Step 16 - Finished Guitar

I completed building an economy style kit to create instructions for my students to have during virtual courses due to covid.  (I am using the supplied kit to build with my High School Music Teacher for them to understand the process and program)

Here is online album of all process Photo Album Guitar Build

The blog has videos I edited of the process for my student

Step 15 - Success

Briefly describe a success you experienced while at the Summer Institute.  Describe the event!

I was able to complete the CNC cad file using guitar blank.

Working in Fusion 360 is different then 3D software I am used to like Tinkercad, Sketchup, and Cospaces.

I was able to finally navigate the software to create my own guitar body design.

Step 14 - Describe what you would do differently or wish you would have done better on your guitar, if given the opportunity.

I would have worked longer on prepping sanding and masking.  Scratches showed up when applied finish.   I would also take longer time in setup intonation, fret heights and adjusting sound quailty.

Lastly I would us the extended time to allow finished to cure better in between applying.

Step 13 - What are the three big takeaways from the Online Summer Institute?

1. There are multiple resources (online, video and teachers) involved with STEM Guitar Program
2. These concepts directly connect to Math, Science, Music, and STEAM curriculum
3. Fusion 360 is a very powerful program all my students should be learning to us

Step 12 - Skills

SKILLS PAGE: Select 5 skills highlighted

Step 2 - Head-stock Design / Cutting

I am very comfortable teaching these techniques.  I have had multiple times I have taught students and done this activity myself.  I used both the machine based (Band Saw or Jigsaw) and hand based cutting techniques

I used tool safety in my skateboard production and the 10 in 20 brainstorming activity will work in the deck design phase and my robotics course building.

Step 3 - Paint and Finish

I am now very comfortable using and teaching how to do various ways to paint a guitar. Spray, Hand, Dip, Splatter painting - or inking and staining wood bodies. I have learned the dip painting works better with Marble Paint rather then traditional oil based paints.

I am using more techniques in my students skateboard painting design.

Step 5 - Electronics

I feel better about my soldering skills, but realize I need to maintain my equipment at a higher level.

I am using the electronics schematics info to help my 7th grade robotics course and they are servicing my 5th grade motors for their car projects

Step 6 - Stringing

I am still working on intonation, fret leveling and setting up guitars for better quality of play-ability.

I will use this with our high school music program.

Step 8-9 - CNC

I feel like I have a direction to go for the CNC Fusion 360 software,  I need to actually use it on my new CNC machine to gain more confidence in using it in reality.

The CNC will directly transfer to our engineering course.

Step 11 - CNC Tool Path Setup

Creating Tool Body Design in Fusion 360

• Used Guitar Shape I created to setup tool path for CNC machine to use to cut

What skills were integral to completing this task?

• Using Manufacture Menu in Fusion 360
• Chose Tools for Library (for your CNC machine)
• Set Tool used to Cut section to set tool path
• Run Animation of Cut path
• Trouble shooting incorrect cutting points

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would use ED Puzzle to make questions embedded in the tutorial videos

Used CNC Fusion 360 Software to make tool path for my Guitar Body Cut outs

 

 

Step 10 - CNC Body Design

Building Body Design in Fusion 360

• Used Blank provided from STEM Guitar to build guitar shape

What skills were integral to completing this task?

• Navigating Fusion 360
• Orbit, Pan and maneuvering around Fusion 360 work plane
• Design sketch tools
• Spline tool
• Extrude tool
• finish sketch

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would use ED Puzzle to make questions embedded in the tutorial videos

Used Fusion 360 to use spline tool to cut own guitar shape 

Fusion 360 (.fd3 file)

Step 9 - CNC - Fusion 360

Learn Basics of Fusion 360

• Did Tutorials to learn basic functions of Fusion 360 Software

What skills were integral to completing this task?

• Access to Free Fusion 360 Account
• Download on PC
• Chromebook Version

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would make organized list of videos to access
• I would make a playlist of videos (got confusing going from STEM ones and online youtube ones recommended

Watched Tutorial to understand basics of CNC design using Fusion 360

Step 8 - Finished Guitar

 

This is my finished guitar.

• Fender Stratocaster style body from economy kit with maple veneer top
• Front is stained natural and Back is red inked to show the grain
• Head-stock cut has a relief to hold capo

What skills were integral to completing this task?

• Understanding basic wood working tools
• Cutting
• Sanding
• Understanding basic finishing techniques
• Painting
• Sealing
• Understanding basic wiring techniques
• Soldering
• Understanding basic hand tool and assembly techniques
• Hand Tools - Screw Drivers, Cutters
• Understanding how to do basic Intonation adjustments
• Tuning and setting up musical action on guitar

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would make sure I extend time for intonation at end
• Organize all help video in a Google Classroom for my students

Step 7 - Stringing Guitar

In these videos I show how I strung my guitar.

• Using strings provided run the strings under the string trees and through the tuners.

What skills were integral to completing this task?

• Understanding Guitar Intonation
• Understanding how to properly string a guitar

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would make sure have extra strings (especially high E)
• I would provide the template for string bridge heights.

Step 6 - Wiring (Soldering)

In these videos I show how I wired my electronic components on my guitar.

• I ran my pickup and soldered the wires for the electronics.

What skills were integral to completing this task?

• You will need to learn proper soldering techniques
• You will need to understand basics of electronics of guitar

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would make sure have practice soldering activities before start on own guitar
• I would provide a jig for soldering component location

How to Solder and Wire?

Step 5 - Assembly Hardware

In these videos I assembled the major components of the guitar.

• Attached Neck
• Installed
• Bridge
• Tremolo
• Springs
• Tuners
• String Tree
• Strap Hardware
• Pick Guard

What skills were integral to completing this task? 

• Need to use proper sized hand tools (Philips screw drivers)
• Need to pre-drill your holes before assembly
• Need to use Wax when installed the parts

Reflective component: 

• How could you improve this process?
• I would make sure you have extra screws & bolts in case of breakage