[slpd]

I HAVE RECENTLY ATTENDED A SHORT COURSE ON AUTOCAD AND HAVE FOUND IT IS NOT CAPABLE OF DESIGNING A 3D ELECTRIC GUITAR BODY WITH A FILLET/RADIUS AROUND THE GUITAR BODY.

COULD ANYONE RECOMMEND WHICH CAD SOFTWARE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS?????????????

[Rekd]

Solid Works, CAPS LOCK = OFF, ProE, Mastercam, there's a million of 'em.

If you're only doing one, you might look for a demo version that lets you keep the model. If you're going to do a lot, you'll have to buy a somewhat pricy software.

'Rekd

[JOE65]

Here's a real quick quitar shape in autocad

[ger21]

You mean something like this? You can easily add a fillet around the body if it's a flat body style like a strat. If you're talking about a carved top like a Les Paul, than it would be easier elsewhere, But AutoCAD is more capable than you think, you just have to work a little harder. If it won't work for ya, try Rhino.

Gerry

[slpd]

Gerry

How did yo do that in Autocad????????????????????????

Did you use a spline to do it or not??????????

Can you tell me if you can create a 3D model from a spline in any other software???????????????

[ger21]

Extrude along a path. I used a spline for the path. "Lines, circles, arcs, ellipses, elliptical arcs, polylines, or splines can be paths" (From the help file. ) create a closed shape for your profile. draw your path. Use rotate3D to align your profile to the end of your path. Extrude.

Rhino uses mostly splines to model with. So do many others.

If the guitar you want to design is a flat body like a strat, I would start with the outline of the body. Extrude it to the thickness that you want. Use the fillet command to round the edges like I showed above. (Although thats NOT how I did it ) Create solids the shape of the neck cavity and pickup recesses and SUBTRACT them. If you want an angled top (forearm area), you can either use Subtract again with a solid moved and rotated into position, or use the slice command.

There is a LOT of info in the help file about 3D modelling, and quite a few tools at your disposal in Acad.

You can also do quite a bit using meshes from curves (arcs) and splines, but the solid methods I listed above are a lot easier to learn. Any more questions, just ask.

Gerry

[slpd]

ger21

Here is the body I am trying to fillet the edges of so that they are rounded.

I have extruded the 2D enclosed spline to make it 3D.

I need to know how to do the edges of the body.

The blue out lines are the guys I need to fillet???????????

[slpd]

ger21

Here is the body I am trying to fillet the edges of so that they are rounded.

I have extruded the 2D enclosed spline to make it 3D.

I need to know how to do the edges of the body.

The blue outer lines are the guys I need to fillet???????????

heres the image

[buscht]

slpd, Are you just trying to get a 3D model for show and tell? Or are you concerned about creating an accurate model for CNC routing?

It you are concerned about routing, You shouldn't be. In fact you don't even need a 3D model to route the guitar as shown. A 2D drawing will work just fine.

The radii and pocket depth can all be handled by the CAM program.

If visual is what you want, them try to extrude along a path like ger21 suggested. Then draw and extrude the middle section.

Use the UNION command to join everything together.

[ger21]

The fillet command should work fine for those edges. You might have to use the chain option depending on what happens when you select the edge. If you can't get it to work, post the drawing and I'll take a look at it.

Gerry

[wjbzone]

If edge you are trying to fillet makes too sharp of a bend it can cause the fillet to overlap back on itself and give you an error during the fillet command.

In a case like that, you can fillet a less radical bend on two separate solids. You can then use the union and subtract functions to complete the solid model.

The chamfer can be subtracted off after the fillet is done.

Bill.

[anoel]

Well. I'll give you a hint... Don't filet the edges in the model... Let the router cut a hard edge and use a hand held router for the edges using a piloted round over bit. Most shops do it this way. Even Warmoth. Doing the round over on the 3d model will add much time to the machining of the body. Also don't plan to use the pickup cavities, tremolo routes and neck pockets as part of the 3d model for machining everything at once. Do those entities as completely separate pocketing routines. That will offer you some addtional time savings as the Z axis movements won't be slowing you down. In fact if you can just do a contour cut on the outline and isolate the forearm contour as the "only" 3D toolpath you'll save "MUCH" time on the router. Most shops will do it this way as they will only have a body on the machine for a half hour or less vs. 2-3 or more.

