Hi Chris, great machine design and great answers to the questions! I totally thought the yellow 'plates' were metal as well, cool to hear that the plywood holds up in your guitar making process 🙂 I thought I'd let you know of a machine that I've designed as well called the LongMill which is also a GRBL-based machine, 30x30x4.5 inch cutting area, which we sell as a kit and design and ship out of Canada. I know you mention that price is always an issue with machines like these which puts them out of reach for many who want to try out CNC, so I'm glad that yourself and others contribute as well so people can keep their options open 👍
Most informative . Thanks for the break down . I love the CNC machine for it's accuracy & how it makes every guitar the same down the the thousandths ... It's a great tool !!! Personally I choose to make guitars by hand because I love working with the wood hands on , but that CNC is Awesome !!!
Hi Chris, I'm assembling the electronics of your CNC design and I just want to make sure I get grounding right. Should both grounding busses( power supply and Arduino) be bonded to the enclosure? I'm asking because in your plan the Arduino grounding bus, in particular, seems to be installed on some sort of insulator.
Hi Chris, I see on your older videos you used to have an x-carve cnc - what made you change from that cnc to want to build your own? How does your new custom compare to the old x-carve? Thanks for the awesome videos!
I make guitars. Not CNC machines. Sourcing the parts for one machine is no problem. Sourcing parts every day for multiple kits would be an unholy nightmare.
Hello again, Chris! I just purchased your CNC machine plans (and a few others :) ) a couple of weeks ago. After listening to this FAQ, I am almost tempted to give aluminum parts a try. As you suggested, aluminum will work better with ball screws instead of acme lead screws. The one question I have regarding that is: I understand that owing to their low-friction characteristics, ball screws don't come to a dead stop like lead screws do, but require additional braking mechanisms. Is that correct? Will your design need to be modified, or will the current anti-backlash and other bearings work? Thanks!
Ball screws will come to a dead stop if they're connected to stepper motors. The use of ball screws with my CNC router will require a significant redesign since they use totally different bearings and anti-backlash nuts.
Hi Chris, I am thinking of purchasing your CNC machine plans. Did you ever get around to designing and testing your dust collection system? If not, are you still planning to do it? I would love to purchase that as well.
I never made a useful dust shoe for this machine. I was going to add a commercially made dust shoe, but I got the X-Carve Pro machine before I could pull the trigger.
@@OldSilkRoad I never tried one, so I don't know. There are a lot of them out there. You would need to find one that fits the router. One thing to be aware of is that for carving guitar necks and bodies, dust shoes often don't work because of the amount of vertical movement needed to carve through a deep wood. I only use mine for shallow operations like fretboards or anything with less than about an inch in total cut depth.
Hey Chris. Two questions: 1. Is that a full size or palm size router? 2. Do you ever have any trouble with dust and debris getting into your lead screws or guide rails?
It's a DeWalt 611 trim router. The screws and guide rails are solid so dust can't get into them. It does land on them, however, but that has no effect on their movement.
@@HighlineGuitars I just wondered if the dust ever got into the bearing blocks or into the threads of the lead screw nuts. It would seem like that could gum things up, if it did.
Could you make a step by step video for newbies that never have had dealings with CNC, like from start to finish how to program the machine to build a neck and body?
Chris when are you going to replace the wood parts on that machine with book matched flame maple and a nice cream binding?
Finished in nitro, of course...
To the exact spec of Leo Fender's first CNC machine back in 1951.
i almost finish mine from your plans, but i changed it to ballscrews and water cooled spindle........its a beast, it cost me around 1300
Hi Chris, great machine design and great answers to the questions! I totally thought the yellow 'plates' were metal as well, cool to hear that the plywood holds up in your guitar making process 🙂 I thought I'd let you know of a machine that I've designed as well called the LongMill which is also a GRBL-based machine, 30x30x4.5 inch cutting area, which we sell as a kit and design and ship out of Canada. I know you mention that price is always an issue with machines like these which puts them out of reach for many who want to try out CNC, so I'm glad that yourself and others contribute as well so people can keep their options open 👍
Thanks for another great video Chris
Most informative . Thanks for the break down . I love the CNC machine for it's accuracy & how it makes every guitar the same down the the thousandths ... It's a great tool !!! Personally I choose to make guitars by hand because I love working with the wood hands on , but that CNC is Awesome !!!
