Homemade copy milling machines for wood. Wood copying machine: assembly of turning and milling equipment. General description of the copy-milling device

A manual or automatic stationary copy-milling machine for aluminum or other metal is a unit that allows you to create products that are as identical in shape as possible to the original specified sample.

1 Purpose of the copy-milling unit

The milling installations discussed in this article are optimal for producing copying work on a plane and in volume using appropriate copiers and volumetric models. They are also used for:

performing simple milling work;
engraving of all kinds of ornaments, shaped profiles, inscriptions, patterns and so on.

It is important that with a relatively simple and understandable design, such machines can produce truly complex ornaments, milling, using tools made from, products made of non-ferrous metals, cast iron and steel.

At industrial enterprises engaged in small- and large-scale production, copy-milling installations make it possible to produce:

metal blanks and models;
shoulder blades steam turbines and turbojet engines;
various dies and cams;
dies (forging and cutting);
foundry and molds;
propellers (crest) of swimming equipment.

The clear advantage of copy-milling units over universal ones is that they can drill holes for steel hinges, locks, handles, latches, and make frames of different geometric parameters for mirror surfaces and channels on aluminum and plastic profiles.

The described machines mill curved workpieces according to a prepared template using copying technology. It is thanks to this technique that the same shape is ensured for all finished parts. Moreover, the probability of an error by the worker servicing the unit is reduced to zero. That is, the notorious “human factor” does not have any effect negative influence to the production process.

To make a series of absolutely identical parts on a copying machine, it is allowed to use not only a template, but also any product that was made using it. At the same time, experts strongly advise additionally equipping the unit with a pantograph - a special mechanism that transmits the movement of the cutting tool along the profile of the installation head as accurately as possible.

2 Copy milling machine - operating principle

The units we are interested in process workpieces using a copier, which, through a special unit (copier mechanism), gives commands to various actuators machine Moreover, the installation cutter and the part itself being milled recreate the surface specified on the copier in relative motion.

Movement along the contour of the slide and work table of the unit, as well as rotation of its spindle, are operations that are considered the main movement. And the secondary (auxiliary) actions include the following:

adjustment movements of the copying finger, stops and tracer table;
acceleration of the movement of the work table, spindle head and slide;
spindle head clamp.

Copy milling is usually divided into two types:

contour;
volumetric.

When contouring, the copier curve is located perpendicular or parallel to the axis of the working tool. In the first case working surface with the part and the copier moves in the longitudinal and transverse direction along the curved line of the latter. In the second - only longitudinally. In this case, control over modifications of the curve becomes possible by moving the tracing finger and cutter vertically.

In volumetric milling, the workpiece has a spatially complex surface, which can be processed by performing parallel (two or more) moves of the work table. Essentially, in this situation we're talking about that contour milling is performed with each stroke. After each pass, the working tool relative to the part is shifted by the lateral feed rate perpendicular to the line. And then the next table move is performed.

For simple milling and engraving work, so-called “direct” copy-milling units are usually used. In them, the pantograph transmits movement to the instrument through a probe. On machines equipped with a pantograph, in addition, the scale of the workpieces being processed is reduced (in relation to the copier).

3 Design of a copy-milling machine - drawings, cutters for the unit

The most important working tool of such a unit is a cutter, which is designed to reproduce the surface or contour of the copier on the workpiece. The copier is more often called a master device. It is associated with a tracking mechanism designed to control the feed direction of the cutter. The specified connection can be:

mechanical;
pneumatic;
hydraulic.

A copier is:

photocell;
special copying finger or roller.

And by copier we mean those made of metal, plastic, wood:

outline drawing;
spatial model;
flat view template;
reference workpiece.

The copier and the workpiece to be processed are mounted on a rotating table.

The actuator circuit of the unit is driven by an electric motor and a hydraulic cylinder. The actuator of the installation is understood as a differential, solenoid, spool, clutch with electromagnets or screw. A mandatory component of copy-milling equipment is a relay, which is included in the amplifier device of the machine. The relay can be:

hydraulic;
electromagnetic;
electro-optical.

By by and large any home craftsman with certain technical knowledge can study the drawings and make his own manual copying unit that will do an excellent job of milling operations.

4 Classification of copy-milling units

The entire range of such machines is divided into several different types:

hydroficated;
equipped with a pantograph that can function in two and three dimensions;
photocopying;
universal (they also have a pantograph placed in vertical plane on the rotary sleeve);
electrified;
multi- and single-spindle with round or rectangular table.

