After several unsuccessful attempts cut out complex shapes with an electric jigsaw, I decided to make a homemade tabletop according to the drawings from the network jigsaw machine. Carve complex shapes on it small sizes It will be very easy to make from lightweight materials.
To assemble a jigsaw machine with your own hands from a jigsaw you will need:
- electric jigsaw
- sheet of plywood and boards for support
- wood screws
- bolts with nuts
Tools: drill, sandpaper, clamp, tape measure.
Step 1: Cut out the lid and base
Draw two 250x300 mm rectangles on a sheet of plywood and cut them out with a jigsaw. These rectangles will be the base and cover of your machine. Carefully process the surfaces of the rectangles sandpaper, especially the one that will be the lid.
Step 2: Making the front pillars
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Measure the height of the jigsaw from the sole to the handle so that the jigsaw fits in the machine box; the stands must be greater than this distance. My jigsaw is 18 cm high, so I made 20 cm long stands from the board. Then I pressed the two pieces together with a clamp and sawed off 5 mm from them on both sides so that both stands were the same height.
Now the racks can be screwed to the base. To prevent the wood from cracking, you need to pre-drill holes for the screws and countersink them.
Step 3: Attach the jigsaw to the lid
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- Remove the soleplate from the jigsaw using the supplied hexagon. There is already one hole in the cover, you just need to drill three more so that there is a mounting hole in each corner.
- In the central part of the plywood cover, mark the place where you will attach the jigsaw sole and the hole for the jigsaw blade.
- Now you can drill four holes in the plywood, countersinking them with a countersink bit so that the screw heads are flush with the surface. All that remains is to make a hole for the file.
- Now put the sole back on the jigsaw skis, and attach the plywood cover to the sole so that the file fits into the hole provided for it.
- In the expansion of everyone mounting hole insert the washer, insert the bolts into the holes and tighten them on the other side with nuts. It was a little difficult to tighten the bolts, so I secured the head of each bolt with a flat head screwdriver and turned the other side with a wrench.
Step 4: Install the jigsaw on the base
Lower the cover with the jigsaw onto the base with the stands and secure it on top with screws, having previously drilled holes for them. Be sure to countersink these holes to prevent the wood from cracking when screwed. The jigsaw should not touch the base and should have a good grip on the lid. Therefore, the screw heads must be flush with the surface of the cover, otherwise they will unscrew while the jigsaw is running.
From the remains of the board, I made two additional rear posts, so the machine became much more stable.
Step 5: Modification of the machine
At this stage, the machine is quite functional; it is enough to simply secure it with a clamp on the tabletop and you can work.
I identified two features of my jigsaw:
- the blade moved a little to the sides, especially when working at high speeds.
- The blade width was wider than standard jigsaw blades, making cutting particularly thin holes poor.
Step 6: Reduce the width of the canvas
A narrower blade will give you the ability to cut fine curves and make it easier to cut rounded corners.
- Pull the saw to the maximum, do not forget to turn off the jigsaw from the mains.
- Mark the point where the blade exits the housing. Below this point nothing needs to be removed.
- Remove the file from the jigsaw and grinding machine grind the canvas to the desired width. When grinding, dip the file in cool water so that it does not overheat, otherwise the metal will lose its hardness and the file will no longer be able to cut through anything. A change in color is a sign of overheating of the metal.
- Once you have the desired blade width, place the file back into the jigsaw.
Step 7: Making a guide for the file
The guide will prevent the blade from moving to the sides during cutting, especially at high speeds.
I made the guide from a small strip of PVC plastic. At one end of the strip, use a jigsaw to make a small slot at an angle to the middle of the strip. We secure the strip behind the file by screwing it to a wooden L-shaped piece mounted on the lid of your machine. The guide can be lubricated with oil for better movement.
Remember:
- The guide should never be higher than the blade at the lowest point in the blade's path.
- The guide limits the size of the material you are going to cut due to its height and mounting point on the surface. Therefore, it is better to fix the guide as high as possible (taking into account the previous remark), and move it as far away from the canvas as possible, with a slope to the side as soon as possible.
Step 8: Conclusion
With a little effort, you will have an almost real tabletop jigsaw. Of course, it will not replace a real machine, but given its zero cost, it is an excellent option.