Super video mate. Had no idea your 'nc was DIY. Please do another about the cad and cam software you use. Cheers!
ruclips.net/p/PL7TLAFxVOtrXE9unh-N3IMgqRdvQHeGLB
@@HighlineGuitars Nice one, thanks mate.
Hi Chris, I'm assembling the electronics of your CNC design and I just want to make sure I get grounding right. Should both grounding busses( power supply and Arduino) be bonded to the enclosure? I'm asking because in your plan the Arduino grounding bus, in particular, seems to be installed on some sort of insulator.
The enclosure, which has to be metal, is grounded by the analog bus. The digital bus is grounded once it is bolted to the enclosure.
Hi Chris, I see on your older videos you used to have an x-carve cnc - what made you change from that cnc to want to build your own? How does your new custom compare to the old x-carve? Thanks for the awesome videos!
Chris this machine is incredible! have you ever considered assembling these as a boxed kit to sell through your web site?
I make guitars. Not CNC machines. Sourcing the parts for one machine is no problem. Sourcing parts every day for multiple kits would be an unholy nightmare.
Hello again, Chris! I just purchased your CNC machine plans (and a few others :) ) a couple of weeks ago. After listening to this FAQ, I am almost tempted to give aluminum parts a try. As you suggested, aluminum will work better with ball screws instead of acme lead screws. The one question I have regarding that is: I understand that owing to their low-friction characteristics, ball screws don't come to a dead stop like lead screws do, but require additional braking mechanisms. Is that correct? Will your design need to be modified, or will the current anti-backlash and other bearings work? Thanks!
Ball screws will come to a dead stop if they're connected to stepper motors. The use of ball screws with my CNC router will require a significant redesign since they use totally different bearings and anti-backlash nuts.
@@HighlineGuitars Thank you so much for your prompt reply, as always! Much obliged.
Another great video :)
Hi Chris, I am thinking of purchasing your CNC machine plans. Did you ever get around to designing and testing your dust collection system? If not, are you still planning to do it? I would love to purchase that as well.
I never made a useful dust shoe for this machine. I was going to add a commercially made dust shoe, but I got the X-Carve Pro machine before I could pull the trigger.
@@HighlineGuitars Ah, okay. Is there a commercially available shoe that you know might fit the Highline CNC?
@@OldSilkRoad I never tried one, so I don't know. There are a lot of them out there. You would need to find one that fits the router. One thing to be aware of is that for carving guitar necks and bodies, dust shoes often don't work because of the amount of vertical movement needed to carve through a deep wood. I only use mine for shallow operations like fretboards or anything with less than about an inch in total cut depth.
@@HighlineGuitars Thanks so much for your response. That’s a great thing to keep in mind… luthiery is exactly what I have in mind.
Hey Chris. Two questions: 1. Is that a full size or palm size router? 2. Do you ever have any trouble with dust and debris getting into your lead screws or guide rails?
It's a DeWalt 611 trim router. The screws and guide rails are solid so dust can't get into them. It does land on them, however, but that has no effect on their movement.
@@HighlineGuitars I just wondered if the dust ever got into the bearing blocks or into the threads of the lead screw nuts. It would seem like that could gum things up, if it did.
@@jeremyvonk6853 It never has.
Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but can you go over what bits you use on the Cnc and for what parts of the machining?
ruclips.net/video/ApjVIgHNamQ/видео.html
Could you make a step by step video for newbies that never have had dealings with CNC, like from start to finish how to program the machine to build a neck and body?
ruclips.net/p/PL7TLAFxVOtrWK2l9bNeejF0twbnzxOJ2b
What Software for programming?
I use Adobe Illustrator for 2D, Rhino 3D for modeling, MeshCAM for writing g-code, and Easel Pro as my g-code sender.
Did he just say "Bomb"? haha
What brand and model is it? Can we get a link?
Visit www.eguitarplans.com and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Just to confirm, the yellow parts are wood? I thought they were metal and that was holding me off attempting.
Yes he said plywood. Check out this other video on how this machine was constructed around 3 mins ruclips.net/video/lpdEoYhNFoc/видео.html
baltic birch plywood
if you measure your router you could get a dust shoe from aliexpress cheaply
Hey there! Is there a website to contact you as a customer who is interested in you creating a body?
Well the channel is called Highline Guitars...
So this would be a good guess:
www.highlineguitars.com
Guilty of asking question #1 lol
Why did you build this when you already have an x-carve
For the thrill of accomplishment.
@@HighlineGuitars understood
But is it better than the x-carve
@@jivanchild yes, it is.