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I am hoping to to make some laminated tops/backs "archtop"
Birkonium can do it but I am hoping to obatin the 3D model 'software?' for him. Something like the benedetto style.
Any leads would be appreciated.

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Mike McNerney

I bought the Luthier Tool tutorial videos a bunch of years back on modeling an archtop guitar. They were very helpful (and as I recall on sale at the time), and after a bit of work, I was able to successfully model archtop plates that cut very nicely on the CNC (not Benedetto though). The Luthier Tool folks use a different CAM than I use, so the CAM parts of the tutorials were only of basic value, but the CAD parts (Rhino) were very helpful.

Like you, I had looked for some ready to go CAD models, but never found any other than some DXF 2D plans. Good luck in your search! I'm sure Andy will do a great job for you.

Dave

If you are proficient in making CAD drawings, there are several YouTube tutorials on designing violin plates. If that’s not your cup of tea, I bet you can pay someone at your local community college to make a model to your preferred specs.

I haven’t seen cad models out there for download, and wouldn’t necessarily trust them if I did.


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I agree. There are good CAD models and there are completely unusable ones. No way to know which is which until you've actually downloaded and tried to use them. I guess the most likely to be successful models would be STL files taken from a scan of an object you want to duplicate. Not something that's easily modified, but at least it is what it is. Being able to model good "watertight" surfaces in CAD takes a lot of practice and is extremely easy to screw up.

Dave

Are you trying to model the shapes needed to press the laminates into shape?

yes I want to model the shape to press the veneers

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Mike McNerney

I have my own CNC, but it isn't impossible to carve your own plug. You can carve rigid foam (pink stuff in the 1x24x24 variety at your big box store) with simple hand tools and then fiberglass it. It's easier than hand carving a drop plate for a Les Paul copy, for example.

A friend of mine is using this, and he is happy with it. I’ve seen photos, and they look good:

https://genone-luthier-supply.com/produ ... -cnc-files

Something you might consider doing is taking an existing laminated plate, placing plastic wrap over it and using Bondo or Durham's rock hard putty and a wooden substrate, mold the interior and exterior shapes of the plate to make a pressing form.
I'm sure most CNC files would be for carving the plates themselves so may not give you the shapes you need for molding plates.
Since I work with veneer molding plates is something I have considered, but it's still on "the list".

Clay, that is what my pattern maker friend suggested and if I can fin one I might do that. I cannot write a program myself. Birkonium has a 335 model but the O/A depth is just .4 inch which I may go with. When I look at Bennedeto the long curve is .75 deep which I would prefer.

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Mike McNerney

The arch on a 335 is cosmetic. On a semi with a center block you can make it whatever you want. There is solid wood under it.

That said, the neck extension on a 335 is different than on an L5 (or Benedetto). If you are making a 335 with a full 3/4” of arch make sure you account for it in the design of your neck. I made a full hollow thin line with a 3/4” arch. I think it looks and plays great, but it isn’t a 335 (or 330) copy. If you want a replica you will want the shallower arch.


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