Design 6 -- Automated Guitar Neck Fretter
Project Goal:
To design an automated guitar neck fretter machine that is able to cut guitar frets into different lengths, to fit them into slotted neck, and to trim away sharp edges.
Requirements:
Specifications:
To design an automated guitar neck fretter machine that is able to cut guitar frets into different lengths, to fit them into slotted neck, and to trim away sharp edges.
Requirements:
- Accommodate input rack of 10 necks
- Cut frets into different lengths
- Press frets into the slots
- Scale Size: 24-25.5 in
- Fretboard radius: 10-16 in radius
- Fretboard width:1.69-2.25 in
- Automated cycle time: 5 sec/fret, 60 sec for trimming
- Manual cycle time: 60 sec/fret, 20 min for finishing operation
Specifications:
- Fret Material: Aluminum
- Cutting Tolerance: 1/32 inches
- Working Area Temperature: 21.5 degrees Celcius (room temperature)
- Total Trimming Time: 43 sec
- Total Cycle Time: 120 sec/guitar neck, 20 min for finishing operation
Full Assembly:
- Loading Mechanism
- Fret Cutting and Feeding Mechanism
- Trimming Mechanism
- Collecting Station
Guitar Neck and Mold:
Loading Mechanism:
The loading mechanism is able to automatically load up to 10 guitar neck by 4 linear drives with 2 on each side. A linear actuator is integrated to push the first guitar neck to the cutting and feeding station.
The loading mechanism is able to automatically load up to 10 guitar neck by 4 linear drives with 2 on each side. A linear actuator is integrated to push the first guitar neck to the cutting and feeding station.
Cutting Saw and Fret Feeder Mechanism:
Fret filament is fed through 4 bearings powered by a DC motor and is guided by the rail on the platform. Once the fret is fed through the guitar neck, the fret is cut by the cutting saw powered by a precision gear reducer. The length of the fret being cut is programmed in the system before the operation starts.
Fret filament is fed through 4 bearings powered by a DC motor and is guided by the rail on the platform. Once the fret is fed through the guitar neck, the fret is cut by the cutting saw powered by a precision gear reducer. The length of the fret being cut is programmed in the system before the operation starts.
Fretting and Pressing Mechanism:
When the fret is fed through the guitar neck, the pressing mechanism (curved according to the shape of the guitar neck for a perfect fit) powered by hydraulic linear actuator is activated by pushing down the fret to ensure a tight fit with the guitar neck.
When the fret is fed through the guitar neck, the pressing mechanism (curved according to the shape of the guitar neck for a perfect fit) powered by hydraulic linear actuator is activated by pushing down the fret to ensure a tight fit with the guitar neck.
Trimming Mechanism:
Once the first fret is done feeding, the trimming system is activated as the guitar neck is sent from the previous feeding and pressing station through a belt drive. The trimming mechanism consisted of two linear belt drive wrapped with sand paper, is able to trim the sharp edges into the desired shape automatically. The angle and the height of the belt drives are adjustable by the DC motor and hydraulic linear actuator to provide accurate trimming to each specific fret.
Once the first fret is done feeding, the trimming system is activated as the guitar neck is sent from the previous feeding and pressing station through a belt drive. The trimming mechanism consisted of two linear belt drive wrapped with sand paper, is able to trim the sharp edges into the desired shape automatically. The angle and the height of the belt drives are adjustable by the DC motor and hydraulic linear actuator to provide accurate trimming to each specific fret.
Collecting Station:
Final Assembly Sealed For Safety: