So glad to have found you before I went off and bought a new machine. I have watch your video builds and am highly impresed! I am trying to get a machine sturdy enough to build a new electric guitar design I have been modeling in fusion 360. I am new to the CNC field, but I am highly interested in what you have done here. I live in Northern California and I am curious how difficult it might be for me to build a machine of my own, on my own. I do live less than a mile from a metal supplier so that will probably help keep cost lower, but I have never done this complete of an assembly of a machine before. Although at one time in my life I was a journey level welder fabricator, and at one point earned an electromechanical assembler certificate, so I am not completely helpless. I was curious how much of the machine could be purchased pre-assembled or if that was even an option.. and I think I like the idea of the ball screw design , as I have been reading it is the most accurate way to go, and since I only really need something long enough for guitar necks and parts the smaller machine would probably suit me well. Here is a picture of the rig I hope to build! Thanks in advance for help leading me there!

Hi, and thank you so much for the kind words!

From what you describe, I actually think you sound like a very good candidate for building your own machine. If you have experience as a welder/fabricator and also some electromechanical assembly background, then you already have a big advantage compared to someone starting completely from zero.

The Creative project is designed to be possible to build in a normal workshop with basic tools, patience and careful measuring. It is still a real CNC machine build, so I don’t want to make it sound like a simple IKEA assembly, but it is absolutely possible if you take it step by step.

For guitar work, especially bodies, necks, fretboards, templates and inlays, you do not necessarily need a huge machine. A smaller but rigid machine is often a better choice than a large weak one. Accuracy, stiffness and repeatability matter much more than size for that type of work.

Regarding ball screws: yes, they are a very good option if you want high precision and smooth movement, especially on a smaller machine. They are usually more expensive than belt or rack systems, but for guitar parts where the working area is not extremely large, they make a lot of sense.

At the moment the idea behind the Creative project is mainly to help people build the machine themselves using drawings, videos, illustrations, BOM lists and guidance. I am also working on making the build easier with parts, hardware kits, plates and other components available from our website. Some things may be offered as ready-made or semi-prepared parts, but the machine is still intended as a DIY build rather than a fully pre-assembled machine.

Living close to a metal supplier is definitely a big advantage. It can save both cost and shipping, especially for the frame material. The most important thing is not that every part is expensive, but that the frame is built straight, square and rigid.

So my honest answer is: yes, I think you can build this. It will take some time and patience, but with your background it should be very realistic. And if your goal is to build electric guitars, this type of machine is a very good match.

The guitar rig looks like a really cool project, and I would love to see what you build with it.