A tabletop jigsaw is an indispensable item for any owner who is used to doing household work on his own. Electric jigsaws are especially good for residents of the private sector, hobbyists manual labor and country holidays. From its prototype, an ordinary hand jigsaw, a tabletop electric model gone far enough. A desktop jigsaw makes it easier and faster to cut, not to mention improving quality.
Concept of a tabletop jigsaw
A jigsaw is a saw, which is characterized by reciprocating movements of the saw blade, which acts as a working body. It has a ski designed to guide the saw blade when moving along the surface that is being processed, and makes movements at a frequency of up to 3000 vibrations per minute.
This instrument was invented in 1946. Its creator is Albert Kaufman, who replaced the needle in sewing machine on the blade. The instrument went on sale already in 1947. A manual jigsaw has a body with a flat platform and a handle. The main difference between an electric jigsaw and a manual one is its greater functionality and cutting quality.
Located inside Electrical engine and a special mechanism that drives the blade. In stationary jigsaws there is no handle, and the platform is located on top. At the front of the mechanism there is a guide, at the bottom there is a retractable blade that moves and makes cuts.
The tool works as follows: a tabletop jigsaw file is securely secured with clamps in the slide. The reciprocating movements have a frequency of up to 3000 strokes and can be adjusted. The support platform allows the jigsaw to focus on the part being cut, so the work is carried out very accurately.
The purpose of a desktop jigsaw
A jigsaw is an integral part of every workshop and every hobbyist. Its thin file can successfully cut plywood, copper, iron, thick boards, brass, and steel. Tools come with motor, foot or manual drive and are more productive. An electric jigsaw is simply indispensable for carpenters, wood workers, furniture decorators, and drywall workers who produce complex parts.
An electric jigsaw can make straight and curved cuts on workpieces with complex shapes and various sheet materials without disturbing the external contour. Most often, tabletop jigsaws are used for cutting wood and wooden boards, figures with complex outlines made of laminate and plasterboard, plastic blanks, and also for cutting sheet metal.
Benchtop electric jigsaw makes clean cuts complex shape and works with small
details. Due to the stable and fixed position during operation, it is achieved high accuracy cutting The file has a stable motion thanks to the tension system and guides, which manual jigsaws lack. The large size of the table makes it stable, so the precise sawing direction is maintained.
Types of jigsaws
Today, the power tool market offers a wide variety of jigsaws, which differ in the nature of their application, technical specifications, type of power supply and design features. IN construction stores can buy table jigsaw for every taste and budget.
It is difficult to classify by design features, because each manufacturing company strives to provide its products with features that are designed to facilitate and improve the operation of the tool. In this regard, the shape of the handle is a significant parameter.
There are two established types of handles - mushroom-shaped and D-shaped. A jigsaw with a staple handle requires one-handed operation. This increases the possibilities of using a jigsaw, but has a somewhat negative effect on the quality of cutting the material.
Mushroom-shaped handles allow for more accurate cuts when holding the jigsaw with both hands, having previously secured the workpiece to be cut. The choice of a jigsaw with a specific handle shape depends on the financial capabilities and personal preferences of the buyer. You should choose the jigsaw that will be more convenient to work with.
Household jigsaws are not intended for intensive use, but the low price of a desktop jigsaw and the power that is enough for household needs, make them indispensable in the household.
Professional jigsaws are characterized by high wear resistance and the possibility of daily long-term (up to 8 hours) use. The significant power of such jigsaws allows processing of materials of large thickness. Expanded equipment and improved characteristics are reflected in the price.
Among professional jigsaws Industrial ones are also distinguished, which are characterized by greater adaptability to complex operations and drive features - for example, increased power supply voltage. Industrial models are machines that are designed for the woodworking industry.
Depending on the type of power supply, there are mains and cordless jigsaws. Network models are powered from a power supply network with standard voltage. If productivity is important to you, then you should choose a corded power tool.
Cordless jigsaws provide independence from the presence of sockets and greater mobility during operation. When purchasing a battery model, you should pay attention to the type of battery. Elevated performance characteristics inherent in lithium-ion batteries. The battery capacity is responsible for the duration of operation without recharging.
Advantages of desktop jigsaws
A tabletop electric jigsaw is a stationary design, so this type of cutting tool has many advantages. Modern models can work with wooden materials 40-50 millimeters thick. The working body is a narrow saw, which makes vertical translational and reciprocal movements. Due to the peculiarities of the notching of the teeth and the mechanics of the movements of the saw, the material is cut out by moving upward.