Based on the type of clamping of the milled part and the degree of automation, the units are divided into three types:

Automatic installations in which the profile is pressed by a pneumatic device. They are most often used for processing workpieces made of, and cannot be used for drilling triple holes.
Tabletop (in other words, manual) machines. Also not suitable for triple holes, but capable of drilling using single hole patterns. To expand their functionality, it is possible to install a three-spindle attachment on a drill or machine. Tabletop units are equipped with a mechanical type clamp.
Automatic installations with three-spindle attachment and pneumatic clamp. They are rightfully considered the most functional and widely versatile.

To carry out a full range of woodworking with a hand router or on milling table are needed not only ordinary devices, such as various sizes cutters, but also additional devices that will help perform more complex work. The tool must have the ability to create a workpiece of the shape that is needed according to the master’s idea.

Some such devices are included with the device, but if they are not available or if you plan to make it yourself, then additional details can be done manually. As a rule, they are quite simple to manufacture. In addition to various stops, you can also make a copier for the router with your own hands and install the structure on the frame base.

You can build a milling and copying machine yourself using a hand router. The device may be various designs, but he has one task - to convey as clearly as possible the movements of the working head along the profile holder to the device that cuts out the material.

It is not always possible to buy a ready-made machine with a copier, so it is often made independently from improvised means. It is recommended to assemble it first; it is difficult to adapt the copier to a serial device; this requires a thorough reworking of it.

Characteristics of the works themselves

Milling cutters equipped with copiers are used for volumetric manipulation and processing of planes. They cope with work that uses three-dimensional forms, engraving various shapes, drawings, patterns, inscriptions. They can also do simple milling functions. Such designs are distinguished by their simplicity, but at the same time they are capable of producing surprisingly complex patterns and shapes.

For work with such a machine, not only wood is suitable, but also cast iron, steel, non-ferrous metals, for this they use quickly cutting tool from hard alloys. IN industrial scale Similar units, but of course larger ones, are used to make engine blades for aircraft, ship propellers, hydraulic turbine ridges, various models, metal blanks, stampings, cast and pressed parts.

A self-made copier is used when drilling key holes for bolts. They can make frames, grooves, channels of any size in plastic and metal profiles.

But the most interesting thing is that it can be used to mill curved parts, copying them according to a template. The latter allow you to make an exact copy and eliminate the human factor in such complex work. The parts have an exact, perfectly uniform shape.

Identical parts are made using a template; all subsequent parts can be made according to the sample of the first one. For the clearest and most accurate copying, the router is equipped with a copier; such a device is also called a pantograph.

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Operating principle and device

Briefly, the principle of operation of the copier is this: using a probe, the contours of the original of the copied object or pattern are traced. The probe is connected to the working plane, at the other end of which the milling cutter is attached, so all movements of the probe are repeated by the milling cutter head.

The machines have a guide system, an electric motor and a chuck for clamping the cutter or router. A simple design is described here.

The standard design consists of:

working surface and supporting frame;
milling working head;
copy probe.

To make a copier with your own hands for a hand router, you will need:

frame made of wood or metal, if based on a lathe, then such a machine;
boards and slats, thick plywood, wooden blocks;
fasteners (bolts, nuts, screws);
milling cutter;
kit wrenches, hacksaw for cutting required size wooden parts;
metal pipe, guides;
drills for wood and metal;
belt drive and electric motor (if it is not manual, but automatic).

The working plane is adjusted in height, the head is equipped with an electric drive motor and a two-stage gear mechanism, which creates two speeds for the router shaft. This is for more complex designs.

If there lathe And manual frezer, you can build a very good copying machine that will work on bulk workpieces. This requires a minimum of details.

Making a copier with your own hands is not so difficult.

A hand router is used as the main tool. It is installed on a base made of thick plywood (12 mm), its parameters are 500/200 mm.

A hole is made on it for the sole of the router and mounting bolts. A frame and supports are also made from bars, this serves as additional stabilization and fixation of the tool. Two smaller bars are fixed to the plane of the plywood at the edges. The router is mounted between these two bars with pins (bolts or nails) through holes in its base and made in the plywood.

