Automated Guitar Neck Joint Routing System for Dovetail Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling guitars, particularly acoustic guitars, face issues with the neck-body joint integrity, where tension from guitar strings can weaken the joint over time, and the presence of metal fasteners can affect sound quality and cause noise. There is a need for a strong, noise-free connection without metal fasteners and a method to produce high-quality joints efficiently in high-volume production.
Innovation Solution
An automated guitar neck-joint routing system that uses a probe and router assembly with a programmable logic controller to measure and cut a dovetail joint precisely, eliminating the need for metal fasteners by creating a tapered dovetail joint using a gantry, routers, and a nest actuator system to ensure accurate fitting of the neck and body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal fasteners (screws and bolts) are used to secure the heel into the front block, then the joint strength is improved, but the sound quality deteriorates and noise may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes metal fasteners (screws and bolts) from the neck joint assembly, extracting the harmful element that degrades sound quality while maintaining joint strength through an alternative mechanical design - the dowel tenon system that fits into a routed mortise cavity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dowel tenon as an intermediary mechanical element that mediates between the heel and front block, providing structural connection without metal fasteners. The dowel tenon system acts as a mediator that maintains joint strength while eliminating the harmful acoustic effects of metal implements
2Productivity
If automated routing systems are implemented for high-volume production, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated routing system is divided into separate functional modules: a probe subsystem for measuring guitar body geometry, a router subsystem for cutting the mortise cavity, and a control subsystem for coordinating operations. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while working together to achieve high-volume production of precise dovetail joints
Data Source
AI summary
A guitar neck joint routing system. The system includes a probe and router assembly comprising a gantry, a probe, and a plurality of routers, and a guitar neck and body nest comprising clamps and vacuum grips for holding a guitar neck and guitar body in place for taking measurements and routing a dovetail joint.