Technical Pantograph Plasma Cutter

Anyone who has torched out frame brackets, motor mounts, etc., and ground the edges smooth knows how much easier the task would be with some sort of variable speed plasma shape cutting machine.

I just did a thread on how to build a small CNC plasma cutting machine: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/2-x-2-cnc-plasma-table-build-in-installments.1277585/

However, not everyone has the cash to undertake such a project. Still, there is a cheaper alternative you might want to consider. Over the years, I have built a number of pantograph shape cutting machines, the earlier ones using oxygen-acetylene, and the most recent using plasma-arc.

You can't do metal art with it, but you can make just about any kind of bracket you need for a street rod. Of course you need a template, so the machine is most useful for duplicating shapes. If you just need one of a shape, you can make a template out of plywood. You hold the rotor against the edge, changing the direction of pressure as you go around corners. The teeth on the rotary burr provide a good grip on the plywood. If you need multiple copies, burn the first one to make a steel template, and then use it with the magnetic tracer for any number of copies. A size allowance is made in the template to compensate for the radius of the rotor.

If there is any interest, I will go into detail about my pantograph build, with photos, etc. If there is little interest, my feelings won't be hurt. Let me know!

 

I'm going to pass, but that simply is because I wouldn't use it enough to justify the build. I doubt most would. That and with the internet providing all kind of parts, easily produced and copied, it would be hard to justify it.
Very cool however that you have. Truly. Shows what can be done.

I'm also of the belief that while it's nice to have fancy, hand skills are still important and the backbone of doing things.

 

I'd like to see a detailed write-up.
Marcus...

 

Full plans for the above pantograph machine can be found here: (free)
https://cncplasmadesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pantograph-instructions-Feb-2019-backup.pdf

 

I'd like to see a complete detailed build myself!