The platform with its far end slides along the pipe along the structure, that is, it is attached to a block that runs along it. You can take a metal pipe of 1 and ¾ inches. It is fixed between two cubic bars; it seems to hang over the machine with the carriage and cutter. In addition, it is folding. These bars are attached with self-tapping screws to the frame. The pipe is aligned as evenly as possible along the axis of the machine; it coincides with its axis. It is also fitted with two wooden cubes with holes corresponding to it to ensure sliding. It is to them that such a carriage is attached.

Another bar is also attached to the front side of the machine frame, but this is horizontal, and the profile template is fixed on it. It is fixed to two wooden posts vertically on both sides. Its upper part runs exactly along the axis of the machine. When the copier is no longer needed, it is removed and the router and carriage are folded back. A vertical crossbar is attached to the bottom in the middle; it slides along the recesses of the template, copying the relief. This is the copier itself, it is attached with self-tapping screws, in which case it can be removed and replaced or the height adjusted. A template is attached to the block along the facade with self-tapping screws. The platform moves with your hands.

This machine is designed for simple three-dimensional parts such as chair legs, candlesticks, where there are no twisted elements.

Both in production and at home, there is often a need to produce a part whose shape and dimensions are completely identical to the original sample. At enterprises, this problem is solved using a device such as a copy-milling machine, which allows you to produce copies of the original part in large series, differs high speed, as well as the quality of the processing performed.

What is the milling process?

Copy- milling machines and any other equipment of the milling group can be found on almost any industrial enterprise. This is explained by the fact that the milling operation is one of the most common methods used to perform machining. This technology allows you to perform a wide range of roughing, semi-finishing and finishing operations with simple and shaped workpieces made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and to work on wood and plastic. On modern milling equipment with high accuracy and productivity, even the most complex shaped parts are processed.

There are two main types of milling: counter (feed and rotation of the tool are in different directions) and down milling (the tool rotates in the same direction as the feed). The cutting part of tools performing milling is made of various materials, which makes it possible not only to successfully work on wood, but also to process (including grinding) even the hardest metals and alloys, artificial and natural stone.

Milling equipment is divided into two types: general purpose and specialized, which includes a copy-milling machine.

Capabilities of copy-milling equipment

Copying machine, belonging to the milling group, is designed for copy-milling work with flat and three-dimensional parts. In addition, such a device can be used to engrave shaped profiles, apply inscriptions and patterns (even of high complexity) to products, and carry out light milling operations on wood and other materials.

Using tools with cutting parts made of various materials, parts made of cast iron, different types of steel and non-ferrous metals are processed on copy milling machines. Such devices for producing parts in small and large batches successfully produce blades for turbojet engines and steam turbines, propellers for ships, cutting and forging dies, impellers for hydraulic turbines, molds for pressing and casting, compression molds, etc.

Performed on a copy milling machine technological operations, practically inaccessible to universal equipment. The operating principle of such a machine is based on the copying method, for which a special template is used. The use of a template eliminates the human factor when processing even the most complex parts, due to which all finished products have the same shape and geometric dimensions. Conveniently, one template can be used to accurately manufacture a large batch of parts that will be completely identical to each other.

In order to copy the shape and dimensions of the template as accurately as possible, a copier (pantograph for a router) is installed on a copy-milling machine. The purpose of such a device is to accurately transfer all movements from the copy head to the cutting tool.

How does a copy milling machine work?

Copy-milling machines, as mentioned above, are used for planar (processing of profiles) and volumetric (processing of reliefs) milling. They use cutters as a working tool, which, when processing the contour or volumetric surface of a part, repeat the movements of the copier. The connection between the working element and the tracking system in manual machines is ensured by mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic elements necessary to generate the force transmitted from the copier to the working element of the copy-milling machine.

The template on such machines is a flat contour or spatial model, a standard part or contour drawings, and the element that reads the shape and dimensions of the template is a copying finger or roller, a special probe, or a photocell. To make a template you can use aluminum sheet or other metal sheet, plastic or wood. The template and the workpiece are located on the rotating work table of the machine.

The working body of copy-milling equipment is set in motion thanks to such structural elements as a screw, spool valve, solenoid, differential or electromagnetic clutch. Relays installed in the amplification devices of copy-milling machines can be electromagnetic, hydraulic or electro-optical.

The quality of the workpiece (surface roughness, accuracy of shape and size) depends on such a parameter as the speed of movement of the tracking device. In this case, the following characteristics of the finished product can be achieved: roughness – No. 6, profile accuracy – 0.02 mm. The main elements of the executive circuit of such equipment are Electrical engine and hydraulic cylinder.