All of this is assuming that you are planning to actually machine out that RG body and not just doing it as a 3D modelling excersize.

The RG/JEM Model with the AANJ that is floating around the net(Looks like that's what you've started with) if not then I apologize for assuming, that I've fooled with is a little funky and I too have had a tough time getting a good filet on, I basically had to retrace the oultine and g from there.

[slpd]

buscht:

I am attempting to create a model for a CNC router, which will be accurate. Therefore, when it is machined there are no excuses for for making mistakes??????



Gerry:

I am having trouble using extrude along path????

I can't get ACAD to fillet the edges of the body. I can do a subtract to create the arm rest, if I extrude an enclosed spline,
(as seen in the pic I posted before). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[buscht]

slpd, Zip your Acad file and attach it to a post. Maybe someone can help you better if they can work on the geometry.

T

[ger21]

If you need to subtract the armrest, than you're going to have to use fillet. If you fillet or extrude first, when you subtract the armest, you'd need to re-fillet that part, and you wouldn't be able to blend the fillets ( I don't think). Did you creat that from scratch, or did you get it from somewhere else as Anoel asked before? If you didn't start from scratch, that's what I'd recommend. You have to be very careful with fillet that the radius your using can actually fit all the way around without crossing back over itself. One thing I noticed, you don't want to use a continuous spline for the body profile. You need a combination of splines, but you need to use lines to get the right shape at the heel. And you'll want to subtract the neck pocket after the fillet, or it'll cross over itself at the edge of the pocket. I just did this real quick, so it's not very well proportioned. (And it's been about 12 years since I built a guitar). First I used slice for the armrest, then did the fillet, then the nech pocket. You just need to carefully plan out what you want to do and make sure the fillet will work. Start with simpler shapes and keep practicing. This isn't something you can just quickly jump into. And if you still can't get it to work, post the model and I'll help you with it.

Gerry

[ger21]

To whomever moved this thread, I think it really belongs in the AutoCAD section, as it's more "How to do this in AutoCAD" than "How do I build a guitar".

Gerry

[slpd]

here is a simple 1 I created using a single spline for you guys to check.

I think the logical way i should do this is to fillet the edge around the body, then do the arm rest and neck subtract????

if I could do the body fillet in the first place!!!!!!!!!!

any help thanks in advance

[ger21]

I couldn't get it to fillet either, but here's how you do it. Explode the solid you have and delete everything but the bottom region (outline or profile). Then, using the spline command, set your osnaps to nearest only and trace around the one you already have. But DONT snap the last point to the first point. When you get to the last point, hit C and enter to close the spline. If you used enough points, you should have basically the same shape. Extrude this and you should be able to fillet it. (I tried it and it worked. I noticed where your profile (spline started and stopped was not a smooth transition, that could have been part of the problem, Doing it the way I mention above should eliminate that problem) Another thing is. before you Extrude, try to do an offset to the inside with the offset amount the same as your fillet radius. If it won't offset, it probably won't fillet because the spline may have radii tighter than the fillet radius.
Last thing, I would fillet LAST, after everything else or you might get sharp corners.

Gerry

PS. If I was doing this in AutCAD. I'd use meshes (revsurf, rulesurf, tabsurf or edgesurf). It's quite a bit trickier and takes a lot longer, but you'll have more control and won't be at ACAD's mercy. Or you could try Rhino.

[slpd]

gerry

Have you any tips that you could pass on to me, in particular with regard to filleting in rhino????

Also any tips you may have to subtract an arm contour in rhino would be helpful?????????

[ger21]

Sorry, I don't use Rhino on a regular basis. But, there are a lot of good tutorials on the web if you look for them. Good luck.

Gerry