STEM Academy Ukulele Building
The overall plan: this
project will take at least 5 advisories/FLEX days. If we don't have that
many STEM days, you can do some of this during a regular FLEX, or at home.
- Today: Design the sound hole (and possibly other laser-engraved
art for the top of the body.
- Laser cutting/engraving -- Mr. Stapleton will do this before our
next meeting.
- Body assembly -- steam bending sides and assembly. This is
probably the second hardest part.
- Glue the body. Assemble and glue the headstock. Specify your
scale length.
- Neck and fret board assembly -- Mr. Stapleton will do this (based on
your scale length) before the next meeting.
- Mark fret locations and add the frets (by wrapping with 100# fishing
line). This is probably the hardest part to do well.
- Add strings and tune.
Today: Draw a personalized design for your ukulele
top. It would be great if you could get this done today, but you can turn
it in any time this week or next.
- Preferred option: Draw your
design in CAD.
- Open
this Rhino CAD File. It will only open in Rhino. The
log-in process will probably be a little tricky. Make sure that
you have joined the EHS Science Rhino team (see email invitation --
possibly from Robert Mcneel & Associates).
- Draw a design for your ukulele top
- An example hole is provided. You can keep that hole, add
to that hole, or delete the hole.
- If you would like to trace a picture...
- search up a graphic that you like.
- Use windows+shift+S to get a screenshot
- Save the screenshot as a jpeg on your computer desktop (or
wherever you will be able to easily find it).
- In Rhino, type picture to insert your graphic with
the picture command.
-
- Scale and position your picture where you want to trace
it, and at the size you would like.
- Use Rhino tools to draw your design and/or trace your picture.
- This doesn't have to be perfect. I can touch it up for
you.
- Type the "text" command to leave me notes explaining what
you're trying to do, if it's not obvious
- Save this rhino file with a file name including
your name and Ukulele or Uke.
-
Email me the file (jstapleton@ewsd.org) as an attachment.
- Pencil and Paper Option: sketch a
simple design on paper (print
this template), and give it to Mr. Stapleton, who will then create a
Rhino file for you.
- Easiest option: do nothing today
and get the example hole and top like the one in the photo above.
- Hybrid option: Send me a file,
but also give me you sketched plan and notes on a sheet of paper.
Ukulele Top Template (Rhino 6 File -- .3dm)