The Steel Guitar Forum

I am currently designing a new guitar on graph paper. I do enjoy this crude method, ( it worked for many of the great builders of the past) I am however at least considering the thought that I should learn how to use basic computer design. Time is already scarce and this just seems like a huge setback, learning curve. What are the most user friendly cheap simple programs? Maybe I should take a few classes at the community college. Hmmm..

I feel like the first step would be learning a program, then I suppose I could consider a small CNC router or mill which would expand my possibilities quite a bit. Certainly it would make some very tedious jobs fast and time is my biggest hurdle. Of course there would be the learning curve to using these as well and a substantial investment. Is it worth it? I plan on building instruments for the rest of my life so hopefully at least 20 to 30 more years. This stuff isn't going away I noticed.

Tim let me say you can spend a lot of time learning and coming up with concepts can be more time consuming BUT when it comes to refining and iteration and manufacture the time saved makes up for the initial investment in spades.

Look at fusion 360 which there is a free version for amateurs.

I am getting to a stage where a cnc would be useful but picking the right one is a challenge.

Tim let me say you can spend a lot of time learning and coming up with concepts can be more time consuming BUT when it comes to refining and iteration and manufacture the time saved makes up for the initial investment in spades.

Look at fusion 360 which there is a free version for amateurs.

Your other build was innovative and original. I'd go with that, make them custom and go from there.

John Hyland wrote:
Look at fusion 360 which there is a free version for amateurs.

I am getting to a stage where a cnc would be useful but picking the right one is a challenge.

Thanks! I will check it out. Yah I haven't even looked at what it would really involve to buy something.

Chris Harwood wrote:Your other build was innovative and original. I'd go with that, make them custom and go from there.

I appreciate the encouragement I don't see myself going into production or anything. I really just want to be less computer illiterate so it will be an option if I want to go that way. The technology has come so far and accessible it is hard to ignore.

CAD & CNC really benefit from repetition. While you maybe considering one-off instruments of course there is significant repetition in a single pedal steel. Also it gives you an opportunity to prototype annd iterate a design to make the one-off better.

Hello from GeorgeBoards Lap Steel Guitars.

When you say I want to make instruments for the rest of my life , Can you be more specific?

Lap Steels - Pedal Steels - violins ?

The reason I ask, is because the use of CNC machinery and computer programs to operate - design and so on can vary quite a bit.

Having been in the Lap Steel Guitar manufacturing biz for 30 years, I can impart a ton of useful information once I know what your more specific goals are.

If you are looking to go into business making lap steels I have some super opportunities available that can save you 10's of thousands of dollars and reduce learning curves by decades too.

Tim,
Recently I was introduced to a cnc controlled handheld router called Shaper Origin. Intriguing product
that seems to be fairly easy to figure out how to use. Please check out their website for more insight to the machine

How close to Lincoln are you?

There is a makerspace there -- that is the ticket to what you seek to do.

George Piburn wrote:Hello from GeorgeBoards Lap Steel Guitars.

When you say I want to make instruments for the rest of my life , Can you be more specific?

I wish I could, but I am not sure where any of this is leading. For a good 15 years I was acquiring the skills and tools to start making Irish flutes and bagpipes professionally. The woods need to be slowly worked over a couple years to create stable instruments, so this was an incredible time investment. The materials are insanely expensive, sterling silver and African Blackwood, and the learning curve incredibly steep. As with steel guitars the bar is very high for craftsmanship. When I tried to scale up and actually was getting close to my goal, I realized I was not enjoying the process anymore and just dropped it and started dreaming about steel guitars. These very different instruments actually have a lot in common oddly.

Anyway I am having fun again. It would be nice to get my creations to a level that I would feel good about putting them out in the world, but the idea of running a business and taking orders and such is probably not for me. There may be some niche I could fill?? I am more interested in learning and promoting the diminished copedant that is proving to be incredibly functional and easy to learn. I really don't have a great space for working right now and tied to a job that is blurring my vision. Hopefully that will change soon. I still think learning to use some of these modern tools would further me in my endeavors, but it is tough to know where to begin. The Makerspace is a great idea. I will check it out. It's about an hour away. Thanks for the responses,

Recently I was introduced to a cnc controlled handheld router called Shaper Origin.

I will take a look at that. Thanks!

For what it's worth, 3d printing skills might be worth it if you are planning to cast one off keyheads as a mold

I still haven't taken the dive yet, but I do see the beauty in this technology!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVDTbYh ... pO&index=1