3D-PRINTED ELECTRIC — BUILD TIMELINE

Making the electric.

Start to finish, in the order it actually happened.

  1. Stage One

    Initial sketches

    Drawing inspiration from some of my favorite guitars, I began the project by sketching out ideas for the shape of the instrument.

    Pencil sketch of an electric guitar body with neck and bridge drawn on paperPencil sketch of an electric guitar body with a center line through the neck

  2. Stage Two

    The final sketch

    After several drafts, I ended up combining the aspects of each prior draft that I loved most.

    Pencil sketch of the final electric guitar body shape with pickups and controls drawn on paper

  3. Stage Three

    The cardboard axe

    In order to get a better idea of the guitar's proportions, sizing, and feel, I traced my final sketch into Adobe Illustrator and used a laser cutter to create a scale model of the instrument.

    Cardboard and paper cutouts of the guitar body taped together on a wooden workbenchHolding the cardboard scale model of the guitar in the makerspace

  4. Stage Four

    The cardboard axe 2.0

    After adjusting my sketch based on the first cardboard cutout, I cut out several new pieces using the new sketch and layered them. The goal of this step was to figure out how thick the body of the guitar should be. By layering the cardboard, I could get an idea of how different thicknesses felt in my hands before I committed to a single one.

    A stack of layered cardboard cutouts of the guitar body, taped together with orange tape on a gray floor

  5. Stage Five

    Modeling pt. 1

    Once the design was finalized, I began creating the 3D file. I did all of the modeling in Autodesk Fusion. To start, I traced the final drawing and adjusted it so that the length and width were at the appropriate measurements.

    Screenshot of the guitar body outline being traced and adjusted in Fusion 3D modeling software

  6. Stage Six

    Modeling pt. 2

    Once the outline was in place, I measured out the electronics and pickups and began creating slots and cavities for them to fit into.

    Screenshot of the guitar body in Fusion 3D modeling software with slots and cavities drawn for the electronics and pickups

  7. Stage Seven

    1/5 size model

    Before adding final details, I 3D-printed the model at 1/5 size to get a more tactile feel for the project so far.

    Holding a small blue 1/5 size 3D printed model of the electric guitar body in a workshop

  8. Stage Eight

    Modeling pt. 3

    Once the model was finalized, I split it up into interconnected pieces in order to get it to fit on the build plate of the 3D printer.

    3D model of the guitar body in Fusion, split into interconnected pieces with the pieces separated in placeTop view of the split guitar body model in Fusion showing the pieces and their outlines

  9. Stage Nine

    Printing

    Once the model was complete, it was time to print each part.

    Unfinished 3D-printed electric guitar body in dark red with orange painter's tape strips across it, lying on a wooden workbench

  10. Stage Ten

    Some assembly required

    Once each part had been printed, it was time to install the electronics and the neck, all of which were purchased separately. Soldering inside easily meltable plastic proved to be rather difficult for obvious reasons, but after some time the internal cavity was correctly wired.

    Close-up into the rear electronics cavity of the 3D-printed guitar body, showing potentiometers, a pickup selector switch, soldered wires, and brass threaded inserts along the rimThe partially assembled guitar on a workbench with the maple neck bolted on, three cream pickups and a chrome bridge with strings, surrounded by tools and hardware

  11. Stage Eleven

    Epoxy

    Using epoxy resin, plastic glue, and clamps, I permanently bonded each part of the guitar's body together.

    The red 3D-printed guitar body on a paper-lined workbench with its neck wrapped in white paper and orange tape, a bar clamp across the neck joint, and mixed epoxy in a palette with stir sticks nearby