Luthier CNC

[Voicecoil]

Won't be able to machine my big plates on any CNC I can get access to but I am hoping to get access to a Bridgeport mill so I can at least drill all of the holes in precise locations (assuming I can figure out how to use a Bridgeport!)

If you can't get access don't worry. You'd be suprised at how accurately you can place holes "the old fashioned way" using a surface plate, height gauge and optical centre punch.

[bluesking]

If you can't get access don't worry. You'd be suprised at how accurately you can place holes "the old fashioned way" using a surface plate, height gauge and optical centre punch.

Interesting, I don't understand what method you are referring to - can you describe a little more or point to a vid? What are the surface plate and height gauge used for?

If I can't use the mill I was just going to print some templates - stick them on the stock - punch the hole centres - and drill them out on my drill press. This is basically the same as what I do for making guitar templates - a job I thoroughly hate, mainly because I can only print A4 and have to tile my printouts.

[bluesking]

So a short update on my build. Things are going slower than I would like. I have gathered almost all of the components I need but am still waiting on a few key things.

Last few days I have been working on the various end plates and spacers for the machine.

I produced a technical drawing containing all the plates from my fusion 360 model. Using the fine-line-style setting when exporting to PDF was important to produce the most accurate output. All fits on a single sheet of A0, cost about £3 to print at a local printing shop:


Cut everything out and used spray contact adhesive to glue to the plates. Every time I use this stuff with paper I regret it. Horrible to clean up and unnecessarily strong.

The design of the my CNC means the actual plate dimensions are not critical. You can see all my plates are cut about 2mm too big from the supplier but this doesn't matter - the key thing is that all the holes are precisely located relative to each other. There are only 2 critical plate dimensions - and these only on one edge, corresponding to the 2 butt joints in the design. Paying attention and gluing the corresponding templates right up to the butting edge should be good enough.

Heres all the plates with their templates applied:


Thanks to reading Voicecoil's posts, I bought myself an optical centre punch and had a bit of fun using it. Its fun playing with the scope, pretending you're a CNC sniper, hahaha.


Silliness aside, the end results look well worth it - best punching accuracy I've ever had, should have got one ages ago:

[AndyGuid]

I bought myself an optical centre punch and had a bit of fun using it.

If you bought it online, please could I have the link?

[bluesking]

If you bought it online, please could I have the link?

I got mine from Axminster:
https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminste...e-punch-100244

On mine, the crosshair optic is out of alignment :( but the circle/dot optic is perfect :)

[Kitwn]

I got mine from Axminster:
https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminste...e-punch-100244

On mine, the crosshair optic is out of alignment :( but the circle/dot optic is perfect :)

Here's an alternative manufacturer's product being demonstrated...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zBl9yLacWs