A tabletop jigsaw allows you to cut out complex decorative parts, make longitudinal, straight, inclined and transverse cuts. The wide tabletop allows you to process large parts and make cuts inside wide workpieces. Reliable fastening protects the housing from unnecessary vibrations and allows the material to be well positioned, so the motor can operate without overload.
The advantages of desktop jigsaws include good accuracy and clarity of cuts, high safety and ease of use, wide customization options depending on the material and the required detail of the cut workpieces.
If you need to cut out parts small size, a manual jigsaw will not be very convenient. It is quite heavy, so you will have to hold it with one hand and guide the workpiece with the other. A table jigsaw does not have this drawback. Perhaps the inconveniences are the large size and the difficulty of working with large parts.
A tabletop jigsaw is a kind of mini-machine for cutting workpieces. If you purchase a jigsaw in a store, most likely it will provide the ability to select power and adjust the frequency of saw strokes. However, you can make a simple homemade tabletop jigsaw, and very quickly. You will need a hand jigsaw, a few screws, a small piece of plywood and just an hour of work.
Making a tabletop jigsaw
A carefully made jigsaw will be little inferior to one made in a factory, and in some respects even superior to it. Assembling such a jigsaw is not difficult if you have necessary materials. Next we will describe simple diagram such manipulations.
The design of the jigsaw includes the following components: handle, switch button, insulating washer, power cord, frame, heating filament, screw clamp and earring. First you need to make a frame. You will need a duralumin pipe with an outer diameter of up to twelve millimeters.
You can also use textolite with a thickness of at least ten millimeters or thick plywood for the base. But keep in mind that the lighter the frame, the more convenient the jigsaw will be to use. Be sure to provide a channel so that you can lay the power cord later. Most best shape a frame is one whose sides are tilted 45 degrees.
Next you need to make an earring. It is made of copper sheet one millimeter thick. After this, it is attached with screws to the frame where it connects to the handle. In this way, the screw, wing nut and shackle will form a clamp in which the heating filament can be fixed. The thickness of the duralumin sheet should be up to 0.8 millimeters. It is necessary to make pressing cheeks from it, between which there is a switch button.
After this, you need to cut a gap in the plywood that the saw can fit through. It can be done using a drill. To do this, you need to drill holes along the marking line and smooth out the transitions. Instead of plywood, you can use plastic, metal, plexiglass and others. Next, you place and drill mounting holes on the plywood and jigsaw base plate.
Then you need to secure the jigsaw with screws to plywood base so that the file can pass through the gap. You attach the structure to the table using a clamp so that the file is pointing upward. You can also secure the platform in any way possible.
The jigsaw file remains a regular one, but the possibilities for good cutting are expanded by freeing up your hands.
You can use a nichrome spiral from any household heating device(iron for example) as a heating thread. It must be secured with tension between the ends of the frame bends. In order for the thread to heat up, you need to apply a tension of about 14 V. To control the operating mode, you can use a rheostat.
The current is determined by the thickness and length nichrome thread. Using a rheostat, you can set the optimal current strength (no more than 3-5 A), which will affect the temperature to which the filament is heated. Before starting work, it is necessary to determine the current strength. But keep in mind that if too high strength The material being cut can be caught by the flame, but if it is insufficient, it will not be taken. A self-made desktop jigsaw will allow you to cut out shapes with complex contours from various types materials.
Rules for using a desktop jigsaw
When working with a table jigsaw, you must adhere to some rules:
- When cutting, do not press too hard on the tool, otherwise the needle will break at best, or you will ruin the work at worst.
- Replace saw blades from time to time. old saw can spoil and destroy the surface of the material.
- If you work with organic glass and non-ferrous alloys, the surface of the product must be moistened with water. This operation will speed up the process and extend the life of the saw.
- If you are cutting a surface with a thickness of less than one millimeter, place a sheet of wood or plywood under the material being processed.
- Before cutting, it is necessary to secure the material. It is better not to make long cuts by hand; the line may turn out to be crooked.
- For cutting different materials appropriate canvases are required, with special step and length.
- Rotate the tool by turning only the back of the tool.
- When cutting laminate, tape is applied to the cut line, which protects the material from chipping.
- If there is a need for curved cuts, set the jigsaw pendulum to minimum.
