Official Luthiers Forum!

HI everyone,

I am a computer guy - but I know nothing about CAD. I download sketchup and I was terrible at it.

Are there any simple CAD programs or layout type programs where I can draw my headstock ? I want to print it out and glue it to my blank and then work from there.
Anything for free is best of course, but if it works well - then I can pay some $.

Would be cool to have a program where you feed it nut size, widest part of headstock, and how far away from the nut that area is -

Since my headstocks are symmetrical - I am fine with my cardboard 1/2 template to make a full template - but I was just looking or another method... more out of curiosity than anything else. Although, it would be nice to send a cad drawing to someone to cut out of aluminum for me..... the more I write the more ideas I get.... so I will stop now.

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

John,
I am a builder and definitely not a computer guy but my son is and he tells me there is a basic verson of autocad available which does not require a large outlay of coin but is fairly easy to master. Hope this helps. Cheers, Robert

I work in Vectorworks and Illustrator all the time, they are both wonderful, but not easy or cheap. Download a free trial of Corel Draw. I think it should be capable. T

I have this free AutoCad knock off but haven't had the time to learn it yet. No matter what you get you will have to put the time in to learn it. TurboCad is also suppose to be good but it ain't free.
I wish I had my AutoCad 10 since I knew how to use it but it's all different now.
http://www.caddit.net/progecad/smart.php

I've used Turbocad for all guitar (& fixture) design work..... pretty straightforward & intuitive & allows you to see trouble before cutiing wood. Not expensive.

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Dave
Milton, ON

tim, i use illustrator too. i wish wish wish they had a dimensioning module, and i wish you could set a scale factor in the units.

other than that, i love it.

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brendan 3.0 new and improved, with better interpersonal subroutines

IIRC, both the trial versions of Moi3D and Rhino allow a certain number of saves. So, if you only need certain templates made, you could always make sure not to save until you get the drawing right. 15-25 saves is enough files to store the info on a few guitars/templates.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

If you are into the 3d design you can use Pro/engineer to make a 3d model of the guitar and then drawings are point and click, but the program is some serious $$$, and its got so many features it can be intimidating. You can even get volumes and such!

I have a student version at home that i use when i need to make any sort of large radius templates, works great for that!

I agree with Dave on TurboCad. You can pick up a copy of V15 on Ebay for less than $20. It has all the capability you could ever think to use.

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Peter

Hello John,

I would recommend Autocad LT for doing 2D layout work since it's very capable, easy to learn, and can be found cheap.

Cheers - Luc

http://cgi.ebay.ca/AutoCAD-LT-2007-Upgr ... 27b29321f4

ive been using a free version of rhino cad and i really like it. the last time i used cad before this was autocad circa 1996, so i have a little experience, but there has definitely been some time gone by. rhino is pretty intuitive and i havent had too hard of a time figuring it out. the free version has ten(?) saves i think. not too bad for free.

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sweat the small stuff.

You might check out alibre I think they have a free version.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Deltacad is a good, cheap ($40?) 2D programme that is very easy to use.

John,

I use AutoCAD Lt for all our Guitar plans. I actually found a copy on ebay for under a $100.
I also noticed that TurboCAD is available for $99, saw it at Staples.

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Rickey
http://www.cadguitarplans.com

You might be interested in trying Solid Edge 2D. It's a free download. If I remember correctly you do have to register and they may call you to check in and make sure you don't want to buy anything, but you're definitely not obligated.

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/velocity/solidedge/free2d/index.shtml

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."