You can't join an open vector to a closed vector which is what you have there. The outer rectangle is a closed vector and the frets are open vectors.
A lot depends on how you're planning to toolpath the job as you don't need it to be a single vector (entity) for a profile toolpath set to be On the vector for example.
If you want it all to be one group (entity) for the purposes of making it easier to move around then you can group the vectors together with the group command (press G or right click and choose) but that's not the same thing as joining the vectors.
If you were to cut the fretboard by hand would you cut it using rectangles? Or would you cut it along marked lines with a fret saw? The same would apply here. You've created marked fret-lines that your cutter can follow. That would seem to be most efficient.
I know that I'm new to vector design, but I'm obviously missing a part of the puzzle !
I've successfully created - or edited - around 15 designs, and this one, which *should* be the simplest, has me stumped.
"You've created marked fret-lines that your cutter can follow."
You'd think so, but when I try to create tool paths I get an 'Ignoring unsuitable open vectors' message and the path is nothing like I'm expecting - it's ignoring the frets.
I'd like to create V-carve toolpaths, but TBH anything would do !
Use a Profile Toolpath set to cut "On" the line. You can use a Vbit to make this cut if you want. When I make a fretboard I use a .023 end mill to cut the fret slots using the Profile toolpath. If your fretboard is contoured you can use the Project Onto 3D model to make your fret slot
Since this is about guitars, I'm hoping it's a good place to get this question answered. I'm a relative newbie to CNC, but am learning rapidly. I bought a VCarve file from Etsy to cut a Telecaster body. The only glitch is that the wiring channels that are supposed to be drilled out horizontally after the carve are programmed as part of the carve. I.E. the finished guitar would have a open channel where the wire runs from the controls cavity to the rear pickup. I've tried cutting nodes from the corners and all sorts of other desperation moves but I can't eliminate the channel.
Probably the simplest way is to go into node edit mode and hover the mouse over the straight sections and press D to delete the span. You can then use the join with a smooth curve tool (icon on drawing tab or right click and choose from the join menu) to reform the curved sections.
To do it by cutting in node edit you would hove over the node where the curve meets the straight and press C to cut there. When you exit node edit you can remove all the unwanted vectors by selecting and deleting. You would then use the join tools as with the previous method.