If you have not yet fully understood how to make a tabletop jigsaw, watch a video about this procedure. This tool allows you to cut complex parts from wood and other materials, make longitudinal, inclined, straight and transverse cuts. Using a jigsaw, you can process large parts, wide workpieces and small products, which is not superfluous at home.
A jigsaw allows you to quickly and efficiently cut wood. comprises work surface, stands, motor and spindle assembly. Some devices are made on stands. Clamps are quite often installed on the side of the work surface. It is also worth noting that the models differ in power. The manufacture of a jigsaw machine can only be carried out if the instructions are followed.
Desktop devices: expert reviews
If you believe the reviews, then making a desktop modification is very simple. First of all, a stand is prepared for the working surface. Its width should not exceed 30 cm. It is more advisable to select a single-phase motor with a maximum voltage of 220 V. A homemade jigsaw machine (desktop) produces an average operating frequency of 55 Hz.
Reviews from experts say that it is better to use yews made of steel; if desired, you can cut them yourself. The file is installed on a spindle assembly, which is attached to the stand. Many models use a latch that acts as a stop. To secure the file, a small screw is used.
Models with legs
If necessary, you can do this yourself. Modification drawings include frames different sizes, and spindle units are usually used with guides. Many models are made on a wide bed. Legs can be installed from tubes. There are also machines with plates. After cutting out the working platform, you should work on the spindle assembly.
If we consider devices with control units, then the model will require a controller. It is more expedient to use a 220 V commutator type motor. Yews on jigsaw machines are installed as a rotary type. The direction must be welded to the edge of the plate. File in in this case must be securely fixed. Optimal height spindle assembly is 2.2 cm. At the end of the work, it is important to install the power cable and connect the equipment.
Reviews of devices with wide frames
Professionals are able to assemble a jigsaw machine with their own hands. Device drawings indicate the presence of wide stops. However, first of all you need to install the bed. If we consider a simple machine, then the lock for modification can be selected of a small length. Reviews from experts indicate that two racks are enough for the model. To assemble the machine it is used welding inverter. The spindle assembly itself is installed in the central part of the working platform. The hole for the file can be made with a milling cutter. It is also worth noting that experts do not recommend using two-phase motors.
Compact modifications
By following the instructions, you can assemble a compact jigsaw machine with your own hands. Device drawings include double racks and narrow frames. Beds are used with a low profile. Many models have a spindle assembly without a holder. In this case, the guides are installed to a short length. For self-assembly For models, it is recommended to first select a high-quality frame.
Additionally, a clamp is soldered under the working plate. To reduce vibration levels, you can use a pad. Regular glue is used to fix it. The file for modification should be selected with a small thickness. Optimal distance installation of the central unit is 14 cm. At the same time, the width of the platform is on average 17 cm.
Jigsaws 2 kW
If you wish, you can make this jigsaw machine with your own hands. Drawings for assembling the modification are very easy to find. As a rule, frames are used with a width of 35 cm. The thickness of the plate should be about 1.5 mm. The hole for the file must be made before installing the central unit. If we consider models without stops, then the frame is used with a low profile. It is also worth noting that it is more advisable to install the spindle assembly on a lining.
A casing is used to reduce noise levels. Many models use multiple stops. In this case, the unit is installed at a height of 10 cm. It is better to fix the file on the plate. The clamp can be used as a screw type. After fixing the central unit, the motor is installed. For modification of this type, a device with a single-phase unit is suitable.
3 kW models
It’s quite easy to make a 3 kW desktop jigsaw with your own hands. Experts recommend using racks with wide stops. The clamps need to be installed only after the central unit. The modification file can be adjusted to 1.2 mm. Some experts make the hole after installing the frame. In this case, the supports are soldered to the sides of the table.
Next, it is important to evaluate the spindle size. It is more advisable to use the motor with a protection system and casing. It is also worth noting that collector devices that operate at a frequency of 45 Hz are very popular. They have low energy consumption and do not overheat. Holders are used to secure workpieces. The optimal spindle height is 15 cm. It is also worth noting that there are models with tuning plates. A flywheel is used to control the stand. A conventional controller is available to install the control unit.
