Pantograph trace cutter for oxy/act or plasma.

[jmorris]

A discussion on a different forum had me make a video of how my homemade pantograph machine works. Figured there may be one or two here that would be interested as well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84eP_ws0aO0

[DougGuy]

That's a pretty neat machine, I ran one of those back in the 70s in the shipyard, ours had a magnetic arbor which held it to the metal template.

However.. I grew up in the shipyards with a model 3186 Airco 21" straight cutter in my hands and was quite gifted in the level of precision in the work I could do with it. Cutting, beveling, washing, gouging, sheet metal to 5" thick plate, I did it all, and was one of the best you would ever see with a hand torch, bar none. In my younger days, I would give your pantograph a dang good run for it's money!

A supervisor offered me a neat little contraption one day that tightened to the tip with a thumbscrew, it had brass wheels on either side of the tip, and I laughingly declined saying that I didn't need any "training wheels" for my torch.

I don't really have any pics from the shipyard days in the 70s but here is one of me many many years later, with one of my torches, a KG body with an Airco head, and a telluric copper hi-pressure hi-speed machine ripping tip which was my cutting tip of choice for over 40yrs..

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Charlottesville%20bridge%20job%20007-640_zpspitvunvi.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Charlottesville%20bridge%20job%20007-640_zpspitvunvi.jpg.html)

[bangerjim]

Cool tool!

Most of the stuff I make like that is normal only 1 or 2 off (not batches) and is always out of brass!

Example:

155210

This is a WORKING repro I made of a mid 18th century electric motor. The maker pattered it off the know steam engine designs of the day. Brass parts were made on my milling machines and lathes. The 4 actuation coils were wound on the lathe also. 6 VDC and watch it chug away!

I like your pantograph, I use one for woodworking and router work when I need it.

banger

[jmorris]

Doug, it doesn't replace "hand work" completely but once you have the template it does make every part the same and eliminates a lot of finish work.

It still can't do things that my CNC table, track torch Handy Auto's and hands can do, just another "tool in the box".