Tools for making a carved top with a CNC?

[Peter Vieth]

Long time since Ive been on MIMF. In those days the forum software was, uh, antiquated. And I built my guitars using minimalist tools. I tried Googling for the "stick" guitar made out of pine and a knife box but I couldn't seem to find any record of it. It's still in my garage, giving me some loving splinters every time I play it.

Then I got married and we procreated but now I'm back and I happen to have a CNC machine (Tormach PCNC1100) for my business.

I would like to make a carved top super strat out of ash. I've got a bunch of two flute square end mills. I have a chamfer. These aren't going to make a carved top. What bits do I need?

I'm willing to compromise to make it easy.

And no I'm not making a neck (I have two strat style necks I can use from ancient projects). Fixed bridge, H/S/H, two knobs, 5 way, KISS.

[David King]

Seems like a 1/2", 2 flute, ballnose end mill is that i see most. If your router or spindle can handle a 3/4" ballnose that might speed things up a little.

[Jamie Unden]

Seems like a 1/2", 2 flute, ballnose end mill is that i see most. If your router or spindle can handle a 3/4" ballnose that might speed things up a little.

I use a 1/2" ball nose.

[Randolph Rhett]

I actually use a 1" cove bit. Cheap and gives a smoother surface for the same number of passes. I rough with a 1-1/2" dado bit at .10 per pass. Works whether I'm on th 60k Haas machine at 500ipm or my 2k home built machine at 150ipm. Now, getting a good model of your top in CAD, that's the tough part!

[Peter Vieth]

All right, thanks. I might even have a 1/2" ballnose. I have a box of random hand me down bits I mostly haven't used. I know there is one ball nose in there.

I suppose I need to look at what's in HeeksCNC. I'm not even sure how well that software deals with surfaces that are curved in the Z. All of my products only require 2.5D.