How to make a 5 kW device
Having prepared several stops, you can make a jigsaw machine with your own hands. Reviews from experts indicate that 5 kW models are well suited for longitudinal cutting. Before starting work, all the necessary tools are prepared. You will need a saw and welding machine and cutter. It is more expedient to assemble the frame for a jigsaw from steel plates with a thickness of 1.3 mm or more. You need to immediately provide a place for the motor. The frames in the devices are installed with a high profile.
At this stage, you can immediately cut a hole for the file. The plug assembly must be mounted on the top of the plate. Additionally, it is worth noting that the file will require a large holder. If we consider a simple model, then the racks can be installed on the sides of the frame. Yews are of the rotary type. There must be a stand at the top of the frame. A small casing is fitted under the motor. On average, the width of the frame should be 35 cm. If we consider professional models, they use adjustable clamps.
Modifications for two quills
How to make a jigsaw machine with your own hands? The model with two quills is assembled only on a wide frame. First of all, the plates for the bed are cut out. If we consider a desktop modification, then it is more appropriate to install the control unit at the top of the device. Optimal width frame is 45 cm. In this case, the spindle assembly is installed behind the stops.
There must be provision for racks. Many models use transmission units. In this case, motors are only suitable for commutator type with a frequency of 30 Hz or more. The file is installed as standard in the holder. The optimal height of the spindle assembly for models is 35 cm. Quills for adjusting the bed are used with flywheels.
Models with three quills
It’s easy to make this one with your own hands based on a single-phase motor. Tools should be prepared in advance. Many models are equipped with frames with four stops. They have a long length and a high profile. It is also worth noting that spindle units are selected from. At the beginning of work, it is very important to calculate the length of the frame. If we consider ordinary spindle units, then the stand for them is prepared in a short length.
The central support must withstand heavy loads. A welding inverter is used to install the plates. The motor will require a casing that will significantly reduce the noise level of the device. The saw for modifications of this type is suitable for 1.2 mm. With a power of 3 kW, a device with three quills will produce a frequency of 55 Hz. To fix the flywheels, brackets are needed.
Using a tabletop jigsaw you can make furniture, beautiful patterned shelves and much more at home. The mechanism allows you to cut smooth and curved parts from wood, plastic and dense foam materials. In order for a homemade device to fully satisfy the requirements, it is necessary to carefully select a suitable design.
Design and technical characteristics
The device of any model of jigsaw machine necessarily contains:
- saw;
- crank assembly;
- drive unit;
- saw tension device;
- Desktop;
- auxiliary mechanisms.
The material to be processed is placed on the work table. Some models are equipped rotating device, changing the slope of the surface. To make it easier to mark the material with your own hands, graduations are applied to the surface.
How larger size table, the longer the cut can be made. On average, this figure is 30 - 40 cm.
Drive power for homemade desktop machine is about 150 W.
The crank assembly converts the rotational motion of the drive into reciprocating motion and transmits it to the saw. On average, the frequency of saw blade vibrations per minute is 800 - 1000. The amplitude of vertical movement is no more than 5 cm. Some models allow you to select the speed of movement depending on the properties of the material.
The file of a hand jigsaw can work with wood and plastic with a thickness of no more than 10 cm, having a length of up to 35 cm. For different types The materials and work of the files vary, their width is 2 - 10 mm.
A manual tension device secures the saw blade for uniform sawing; it consists of screw or leaf springs.
Types of machines
Structurally, all jigsaw devices can be divided:
- with lower support;
- with double support;
- on suspension;
- with degree scale and stops;
- universal.
The most common are models with a lower support. Their frame is divided into two halves: lower and upper. The cutting and cleaning module is located at the top. At the bottom there is a control module, an electric motor, a transmission mechanism and a switch. Allows you to process sheets of material of any size.
Models with double support differ in that there is an additional rail on the upper half of the bed. Such devices are good for creating oversized parts. They are easier to install than the previous option. Both models allow you to process material no thicker than 8 cm. The machine comes with a work table with angle and height adjustment.
Suspended machines are not equipped with a monolithic frame; they are very mobile. During processing, it is the cutting module that moves, not the material. The working module is usually attached to the ceiling with your own hands, so the size of the material is unlimited. Cutting tool moves by hand independently of the bed, creating very complex patterns.
Machines with a degree scale and stops are good for precision work according to drawings. The design allows you to avoid errors. Universal jigsaw machines can perform several operations associated with cutting: drilling, polishing, grinding.