A pantograph installed on copy-milling equipment ensures copying at a given scale. The pantograph structure consists of a guide pin, its axis, a tool spindle and a separate axis of rotation. The spindle and guide pin are located on the same rail, the ratio of the arms of which determines the copying scale.

Moving along the contour of the template, the finger sets in motion the rack, which rotates freely on an axis. Accordingly, on the other side of the rack, the machine spindle makes identical movements, processing the workpiece. On do-it-yourself copy-milling machines, such a device will also not be superfluous; its presence significantly increases the functionality of the equipment.

Types of copy-milling machines

The equipment of a copy-milling machine may include drives various types. Based on this parameter, the following are distinguished:

equipment with a pantograph (suitable for processing parts in 2–3 dimensions);
devices with a copier mounted on a rotary rack moving in a vertical plane;
single and multi-spindle machines equipped with rotary tables round or rectangular shape;
machines, the feed on which is ensured by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic devices;
photocopying equipment.

A homemade copying machine can be any of these types (including copying and grinding machines). You just need to find drawings on the Internet and select components.

According to the degree of automation and the method of fixing the workpiece, the following categories of copy-milling machines are distinguished:

manual or tabletop, on which the workpiece is fixed mechanically(on these devices you can drill holes of various shapes in accordance with the template);
automatic equipment of a stationary type, the workpieces on which are fixed using pneumatic clamps (such machines work with aluminum);
automatic equipment of a stationary type with pneumatic clamps, on which a three-spindle head is installed (on these copy-milling machines, triple holes are simultaneously drilled, which does not allow the production of units of the two previous types).

How does a copy milling machine work?

As noted above, on a copy-milling machine the workpiece is processed using a master device - a copier. All movements of the copier along the contour or surface of the template are transmitted thanks to a special (copying) device to the working head of the machine in which the cutter is fixed. Thus, the cutting tool exactly repeats all the movements made by the copier used to equip the router.

The movements of the elements of a copy-milling machine during the processing of a part are divided into main (rotation and movement of the spindle when cutting the tool into the workpiece material, movement along the contour of the work table and slide) and auxiliary (movement of the spindle head, slide and table in accelerated mode, as well as installation movements made by the tracer table, the copying finger, the stops and the clamp that secures the spindle head).

In copy milling machines working on aluminum, two tracking schemes can be implemented: simple action and action with feedback. When implementing the direct action scheme, the working body of the machine makes movements due to the fact that it is rigidly connected to the copier. The reverse action scheme does not provide for such a connection and movements from the copier to the working element are transmitted not directly, but through a tracking system.

As mentioned above, contour and volumetric milling is performed on copy milling machines. When contour milling, the movements of the copier occur in a plane parallel or perpendicular to the axis of the tool. In the first case, the movement of the equipment working table can only be longitudinal, and the cutter and copying finger move vertically. In the second case, the table moves both longitudinally and transversely. In volumetric milling, the part is processed in stages - thanks to several movements of the table and tool performed in parallel planes.

The direct action scheme can also be implemented through a pantograph, which allows you to reduce the size of finished products in relation to the size of the template used (scale). Most often, such an additional device, which is easy to make yourself, is installed on machines used for engraving and light milling work.

Another variation of a self-made machine

How to make a copy milling machine with your own hands

Many home craftsmen would like to purchase a copy-milling machine to equip their workshop, but the cost of such equipment is quite high. Meanwhile, if you have the desire, and without spending a lot of time, effort and financial resources, you can make such equipment with your own hands.

Naturally, homemade copy-milling equipment cannot be compared with professional ones in terms of power, reliability and functionality, but such machines can also make high-quality copies, work with wood and process workpieces from other materials. Many people try to attach a copying device to an existing one, but this is impractical, since it would require redoing almost the entire machine. As practice shows, it is better to assemble your homemade copy-milling machine from scratch, selecting the appropriate components for this.

The photo below shows an example homemade machine with a video supplement. The creator of the machine narrates the story in English, but in principle everything is quite clear even without translation.

The easiest way to make a copy-milling device with your own hands is by standard scheme, which includes load-bearing structure– frame, work table and milling head. The drive to ensure rotation of the working tool is an electric motor that transmits movement through a two-stage mechanism, allowing two speeds to be obtained. Desktop of this homemade device can be adjusted in height.

