Thread: Router pantograph

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Milescraft - Universal Power Tool Attachments & Accessories - Routers - 3D Pantograph

I have one unused sitting on a shelf in the garage. The main fault with it is that it will ONLY REDUCE, at least a 33% reduction. It should also come with a set of letter outlines that you can photocopy & trace (they are loose leaf A4 paper).

Its principle attraction is that it WILL do shallow 3D carving, unfortunately not at 1:1 or at any enlarge setting. You also need to have a fairly large base board for it, which means it will take up a fair bit of room when not in use, but if you just want to make routed signs with it, it can handle much more complicated lettering than the more common stencil type lettering guides (which is why I haven't disposed of it).

Originally Posted by Sprog

There are places other than Amazon

Ebay


Click the Buy Now link for sellers
Milescraft - Universal Power Tool Attachments & Accessories - Routers - 3D Pantograph

Yeah , thanks for that Sprog, much appreciated. I have already lined up a couple of sellers in the USA, if I decide to go ahead.

I would still like some input on how well the thing works and why the price here is more than 3x the price there.

[QUOTE=bsrlee;1243917]I have one unused sitting on a shelf in the garage. The main fault with it is that it will ONLY REDUCE, at least a 33% reduction. It should also come with a set of letter outlines that you can photocopy & trace (they are loose leaf A4 paper).

Thank you for your input brslee. The size of the table does worry me a bit but then I think it is unavoidable. I will be doing my own artwork and can print up to A2 so the reduction thing should not be a problem.

BTW where did you get yours?

I have one too.

Pretty much as Sprog said. You do need a reasonably sized baseboad that you can screw into but it need not be a fixed one. Also it is perfectly possible to make it out of several smaller boards and clamp them across a work bench. The other point is that there is a limit to how deep your piece of wood can be. With some judicious repositioning of the guide paper you can manage two lines one on top of the other - lining up is very easy - but if you wanted to make a sign with three or more lines you would have to make them on separate planks and joint them together. There is of course a practical maximum to the size of letter you can produce as the arms reach a limit of movement after certain size but it is very good for normal sized signage.

I use mine for making signage for my field archery club and its absolutely brilliant for that. It means that I can make signs using bespoke fonts and incorporate the club logo into the signs. You can use the provided paper guides for letters or simply print out your own lettering from a computer, so it is very flexible.

I would recommend that you buy a fine single flute bottom cutting router bit - double flutes readily burn, singles are fine.

I wouldnt think that the relief carving capablility would be a very easy thing mind you.

I have been very happy with the finish I have achieved, and it is not a hugely expensive item. I got mine in the UK from a supplier called Rutlands Tools

Hope this helps - Good luck

Originally Posted by bsrlee

The main fault with it is that it will ONLY REDUCE, at least a 33% reduction.

Its principle attraction is that it WILL do shallow 3D carving, unfortunately not at 1:1 or at any enlarge setting. You also need to have a fairly large base board for it, which means it will take up a fair bit of room when not in use, but if you just want to make routed signs with it, it can handle much more complicated lettering than the more common stencil type lettering guides (which is why I haven't disposed of it).

I don't consider the forced reduction a "fault"

the principal of a pantograph is to REDUCE errors as you copy the design.
For really detailed work -- such as engraving coin dies -- the reduction ratio (based on the plaster models on display at the Mint) is abouth 20:1

Thank You Utterbar

The size of the baseboard does not worry me .

Thank you for the advice on router bits, I have taken good notice of that.

I am guessing that the work that you do for your archery club is similar to my application. I will be using my own fonts and artwork so , hopefully, I can adjust for size , shape etc.

You are right that it is not a hugely expensive item, I just object to paying more than twice the price from the local agent. I usually try to support my local retailers but, in this case it was not worthwhile.

I bought from a shop in the USA, paid more than 60% of the purchase price for shipping, and I have saved money on the local price.

I might buy a few more.


Thank you very, very much for your advice.

Well I decided to go ahead and buy one of these things. I could not come at the local distributors price and the shipping cost, so I ordered from a USA supplier. I bought the pantograph and sign pro. kit, bundled them together for one shipping price and got the lot for under $180 US. Ordered on Wednesday night , received on Monday morning. From the Aus. distributor it would have been over $350 + shipping and maybe a day quicker.

I have used the signmaker kit to do a couple of quick things for friends - quite easy and effective. I have not set up the pantograph yet, a job for tomorrow.