Making a machine yourself
Homemade drawing table jigsaw: 1 — rocking insert (2 pcs.), 2 — earring (2 pcs.), 3 — table, 4.6 — screws, 5 — rod, 7 — eccentric, 8 — base, 9 — earring axles, 10 — upper rocker arm , 11 — rocker axis, 12 — wing, 13 — cross member of the tension screw (2 pcs), 14 — tension screw, 15 — rocker stand, 16 — lower rocker arm, 17 — box, 18 — double-ribbed pulley, 19 — intermediate shaft, 20 — stand bushing, 21 — table plate, 22 — bearing with cover (2 pcs.), 23 — electric motor pulley.
In the drawing of a tabletop machine made by yourself, the number of components must be kept to a minimum, these are: a rocking chair with a fixed saw, a bed and an electric motor. You can take a motor from an old electric machine.
Owners of a manual jigsaw are luckier. You can make a stand from a sheet of plywood and attach a jigsaw to it. To attach the jigsaw with your own hands, you will have to make holes in the base of the tool. The most simple model ready.
Now about the more complex and functional ones. The stand is made by hand from 12 mm plywood, thick plastic or textolite. It consists of a base, a box for housing the engine and mechanisms, and a work table. On the other side we place a rocking chair with an eccentric. They connect with each other metal plate with bushing bearings. The entire structure is secured with screws. To mount the intermediate shaft, prepare a pair of bearings. A double-strand metal pulley is placed on the shaft as tightly as possible, and the screw connection is secured. You can make an eccentric in the same way.
To change the amplitude of movement of the rocker, four round circles are made on the eccentric flange through holes with threads, located at different distances from the axis. By changing the installation location of the screw, the range of movement of the rocking chair is adjusted. It consists of a pair of wooden rocker arms hinged to a stand. The rear ends of the rocker arms contain through cuts; tension screws are inserted into them. A file is attached to the ends at the front and is movable due to metal hinges. Before fastening, the file is inserted into the groove of the working surface of the table.
The mechanism for attaching the file is very important. During production homemade device with his own hands he should be given Special attention. The inserted plates of the rocker arms bear constant loads when moving, so they are rigidly fixed and tightened with Grover screws and washers. The fastening earrings should not be strongly compressed by the screws, allowing the hinge axis of the plate to move.
Era electric tool came not with the first electric drills, but when the electric motor became an attribute of a tool with a narrower focus: scissors, hacksaws, impact wrenches and, of course, jigsaws.
Moreover, the jigsaw became one of the first in this series. Today it is one of the most popular tools in the home (and not only) workshop. And first of all, we're talking about about hand tools.
But in this article we are considering jigsaw machines, and these are practically stationary devices that often have their own specific place in the workshop, because for comfortable work they require a base with given parameters: height, so that the hand placed on the work table has a bend at the elbow of 90º and stability to dampen vibrations of the machine itself.
What are jigsaws used for?
Jigsaw machines are primarily designed for cutting parts or elements of complex configurations in sheet material: wood, plywood, MDF, fiberboard, chipboard, plastic, aluminum. They are also used for sawing internal contours products with preliminary drilling of the sawn material.
Such a tool, unlike a hand or electric jigsaws, leaves both hands free for the person working on it, which greatly facilitates the work and allows it to be performed with the greatest accuracy. Most jigsaws, provided correct selection and installation of nail files, allow sawing even in fairly thick workpieces, with strict adherence to an angle of 90º relative to the plane of the workpiece.
Also, many models have an inclined table, which makes it possible to perform complex patterns at strictly specified angles other than straight, which is almost impossible when using manual or electric jigsaws.
Except home use, they are widely used in furniture production and manufacturing enterprises musical instruments. True, they are replaced quite often laser machines, but the burnt edges left last do not make their use universal.
General drawing, structural features of desktop jigsaw machines
The most common layout of jigsaw machines is as follows:
It includes:
- a frame (or body) on which all components and mechanisms are mounted;
- drive, often from an electric motor via a V-belt to a crank;
- a crank mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the electric motor shaft into the reciprocating motion of the saw;
- double rocker with tensioning device and attachments for saw blades;
- desktop, sometimes with a mechanism for rotating in the horizontal plane at a given angle.
Previously, miniature jigsaw machines with a somewhat simplified design were on sale, but it was precisely because of this, which led to the rapid failure of the files due to their short stroke, that their production was discontinued.
