downsizingnow48
Elite Member
I agree. I can see my way to making a pantograph. Doing 80% of what I want to do without having to learn everything that goes into CNC.
Cutting torch
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Ed of all trades
Elite Member
Thanks J.W. I now have one of these on my to do list. Now if I can just get the roof on the addition to the shop and walls and........ Thanks Ed
CNC Dan
Veteran Member
just wait 'till you see an optically guided tracer.
Hmmmm, is this something like "as seen on TV for $19.95" or is it the new up coming Star Wars movie or Terminator?
jwmorris
Veteran Member
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Like this, plasma is the first part of the video, torch towards the end.
jwmorris
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Not unlike a $10 Doodle track car, just more precise and expensive.
I always like them but hey really are not that common, CNC machines are much more common. For one thing a trace machine can take up twice the floor space of a pantograph or CNC machine.
I always like them but hey really are not that common, CNC machines are much more common. For one thing a trace machine can take up twice the floor space of a pantograph or CNC machine.
CNC Dan
Veteran Member
Nope. Old tech. A cutting torch setup that uses an electric eye to follow a line drawn on paper.
Ed of all trades
Elite Member
Looks great but what do they cost? Ed
jwmorris
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A lot more than a hobby guy wants to spend.
Victor had a small one about 15-20 years ago that was a few thousand but I can't even find reference to it using Google.
Not sure how long they sold it but IIRC it was under $3000 and about the same table size as the pantograph I built back then, the one in the videos above. Cost me nothing but time, I have a lot of "stuff" though.
The only ones I have played with were a lot more expensive, one went at auction for $11,000 back then.
I went with CNC vs optical because it can more quickly repeat jobs like cutting inside and outside (like cutting a flange with a bolt circle) than an optical but programming is something else to learn.
Not sure of the market for an optical or pantograph these days as I haven't seen any "hobby" priced machines in a number of years. Lots of times, especially when job market took a dump, I can get parts CNC laser or water jet cut for less than I would spend to program and run my CNC plasma cutter. At least once a material buy is calculated in.
Victor had a small one about 15-20 years ago that was a few thousand but I can't even find reference to it using Google.
Not sure how long they sold it but IIRC it was under $3000 and about the same table size as the pantograph I built back then, the one in the videos above. Cost me nothing but time, I have a lot of "stuff" though.
The only ones I have played with were a lot more expensive, one went at auction for $11,000 back then.
I went with CNC vs optical because it can more quickly repeat jobs like cutting inside and outside (like cutting a flange with a bolt circle) than an optical but programming is something else to learn.
Not sure of the market for an optical or pantograph these days as I haven't seen any "hobby" priced machines in a number of years. Lots of times, especially when job market took a dump, I can get parts CNC laser or water jet cut for less than I would spend to program and run my CNC plasma cutter. At least once a material buy is calculated in.
Ed of all trades
Elite Member
I am in the slow process of building a 2" x 72" belt grinder and found a plan on line that I liked. I also found the parts on line, lazer cut for just over $200. I took the plans to the local machine shop and they told me that they could do the parts for over $2100 + the $150 set up fee. I have quit sending any work to them. Ed
