Making routing guides with a laser engraver - Guitar Building Tricks and Tips

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

tv1 — Sat, 18 May 2024 18:50:08 +0000

I was fortunate to be able to grab a CNC machine a couple of years ago (a friend was upgrading and so selling his old machine).

It's really just a router but controlled by the computer rather than an error-prone human. Well, it's probably more accurate to say that it moves the human error away from the actual routing.

It's great for very accurate and repeatable cutting. Just wish that I could get my head around the 3D modelling sufficiently!

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

music@johnmcculloch.net — Tue, 07 May 2024 10:20:52 +0000

12307 12308

FYI - Tele body blank routed to become a Tele Custom using 5mm black plexi as a template cut on laser cutter using Lightburn and free template downloaded from Electric Herald

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

sogoslotvvip — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:20:58 +0000

well that is some nice equipment right there, now if only I had the right budget to afford one.. 😥

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

music@johnmcculloch.net — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:58:32 +0000

Hi - I've just done some tests with pine. Firstly I used 18mm pine with a variety of settings, but it was having none of it. I then used 8mm pine which cut pretty well with the following settings:

12130

I suspect that 10mm or 12mm pine would also be doable but I can't test as I haven't got any of that size knocking about.

For the z-axis motor, I ended up making one from 8mm and 5mm plexi (cut on the laser cutter) and various items from Amazon:

12132

but it was quite a faff and your controller has to support z-axis control as well.

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

swepri — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 14:28:51 +0000

@musicjohnmcculloch-net It would be nice to have that Z-axis motor. It is fiddly to adjust the height manually.

Please keep us posted on your progress with pine. 👍

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

music@johnmcculloch.net — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 19:20:53 +0000

You could always cut layers of 1.5mm ply or 2mm MDF and laminate them together using laser cut dowel holes for alignment.

That would work as well; though if you check out E80 cutting 16mm pine it suggests that pine would also be an option. I haven't tested with pine, I'll give it a go in the next couple of days.

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

darrenking — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 19:06:58 +0000

You could always cut layers of 1.5mm ply or 2mm MDF and laminate them together using laser cut dowel holes for alignment.

Darren

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

music@johnmcculloch.net — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 23:23:54 +0000

Yes - I use air assist, but more to stop any smoke fogging up the laser glass and having to clean it all the time. If you're doing multiple passes then a z-axis control can be useful as this moves the focus deeper into the material. I'd also take most of what the laser manufacturers say that you can cut with a pinch of salt. At the sort of prices that us hobbyists can afford you have to be pretty selective material-wise.

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

NSJ — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 23:10:55 +0000

@musicjohnmcculloch-net I should be able to do it in 4 passes seeing as my module is 12 watt I believe lol

Are using air assist?

RE: Making routing guides with a laser engraver

swepri — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:31:18 +0000

If it's useful, here are my Lightburn settings for 5mm black plexi/acrylic:

Thank you! I was just about to ask... 😀