Modern technology

[simso]

Got to take my hat off every now and then, when I can see what can be achieved with modern technology

We have had a few washburns in with cracked bridges, Im old school hand make a new one, but we currently have three in at the moment that need replacement, Ummm washburn """design flaw maybe"""

So I have a cnc laser scanner which has been used as a storage shelf, completley covered in cases for musical instruments, thats how often I use it.

But stuff it I bought the damn thing for this exact situation, so after finding a computer plugging it in / wiring it up pulling my hair out trying to re-learn this crap, I had success....yay

Cracked Bridge

[simso]

Laser scanned image

[simso]

Notice it scanned in the bloody crack as well.

I just need one of my guys now to reverse engineer it and punch a few out on the cnc,

[Allen]

Cool technology, but it seems to me it would have been so much easier just to design it in CAD in the first place.

I'm certainly no guru at this stuff, but that wound not be more than 1 hour total to design in 3D ready to go to the CAM software. Actually after looking at it for a bit, I'm thinking it's more like 1/2 hour tops.

[Lee]

Money on a bridge blank +home-made copy carver, drill press and 15 minutes max.

[Lee]

Better yet just open the split a frag and glue and reclamp. Then sort the break angle or saddle angle in the slot. A: Glue is as strong as wood B: The bridge has split from the saddle top pulling to the north.

[simso]

Money on a bridge blank +home-made copy carver, drill press and 15 minutes max.

If you can do that on a copy carver in 15minutes to a finished product Ill eat my hat. Not possible, and yes I do own a copy duplicator

Cool technology, but it seems to me it would have been so much easier just to design it in CAD in the first place.

I'm certainly no guru at this stuff, but that wound not be more than 1 hour total to design in 3D ready to go to the CAM software. Actually after looking at it for a bit, I'm thinking it's more like 1/2 hour tops.

Allen you could be right, however I know very little about cad drawing.

[simso]

Better yet just open the split a frag and glue and reclamp. Then sort the break angle or saddle angle in the slot. A: Glue is as strong as wood B: The bridge has split from the saddle top pulling to the north.

The purpose is to make it better, there is a design flaw in these bridges with the scalloped edges making it weak, bit pointless gluing it up to then have the same thing crack again.

[Lee]

Fair enough.

[Allen]

Nor did I a year ago, but I've spent some time with all the major, and minor contenders out there trying to learn this stuff. Once you get on to it, all the major players are pretty much the same in the way they do things. I've settled on Solid Works now as it plays the best in Boot Camp and Windows on my Mac.

For the type of work that you are doing, and the equipment you've invested in, I'd be learning this stuff. It's not really that difficult for your basic shapes like squares, cylinders, holes and slots and all the combinations you can make out of them. And with just a bit more know how it's amazing what sort of work you can accomplish.

One of the very best resources I've found for this has been CadJunkie.com

It's got some fee stuff, but some of the really great content is via a membership. I've got one, and it's really amazing at how much you can learn when someone walks you through the shit you've been trying to figure out for days or even weeks on your own. Got me to sign up when it was the only place I could find that was modelling an acoustic guitar in CAD. There is also a lot of stuff that I didn't think was of use to me, but have found it's been great insight into marketing my products etc.

[simso]

Thanks mate.

Im old school, and when I do something like this it amazes me what computers can do, I much prefer to sit with a chisel and a piece of wood in front of me than a computer, but ive come to realise over the last 5 years to survive in this industry you have to embrace modern technology.

Was proud of myself for getting it done.

Cad course.....Sounds good but I dont think the brain will like the change, appreciate the link, one of my guys loves this stuff so I usually let him deal with it.

The scanning possibilitys are endless

Imagine scanning one of these in and making a wood reproduction....

[kiwigeo]

Better yet just open the split a frag and glue and reclamp. Then sort the break angle or saddle angle in the slot. A: Glue is as strong as wood B: The bridge has split from the saddle top pulling to the north.

If it was in my shop I'd make a whole new bridge.....design of the bridge isn't the best...in fact it's downright ugly.

[woodrat]

Better yet just open the split a frag and glue and reclamp. Then sort the break angle or saddle angle in the slot. A: Glue is as strong as wood B: The bridge has split from the saddle top pulling to the north.

If it was in my shop I'd make a whole new bridge.....design of the bridge isn't the best...in fact it's downright ugly.

+1 on Martin's design critique.....

[Lee]

Slightly intrigued by the "split" which from here does not appear to follow a grain line. Good lookin or not it's what it is and once worked. Am in the same area myself. Pick the "split" has come from abuse rather than good use.