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Luthiers and CNC
Luthiers of all disciplines can now supplement
their traditional woodworking tools with CNC routers. While the CNC may
not duplicate all of the specialized processes involved in instrument
making, it brings new capabilities that can transform an ordinary shop
to an extraordinary one. A CNC can bring two very important elements to
any luthier’s shop; time savings and repeatability. Mundane or
repetitive tasks such as rough or finish carving instrument bodies, neck
carving, inlay work and fretwork can now be done with speed and
precision that will impress even the most discriminating of artists.
And, it can be done over and over again.
Old Dogs / New Tricks ...
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CNC machining was
the hot topic at a recent American Stringed Instrument Association’s (A.S.I.A.)
“Annual Symposium and Luthiers Frolic”. Several sessions covered topics
ranging from software design to outsourcing your machining. Many
cautious warnings were heard on the complexity of 3D machining, inlay
work and producing parts in quantities. Some of the largest instrument
manufacturing companies told of their steep learning curves and large
start up costs. In their midst came a very different, down to earth,
session from ShopBotter Don MacRostie entitled, “You Can Teach an Old
Dog New Tricks”. Using inexpensive CAD software and the
ShopBot
digitizing probe, Don demonstrated that even complex 3d carving and
intricate inlay is not rocket science. By reverse engineering his own
parts, Don was able to shape his F5 mandolin arched top that he cut on a
PRTalpha BenchTop at the show. The tool was sent to
Stewart Macdonald
after the show to produce their popular mandolin kits. In addition to
producing his high end
Red Diamond mandolins,
Don also works on development projects for “StewMac” and was
instrumental (sorry) in getting some of their
kits into production.
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Although Don’s
BenchTop only runs a few hours a week, he is able to stock some parts
for months in advance. His tool has changed the way he manufactures
parts and he is a true innovator in new CNC methods for musical
instruments. One example is in how his ivoroid bindings are produced.
They are pre-shaped in a mold cut to size and baked in his oven (150
degrees at 20 minutes I believe). When they come out they are ready to
glue directly onto the headstock without a struggle. His intricate
rosewood and abalone fingerboard and headstock inlays are cut with small
micron size carbide end mills and will rival the quality of machining
centers 20 times the cost of a BenchTop ShopBot.
Other noted luthiers
have been using ShopBot for years. Zion Guitar of North Carolina has
made hundreds of solid body electric guitars over the last 7 years and
their PR BenchTop is still producing parts today. Some of you may have
seen Lynn Dudenbostel last year on a DIY (Do It Yourself) network TV
series called “Hand Made Music.” His ShopBot was featured on a series
teaching how to make mandolins. And ShopBot newcomer
Howard Needham has just
pulled of his first violin parts from original molds. He is now excited
about increasing production.
[Click here to learn
about 3D work with CNC.]
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Howard Needham,
first project |
Guitars, Mandolins, Mandolas, Cellos,
Basses, Wooden Flutes, Piano Forte Parts, Church Organs, Tops, Backs,
Necks, Inlay… you name it. It has all been done on a ShopBot.
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