Apparatus for trimming tangs for a stringed instrument, and related methods
OwnerMariann Uleberg-Cohen, David Austin Coheninventors
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improved preparation of fret wire for installation and/or use on stringed musical instruments and/or similar devices and processes. Apparatus can include one or more of the following components, in modular and/or combined form: one or more baseplates, one or more rotary cutting tools, one or more fret wire Guide Blocks, one or more Guide Block Mounts, one or more Guide Block Mount Plates (Sled Plates), and one or more depth stops. Modular embodiments and assemblies can permit ready adjustability for different instrument specifications and precise control over the process and frets produced.
Claims17
Apparatus for fret wire preparation and undercutting, including:
- a cutting implement configured to receive the fret wire and remove an intended portion of a fret tang;
- a guide element configured to guide the fret wire so that, during fret wire insertion into said guide element, the fret wire maintains a consistent trajectory, and lateral deflection of said fret wire is minimized during subsequent operation of said cutting implement.
Apparatus for undercutting fret wire of stringed instruments, including:
- a baseplate configured to be mounted to a work surface and adapted for fixed attachment of a rotary tool containing a fret wire cutting element;
- a guide block mount plate adjustably affixed to said base plate;
- a plurality of guide block mounts adjustably affixed to said guide block mount plate;
- a plurality of guide blocks, each said guide block fixedly attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of said guide block mounts, said guide blocks being spaced from each other to provide a channel between said guide blocks for guiding fret wire, said spacing between said guide blocks being adjustable to accommodate the width of fret tang of the fret wire to be removed;
- and
- a depth stop adjustably attached to said base plate and configured to limit a maximum distance that a crown portion of the fret wire can travel past said cutting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.