Most currently produced desktop jigsaw machines work with files 200–350 mm long and have a working stroke of 30 to 50 mm.
The differences between the machines mainly consist in the power of the electric drive (from 90 to 500 W for most models), as well as the type and methods of attaching the files. The optimal power, in our opinion, is 150 W.
And files, in addition to length, can vary in width (from 2 to 10 mm), type of shanks (with or without pins) and thickness (from 0.6 to 1.25 mm).
In some models you can install the simplest, often called “Soviet” saw blades. hand jigsaws, which is a big advantage. To realize just this opportunity, owners of jigsaw machines that do not have it often improve the fastenings of their devices by installing clamps from a manual jigsaw on them.
Most desktop jigsaw machines have 2 speed modes: most often 600 and 1000 rpm, which is very useful when working with materials of different thickness, hardness and viscosity. The presence of the already mentioned turntable for 99% of the work performed on the machine, the function is useless.
Also, most jigsaw machines are equipped with additional accessories, such as:
- compressor for blowing chips from the cutting line;
- lighting of the sawing area;
- drilling block, etc.
These devices cannot be called useless, but it is still not worth relying on their presence when choosing a tabletop jigsaw machine, since these same functions can be successfully performed by:
- a compressor for an aquarium, with a blowing power selected by you, often more efficient than the standard one;
- a table lamp or carrier with a light output that is comfortable for your eyes;
- electric drill or screwdriver.
Even more complex devices, such as engraving drills, which can be equipped with your machine, generally cause some confusion, but let’s say right away that it is better to have such tools not tied to a jigsaw (or any other) machine. Their mobility is often more expensive than the advanced functionality of this very machine. In addition, all this is far from free.
Choosing a jigsaw manufacturer
Most often, Russian consumers choose jigsaw machines from Proxxon, Dewalt, Hegner, Xendoll, Zubr, JET, Enkor Corvette and Croton. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Based on reliability and compliance with the characteristics declared by the manufacturer, we would highlight the machines German company Hegner. And their line of this equipment is longer than many others, but be sure to insist on sea trials when purchasing, regardless of which company’s machine you are planning to buy.
And even if it is possible to choose from 2 identical machines, demand that both are turned on. Buy one that has less operating noise and vibration.
DIY jigsaw machine
Finding a drawing of such equipment on the Internet is a rather trivial task, but we do not consider it advisable to single out any specific one from them, due to the absolute different approaches to the implementation of both the very idea of building such a machine, and the selection of materials, type of drive, etc. We will offer several concepts for a homemade jigsaw and briefly analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you can figure out what is best for you.
- First: the easiest to implement, suitable for performing most tasks in the manufacture of parts with a rather complex contour at home.
There are many options for attaching a manual jigsaw to the tabletop that serves as the machine’s work table. Choose any, or offer your own and share with the readers of our site, for which we will be grateful.
The video also shows techniques for making a complex contour using a not-so-thin file. And the main disadvantage of this design is the impossibility of using thin files, which makes it difficult to manufacture openwork parts.
- Second: wooden. It is interesting due to the fact that the material is accessible, easy to process and repair.
In our opinion, the interesting thing about it is the use of the same manual jigsaw, which is rational for two reasons:
- if necessary, it can also be used as independent instrument, as it was made;
- the drive has built-in speed control, oscillation amplitude, and eliminates additional mechanisms that reduce the reliability of the design.
However, for those who like to tinker, there is alternative options manufacturing a wooden jigsaw machine.
When used as a drive of a drill or screwdriver with an adjustable speed of rotation of the output shaft, it will also be possible to smoothly regulate the frequency of movement of the saw.
Moreover, control of this process can be transferred to the pedal using a simple device, which will make the work even more comfortable and the cutting more accurate. Such jigsaw machines need to be well strengthened with braces and stringers and securely fastened to the floor so that they do not move during operation.
- Third: metal. There is no doubt that this particular concept is the most reliable and durable (provided that serious manufacturing errors are excluded), but it is also the most expensive. It makes sense to implement it if there is a large amount of work and you manage to save a sufficient amount by using the materials you already have. Otherwise, there is not much point in making such structures with your own hands, given that inexpensive factory-made jigsaw machines can be purchased for less than 4 thousand rubles.
Of course, the latter does not matter if you are interested in the process of technical creativity itself.
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