1 inch surfacing, 5/8 inch ball, and 1/4 inch upcut bits for the SO3?

[AmateurHour (Matt)]

I’m trying to replicate these cutting paths on the Shapeoko 3 XL using the Dewalt 611: Improvements On Cam Strategies for CNC machining Guitar Bodies with Fusion360 - YouTube

He uses the following bits for the following cuts:

1. 22 mm flat end mill for
   1. 2D contour (guitar body outline)
   2. Adaptive clearing (roughing the body)
2. 16 mm round nose for
   1. Scallop (smoothing the body)
3. 6 mm for
   1. Finishing pockets and drill operations

I would like to use the following bits:

1. Instead of 22 mm flat end mill
   1. 1 inch flat end mill (mainly because I can’t find a 5/8 inch surfacing end mill)
      1. https://www.amazon.com/Whiteside-Spoilboard-Surfacing-Router-Shank/dp/B071748JQN/ref=asc_df_B071748JQN/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198077680239&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17791823230158411987&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032443&hvtargid=pla-357583616788&psc=1&region_id=674469#customerReviews
      2. or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZP5RXRP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2. Instead of 16 mm round nose
   1. 5/8 inch round nose
      1. https://www.amazon.com/Router-Diameter-Wolfram-Woodworking-Cutting/dp/B09LD4V54Z/ref=sr_1_94?crid=2LCSBRIGM8LIT&keywords=1%2F4%2Binch%2Bshank%2Bround%2Bnose%2Bbit&qid=1675827018&sprefix=1%2F4%2Binch%2Bshank%2Bround%2Bnose%2Bbi%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-94&th=1
3. instead of 6 mm
   1. 1/4 inch spiral uncut
      1. https://www.amazon.com/Whiteside-Router-Bits-RU2100-Standard/dp/B000K2BGNS/ref=sr_1_34?crid=1SHJU6PE01L4A&keywords=1%2F4+inch+shank+upcut&qid=1675826651&sprefix=1%2F4+inch+shank+upcut%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-34

Do those bit sizes look like reasonable asks for the SO3?

[AmateurHour (Matt)]

Thanks Joe - so if you were doing something like a Les Paul with a carved top, would you use the 1/4 flat end bit for the adaptive clear to shape the carve top, then clean up with the ball end bit?

[gdon_2003 (Guy Donham)]

The 1" as @Ensalaco said uses a very shallow doc. The 1" can easily burn the surface and you would need to sand it off.

[AmateurHour (Matt)]

Thanks Joe, that makes sense. And I’m trying to be efficient, but I’m also not mass producing guitars so speed is not the be-all end-all for me.

So sounds like the best roughing options would be either:

1. 1/2 inch end mil, 1/4 stopover, .040” step down; or
2. 1/4 inch end mil, .040” step over, .040” step down

Would feeds/speeds be similar for both?

[AmateurHour (Matt)]

Love it, thanks! Still getting the machine squared, but when I do I’ll try that approach.