Pantograph for 2D milling

Kuhlmann made a table model. I don't know if you have them in the states

s-l1600.webp
 
BentRivers said:
Thanks! I just built the armature and the stylus and the green support column. Like you said I purchased the extrusions, the compound table, and the linear ballscrew assembly (z-axis).

Pivots are pretty simple, just holes drilled in aluminum with drill rod for the pins, anti-seizing lube on those to keep from galling. I made sure to reduce friction and keep the aluminum armatures from rubbing with delrin washers between all pivots.

Honestly, was just trying to see if I could, ya know? Ive been wanting a capable pantograph for some time but I just didn't have the means or the space to add another big machine to the shop.

As for a eureka moment, the original design I was going with used a threaded screw to adjust the depth of the stylus as you increased the depth of cut and that wasn't working, the armature was fairly stiff on its own but not enough for cutting metal with endmills, not to mention rotating the stylus thread to adjust the depth would throw off the accuracy because threads aren't concentric or precise, duh! So i took some inspiration from the larger, professional pantographs and designed my own slip collet style stylus. This not only solved my accuracy and concentricity problem but that stylus also acts as a support for the armature to keep it ridged and from "biting" down into the cut which was exploding my delicate endmills in previous versions.

I'm currently working on some plans and a video for those who might be interested in building their own or just curious to see it actually work, haha
Click to expand...
How has this pantograph been working?
I want one badly, but can't accommodate their huge footprint, weight with my basement shop.
 
ashwinearl said:
How has this pantograph been working?
I want one badly, but can't accommodate their huge footprint, weight with my basement shop.
Click to expand...
Been working great, haven't had time to draw up plans yet but its gotten a lot of use. Ill try to link a video of it in action.


Sorry about the aspect ratio, I originally posted it as a short.
 
Id really like to improve on the design of my pantograph and I saw on another forum that a knifemaker, John LeBlanc, who also made horizontal grinders, used to make pantograph machines that he sold.

This is a shot in the dark but would anyone have access to pictures of one of those pantographs he made or contact to someone who might own one? Id love to see that!
 
Re: the New Hermes pantograph:
They can be found on Ebay for very little money. Just make sure it has the motor attachment. $150-$500 is average.
The large floor model is a little more versatile, but the little tabletop machines are still pretty neat. They should not be used to cut steel!
They are basically designed for lettering, but will rout handle materials, engrave shield shapes that you can saw out, plus do lettering.
Most will do 6:1 to 2:1 ratio, so your patterns would need to be at least twice as large as the engraving.
 
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