Many of those who have made a copy-milling machine with their own hands note that when changing operating modes, such equipment begins to show a lot of shortcomings. The most common of these shortcomings are vibrations of the machine frame, curvature of the workpiece and its deflection, poor-quality copying, etc. To avoid such problems, it is best to make the copy-milling device highly specialized and immediately configure it to process workpieces of the same type. This is explained by the fact that it is almost impossible to take into account all the shortcomings that will arise in universal equipment when changing operating modes.

Milling is a type of mechanical processing of materials using a special cutting tool - a milling cutter. The method allows you to obtain a high level of accuracy and the degree of roughness of the processed surface. In addition, it is distinguished by significant productivity.

Surface processing is carried out by the method of up milling, when the rotation of the cutting tool is opposite to the direction of feed, and by down milling - a method in which the direction of rotation of the cutter and feed are identical. Using cutters with cutting edges made from modern super-hard materials, the grinding operation can be replaced.

Milling equipment is divided into universal and specialized. In the first case, these are general-purpose machines for performing longitudinal and continuous milling, with or without tools mounted on a console. In the second there is a mechanism for cutting threads, splines, making gears and keyways and copy milling.

In production, there is often a need to produce several pieces, a batch, or even a series of identical parts. For this purpose, milling equipment equipped with a pantograph is used.

IN household The functions of a milling machine are usually performed by a manual milling machine. To perform the maximum range of work, the milling cutter is equipped with a whole set of accessories. The main equipment is supplied with the equipment, additional equipment can be purchased or manufactured independently. These are a variety of stops, clamps, templates. But you can go even further and make a copier for milling volumetric parts.

Milling and copying equipment: operating principle

The operating principle of such a device is to clearly transmit the movements of the copy head through the holder profile to the cutting tool.

It is quite difficult to purchase a copy milling machine, so craftsmen make it with their own hands from scrap materials. Everything happens by trial and error. Therefore, experts advise first assembling a duplicate carver, and only then introducing it into mass production. As a rule, this stage is preceded by more than one serious adjustment and alteration.

Milling and copying equipment: areas of application

Milling copying machines can process not only flat, but also three-dimensional parts. With their help, along with simple milling operations, you can perform engraving, repeat drawings, patterns and inscriptions. The design of the machine is quite simple, and any craftsman can make it.

Copy milling machines allow you to process not only wooden parts, but also cast iron, steel and plastic blanks, as well as products made of non-ferrous metals. This is ensured by high-quality tools made of high-speed steel and hard alloys. The copying machine allows you to mill not only straight, but also curved surfaces. In this case, the details are completely identical.

Milling and copying equipment: design

The typical design of a copy-milling machine is completely simple. It consists of a work table and a guide system with clamps for attaching the router and copier.

Making a universal copy-milling machine at home is quite difficult, and there is no great need for it. For home use, equipment with highly specialized specialization is usually created.

Manufacturing of copy milling machine: materials

To create a duplicate carver at home with your own hands, you should draw a basic sketch, which will become a guide to further actions. In addition, you need to stock up on some materials. This:

Knee cemented polished shaft Ø 16 mm.
Linear bearings in the amount of 2 pcs.
Rail guides 900 mm long – 2 pcs. For ease of fastening, their length is taken as a multiple of 150.
Split linear bearings in the amount of 4 pcs. It is advisable to use bearings with a clamping screw to adjust the tightness of the fit on the guide.
Profile pipe 30×60 with wall thickness up to 3 mm.
Metal plate 900 mm long and 100 mm wide.
End posts in the amount of 2 pcs.
Moving element in the form of a plate – 1 pc.
Rocker arm for attaching the copier and router – 2 pcs. The length is chosen arbitrarily.
Movable couplings – 2 pcs.
Profile pipe 40×40 with a wall thickness of up to 3 mm.
Crown clutch for turning the part and template.

Making a copy-milling machine: tools

After this, you need to prepare a tool that will definitely be useful for assembling the machine structure. This:

angle grinder;
cutting and cleaning disc;
welding machine;
welding mask;
petal disc or brush;
self-tapping screws for fastening rail guides and moving elements;
electric drill;
screwdriver;
measuring instruments: tape measure, caliper;
center punch and scriber.

Making a copy-milling machine: step-by-step instructions

After everything is ready, the actual assembly of the copy-milling machine begins.

