Official Luthiers Forum!

hi all
Slightly off topic, or is it?
software for a Mac.
What design software do you use or would advise.
From inlay doodling to scaled structural models.
I aint got a clue where to start.
I’m ok (just) with anything musical on a computer and the odd bit o’ office stuff but that's it.
Any help would be much appreciated.
yours Geordie

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some tunes on acoustic and guitar synth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGeordieAdams
http://www.myspace.com/geordieadams

It looks like you can run Rhino with a Mac. Rhino is guitar more towards surfacing than solid modeling but it has a great interface for artistic CAD work. Rhino is moderately priced...more info is on their website.

http://en.wiki.mcneel.com/default.aspx/ ... pport.html

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

PowerCadd

Not cheap, but nothing good is.

-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I can't comment here because I would have you spend way to much money. i will say you mentioned modeling and that implies 3d work. Be prepared to invest time in understanding meshes and solids, their attributes as well as how to edit them no matter what cad system you chose. A good drafting knowledge base is important to understanding the function and terminology of a cad system.

I'll second the suggestion for Rhino. Although it's getting a bad rap as somehow 'artsy' CAD software because it's easy to use, I certainly use it for highly technical work every day (and I have the option of using any software I like). Despite being a really solid 3D surface modeler, it also has the best toolset I've found for 2D work (and this matters, as all your 3D work is derived from 2D work). I know some architects who do the major portion of their CAD work in Rhino and then import it into AutoCAD just to add the annotations (text) and to send it to others...

It looks like the Mac version is in semi-open beta testing right now, so you should check it out.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Are you into guitars or computers? Lots of talk here about this becoming a gentleman's sport. (search)

If you wanna do some designing...use the awsome and accessible tool called google sketchup. The free version. No, the free version cannot do CNC stuff.

Follow your heart, not your mouse. Use the computer to ask questions, then get out there and cut and bend some stuff.

Mike (an engineer who usies computers all day long at his day job)

The guys at the top all use a bit of both (Ryan and Somogyi off the top of my head). There's nothing wrong with wanting to use the best tools available within one's means, to do otherwise would be counterproductive.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Not against it! But look at the amount of time it takes to gear up in any of those packages (not to mention the $$). Just suggesting, save the money, save the time, use the free and most excellent Sketchup. Thats all. Sorry if I said it in a way that suggested otherwise...

Mike