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Which Cnc do you have

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dofthesea

Post subject: Which Cnc do you have

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 3:54 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:46 pm
Posts: 863
Location: Napa Valley
First name: David
Last Name: Foster
City: Napa
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 94558
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

Which Cnc do you? Which one would you recommend and why?

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These users thanked the author dofthesea for the post: Hesh (Wed Jul 02, 2025 3:56 pm)

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meddlingfool

Post subject: Re: Which Cnc do you have

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 4:02 pm

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7532
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional

Do tell!

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doncaparker

Post subject: Re: Which Cnc do you have

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 4:55 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 3171
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

I've built guitars for 30 years, but I am just getting started with using a CNC for some things. I lucked into buying a used Avid Benchtop Pro 2436. It's pretty much an ideal size for building guitar parts. Avid recently revamped their control system. I bought the upgrade, and it is really great. Again, I'm just getting going. I learned the basics on a Stepcraft CNC, but then found the Avid by chance for a deal I couldn't pass up. I can highly recommend Avid.

Axiom is another brand that I have seen guitar builders use. And ShopBot.

I personally don't think the huge machines (i.e., full sheet of plywood) are ideal for what guitar builders need. On the other end of the spectrum, the very small import machines will probably only be good for inlays, bridges, headplates, etc.

The unicorn in this endeavor is a machine that is small enough to not take over your shop, but is stout enough and has enough Z travel to be not useless for cutting necks. That's a tough balance to hit.

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Michaeldc

Post subject: Re: Which Cnc do you have

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:49 pm

Koa

Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2014 1:45 pm
Posts: 1550
First name: Michael
Last Name: Colbert
City: Anacortes
State: WA
Focus: Build

I’ve got an AVID 4848-PRO. I wanted the largest format machine I could afford in that I wanted to be able put a full sheets of 3/4 ply on the deck to cut parts for tools, some of which you have seen. I also wanted to cut 1” MDF, for my other passion, loudspeaker building. As Don said, the AVID 2436 Desktop is kinda the perfect size for looferin.

Off to Germany in the morning! Tschüß!

These users thanked the author Michaeldc for the post: bcombs510 (Thu Jul 03, 2025 7:58 am)

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Skarsaune

Post subject: Re: Which Cnc do you have

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 7:31 am

Cocobolo

Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:28 pm
Posts: 197
First name: Chuck
Last Name: Skarsaune
City: Butler
State: TN
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

I have a Next Wave Piranha XL, with a 12"x30" table. Long enough to do fretboards, and I've done telecaster-style solid bodies on it by offsetting the work. Inlay works great.

I've also been a manufacturing engineer working with CNCs my entire 30+ year career so the learning curve hasn't been an issue for me.

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Marcus

Post subject: Re: Which Cnc do you have

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 11:37 am

Koa

Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 2:59 pm
Posts: 593
First name: Marcus
Last Name: Bailie
City: Kirkland
State: WA
Focus: Build

I bought an X-Carve a few years back and I like it. There are certainly downsides and limitations to the system, but once you understand them, you can work around them. It made it's way onto my radar because of the price point.

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http://www.bailieguitars.com
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