Step #1

It is necessary to cut two pieces 950 mm long from a 30×60 profile pipe to attach the rail guides. A margin of 50 mm is needed for installing limit switches in order to prevent linear bearings from slipping off.

Step #2

The 40×40 profile pipe needs to be cut into blanks for the base. Guided by the existing sketch, you need to cut two pieces of 1350 mm and two pieces of 900 mm.

Step #3

It is necessary to cut small racks from the same pipe. Their linear size depends on the height of the subsequently processed parts.

Step #4

Now you need to remove the rust from the pipes. To do this, you can use a flap disc or brush.

Important! Before using the brush, pay attention to the maximum number of working revolutions on it and the grinder. The rotation speed on the brush must exceed the speed of the equipment.

Step #5

After this, we weld all the joints and clean the seams with a 6 mm thick cleaning wheel.

Step #6

Then it is necessary to ensure parallelism of the rail guides. To do this, you need to make the connection between the rack and the base of the rail guide detachable. You need to take the puck internal size stand, weld a nut to it and screw in a bolt. At this stage, the bolt is needed in order to install the nut and washer in the cavity of the stand pipe flush and in a strictly vertical position, and when welding it, do not damage the thread. This must be done with all four racks.

Step #7

Weld the posts to the base.

Step #8

At the base of the rail guide, at the junction with the racks, you need to drill holes: in the upper shelf for the bolt head, in the lower one for the thread.

Step #9

Install the rail guides on the base (30×60 pipe), pre-drilling holes, and secure with metal screws.

Step #10

Install the bases with rail guides and tighten with bolts.

Step #11

Check the parallelism of the guides. If it is missing, it is necessary to make adjustments by placing foil of different thicknesses on the racks under the guide.

Step #12

On the metal plate you need to mark and drill holes for attaching split linear bearings and end posts.

Step #13

After this, you need to make a movable element by welding 300 mm long rocker arms for the feeler gauge and router to a metal plate, then attach linear bearings to it.

Step #14

After this, the moving element must be placed on a polished shaft, along the edges of which the end posts must be installed.

Step #15

The entire structure must be installed on a metal plate 100 mm wide and the end posts must be secured with self-tapping screws.

Step #16

Then, split linear bearings must be installed on the metal plate on the bottom side.

Step #17

After that hanging structure it is put on the rail guides with split bearings and limit switches are installed.

Step #18

Movable couplings are installed at the end of the rocker arms and a probe and a milling cutter are attached.

Step #19

In order for the workpiece and the part to rotate synchronously, it is necessary to connect them with couplings. A sprocket and crown are suitable for control. The copy milling machine is ready. The design achieved 5 degrees of freedom. Movement along the X axis is ensured by the movement of the structure along rail guides, movement along the Y axis is ensured by the movement of a moving element along a polished shaft, and movement along the Z axis is ensured by the movement of rocker arms.

Additionally, due to the movable couplings, the probe and the milling cutter can move left and right along the axis of the rocker arm, and it is possible to move the template and the workpiece simultaneously. This makes it possible to process parts of almost any shape.

Copy-milling machines for metal in mass and serial production

Copy-milling machines for metal are used in mass production. With their help, ridge propellers for ships, jet engine turbines, pump impellers, dies for forging and press production, and blanks for mechanical and foundry production are manufactured. In everyday life, metal copying equipment is practically not used.

Pantograph for a router: design features

To scale copying processes there is special device, called a pantograph. It facilitates the manufacturing processes of parts with curved surfaces and allows you to produce ornaments and patterns of any complexity in a reduced form. The cost of such a device is quite high. But making a pantograph at home with your own hands is quite possible.

Pantograph for a router: principle of operation

The schematic diagram of a pantograph looks quite simple. It is a square divided in half. All joints are hinged, so all sides are movable, and the square easily turns into a rhombus when impacted. The zero point, located in one of the corners of the square, is fixed rigidly. Relatively, its design can be modified, turning into a rhombus. A cutting tool is installed in the middle of the square. A copier is fixed diagonally in the opposite corner of the square. The distance from the zero point to the cutter is a certain value A, and to the copier 2A. This gives a 2:1 scale. The linear size of the long and short sides of the pantograph should also differ from each other by 2 times.

