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Hi Eric

That should be fixed now - not sure why but it was failing to send the invite to you silently i.e. no warning. Anyway should be there now, so let me know if it hasn't worked again.

Cheers

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Washout

Hi Eric

Shoot me a PM with the email address you used to register to Fusion 360 and I'll give you access to the project - be very aware though that the CAM that's there is "tuned" to my machine so its best to take a copy of the CAD and do your own with feeds and speeds for your machine.

Cheers


Chris

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Got it Chris... looks great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Morning all

Here's the latest video showing the machine and CAM in action. It shows how I get a body that is too wide for my cutting area out of the machine:

https://youtu.be/WVf5J8XytSA

The links to the CAD models in Fusion 360 are in the video description for anyone that wants them, but no toolpaths. If anyone wants access directly to the project in Fusion 360 drop me a PM with your Fusion360 email address and I'll add you to it.

Hi all,

Next part of the Telecaster build - no CNC this time round, but installing the body binding with some "old skool" routing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nof_9Vzv5ws

Nice work, I notice that you didn't heat the binding prior to bent it at the area of lower horn, this mean the binding is soft enough for this job, right? What kind of plastic is made of? ABS? also I have seen people bond the binding with the body with acetone, they say it is a more clean work. I haven't try that... only just CA glue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nickhofen

Nice work, I notice that you didn't heat the binding prior to bent it at the area of lower horn, this mean the binding is soft enough for this job, right? What kind of plastic is made of? ABS? also I have seen people bond the binding with the body with acetone, they say it is a more clean work. I haven't try that... only just CA glue.

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Yes it was fine for the lower horns, it was only on the right angle bend under the neck pocket that really needed heating.

I think its ABS, but it was off of ebay so you can never be 100% sure...

I have some decent glues and of course acetone, but I find the bonds can be a little weak and CA is just a lot quicker in general but does have that "one shot" risk.