Pantograph for a router: materials

In order to make a pantograph with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

Square metallic profile 12x12
Bearing 180201.
Bushings for the outer race of the bearing.
Pins according to the internal size of the bearing and M12 thread.
Nut M12.
Bolts M6×45
Nuts M6.
Bushing for securing the copier.
Profile pipe 40×40
A loop metal-plastic window.
Dye.
Masking tape.
Metal plate.
Screw for fixing the copier.

Pantograph for router: tool

In addition to the materials listed, you will need the following tools:

Manual frezer.
Angle grinder.
Welding machine.
Spanners.
Measuring tool.

Pantograph for a router: step-by-step instructions for making it yourself

Let's proceed to the actual production of the pantograph.

Stage No. 1. Workpiece cutting

It is necessary to mark and cut the square profile according to the calculated dimensions. For convenience, you can use masking tape And metal plate. The tape will allow for clear markings, and the plate will help make an even and high-quality cut. The blanks for the platform for the router must be cut at a right angle, and the sections of the profile for the connecting rods must be beveled for maximum fit of the bearing sleeve.

Stage No. 2. Drilling technological holes

All workpieces must be chamfered and holes Ø 6.2 mm drilled for further connection into the structure.

Stage No. 3. Welding the platform for the router

After this, you need to weld the platform for the router.

Stage No. 4. Manufacturing of connecting rods

It is necessary to make something like a jig on the board and firmly fasten all the parts to be welded. To do this, a hole is drilled in the board, and the bearing in the bushing is clamped with a bolt, square profiles connecting rods are secured with clamps. First you need to insert two washers between them and fasten them with bolts. After this, all joints of the structure are scalded and cleaned. Then you need to cut the bearing sleeve between the square profiles on each connecting rod. M6 bolts, washers and bearings must be removed. It is necessary to weld a mount for the router onto the frame, and an extension for scaling onto the short connecting rod at the point opposite the zero point. The connecting rods can be painted to give an aesthetic appearance.

Stage No. 5. Making a unit for attaching a copier

Now you need to machine two bushings with an internal diameter similar to the size of the copier. Drill a hole on the side and cut a thread to install the screw that secures the copier. After this, you need to cut two pieces of 12x12 squares 20-30 mm long and weld them on the side between the bushings. The size between squares should be 12 mm.

Stage No. 6. Manufacturing of the bearing lifting mechanism

It is necessary to manufacture a bearing lifting unit. To do this, the zero point finger must be welded onto a piece of 12×12 profile and secured to a 40×40 profile pipe using a loop from a metal-plastic window. The profile pipe will serve as a place for attaching the pantograph to the table with a clamp.

Stage No. 7. Pantograph assembly

The bearings must be installed in the bushings and secured securely by tightening the square profiles of the connecting rods with M6 bolts. Using your fingers, you need to assemble the connecting rods into a single structure. Secure the pantograph to the table with a clamp and install the router. The device is ready for use.

Cutting tools for milling work: copy cutters

Copy cutters are a tool on which, in addition to the cutting part, there is a bearing. Its size is equal to the diameter of the cutting part of the cutter. The bearing can be located both in the upper and lower parts of the cutter. This is how the tool is classified. It is worth considering that the marking indicates the position of the bearing in the usual placement of the cutter - with the shank up.

They are used to perform copying work according to a template. When using a cutter with an upper bearing, the template is located on top of the part; if with a lower bearing position, then from the bottom.

Working with a hand router involves the use of any cutters. It is safe. The only thing is that when using a cutting tool with an upper bearing, you should pay attention to the overhang of the cutter so as not to damage the workbench.

Milling on a woodworking machine involves using cutters only with a lower bearing position. This is due to the fact that a cutter with an upper bearing position has an open rotating cutting part in the workpiece area. Careless movement may result in serious injury. Such cutters are used on machines only in special cases with maximum compliance with safety regulations.

Copy milling machines are unique equipment that is used to perform the most complex work for the production of identical parts. But for working at home, you can make simple analogues of such equipment and devices that will help in your home or small business.

Copier for wood lathe with manual router

We suggest you make your own copier with minimal costs according to time, the machine can be started in " industrial production» turned parts by evening. The “cutting tool” will be a manual milling cutter; the technical characteristics of the parts being manufactured depend on technical characteristics wood lathe. Despite the fact that the copier is made using plywood, it can produce up to hundreds of products from one copier, you will agree that this quantity is quite enough to fulfill most wholesale orders.

The device does not look exactly “attractive” from a design point of view, but we did not set such a task for ourselves. We tried to make our “equipment” as simple to manufacture and more or less reliable as possible. Which is what happened in the end. How is a copier made? Let's get to know him better.

Copier device

An ordinary hand-held milling cutter is used for the cutting tool; the specific model does not matter. Place the router on the support platform, our platform dimensions are 500×200 mm, made of sheet plywood 12 millimeters thick. You can slightly increase or decrease the linear parameters of the site depending on the size hand cutter. On the site, make holes for the cutter to exit and holes for installing mounting bolts. In order to completely eliminate unauthorized spontaneous movements of the cutter during operation, we advise you to install additional stop bars around the perimeter on the site, secure the bars with self-tapping screws, the length of the screws is selected taking into account the thickness of the fixing bars.

The router must be installed between the stop bars, check the reliability of its fixation, any vibrations are completely eliminated. The far end of the platform should “ride” along the pipe the entire length of the wood lathe, we used a Ø 25 mm pipe, you can use other pipes for making. The main thing is that they withstand the weight of the router without bending, are absolutely even and with perfect smooth surface. Secure the ends of the pipe with two wooden blocks, in our case, 80×35 mm bars were used. Screw the bars to the body of the lathe using metal screws; you do not have to cut threads for the bolts. If your machine design does not allow you to fasten the bars in this way, then solve this problem in your own way.

Installing main structural elements homemade copier

Strong advice - do not rush during the manufacture of equipment; turned parts for a copier do not forgive even the slightest violations not only of technology, but also of the location of the working axes. It follows from this that the axis of the pipe along which the milling cutter will move must be perfectly parallel to the axis of rotation of the lathe. We naturally found that the axis of the pipe coincided with the axis of the machine, but this condition is not necessary. The main thing is that the cutting tool of the cutter in its lowest position coincides with the axis of the machine, and this parameter can be adjusted by the level of the copier.

The pipe is fixed in the blind holes of the bars; before fixing it, you need to put two bars on it, on which the bearing platform of the router will be installed. Important condition- the bars for the platform should slide easily along the guide pipe, but wobbling is prohibited. Check this parameter and, if necessary, manually lap the pipe and bars. Then attach the router support pad to the bars and install the router on it. Check the smoothness of sliding again, making sure that there is no wobble at all. Don’t be afraid of such “strict” requirements for gliding quality. If you have a pipe with a normal surface and completely flat, then achieving smooth sliding is not difficult.

Installation of a horizontal bar

This is the second “working” element of a homemade copier; in terms of installation accuracy, you must comply with all the above requirements. The profile template of the parts is attached to the horizontal bar. A 70×30 mm block is quite suitable for manufacturing; it is attached with self-tapping screws to the vertical wooden racks, fix the racks with any in a convenient way to the lathe bed. The upper edge of the horizontal bar must be parallel to the axis of the machine and be flush with it. If the copier becomes temporarily unnecessary, the block can be easily removed, the mounting platform for the router tilts to the rearmost position and the wood lathe can be used for its intended purpose.

Attach a vertical stop to the working platform of the router; we made it from thin plywood; you can use more durable materials, even metal. This part will move along the copier during turning and set the spatial position of the cutter; fasten the copier as firmly as possible. There is a direct relationship in terms of thickness: the thinner it is, the more accurately the dimensions will be taken from the template. But there is another dependence - too thin a copier makes it difficult to move the device along the template, choose the golden mean. The height of the copier needs to be adjusted after final assembly machine, during adjustment all the listed conditions must be observed. One more thing. If you have a copier made of plywood, then you need to make it removable; this will allow you to quickly replace a worn-out copier with a new one while turning a large number of similar products.

Copier stop

How the template is made

There's nothing new here. Draw the outline of the part to be turned on a strip of plywood or OSB board, check all the dimensions again and use electric jigsaw cut carefully. The edges must be sanded to remove nicks and irregularities. Attach the template to the horizontal rail with self-tapping screws; when fixing, observe all installation dimensions.

Some features of turning

You will have to move the device only with two hands, otherwise it may jam on the pipe. Another problem is that the radii of curvature of turned parts are limited by the diameter of the cutter; this must be kept in mind when choosing the profile of turned parts. Practice shows the dependence of the feed speed on the diameter of the cutter: the smaller the diameter of the cutter, the less the feed should be and vice versa.

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