Oxy/ac pattern torch

M

Maddogmech1

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While this isn't really a "machining" tool, it def has it's place in my home shop. I'm looking into building a pattern torch, basically a torch on a free swinging double jointed arm, with a finger that you can trace follow a pattern and it moves the torch to cut the shape out of whatever steel I'm using. Target project is qc plates for a kubota excavator to attach to the wood splitter I'm building for it. And a thousand other projects I'll come up with if I can make it work. Anyone have any good ideas or plans for one? For now I can run it manually, but eventually I'll motorize it


---------------------------------Why buy something when you can build it for twice the price!
 
When I read your description, I immediately thought of a pantograph. Tried a web search for "pantograph torch," but all of those just looked like support arms, not pattern followers. If you search on "pantograph" by itself, you'll get lots of what should be more useful hits.

A pantograph is generally used to enlarge or reduce from an original, and that might not be what you want. But if that's OK, do the search and pick up some design ideas.

A basic "how to" is available at http://www.peter.com.au/articles/pantograph.html
If you replaced the flat bars with vertical plates hinged together, you could get a setup that also holds the torch upright.

Hope this is a useful start for you...
 
I've looked into the pantograph vs flame cutter, and I think the cutter is more what I need. That pic of the blue one I think is perfect, just I may build a little bigger. The idea is cut the pattern from wood or sheet steel and then it's easy to reproduce in the 3/4" plate I need to build from and have them match perfectly. I will start this project next weekend and post updates as I go


---------------------------------Why buy something when you can build it for twice the price!
 
Torch Mate used to make a small pantograph for using either a torch or plasma cutter. then quit. Demand was so high, they started selling the downloadable plans for $50. Good build of machine runs about $200. Look them up.
 
I have a project coming up that will be easier with a pantograph torch, and one I can borrow to do the job. It is motorized, with a knurled 1/4" diameter tracer driven around the perimeter of the pattern. I have used this one a couple of times, and like how it works. I cannot recall the make, but am planning on getting all the information to duplicate it. The "stylus" is actually magnetized and sticks to the pattern as it crawls it's way around it. Works great. Unless I am mistaken, the ratio is built in on this one to allow for the stylus size. You make the full size pattern out of thinner metal. I have used 10g for patterns when I used it. Last project was some large hex nuts. The across-flats was 6", and the thread was 2 3/4-8 I believe. Been quite a while. They are pretty handy.
 
Got a start on it last night, only a couple of hours, so I figured I'd tackle the torch holder first. I've tried to locate a machine torch for this project but they are pretty pricey so I'm using my cutting torch. So for I've got the holder and clamps done to hold the torch, and the plate it mounts to mostly machined out, with a curved slot so I can change the angle of the cut to do bevels if needed. Pics to come soon


---------------------------------Why buy something when you can build it for twice the price!
 
I was rereading Guy Lautards 2nd Bedside Reader last night and noted that he had plans for a parallelogram engraver.
You might find that his plans are adaptable to a torch cutter.

http://lautard.com/books.htm

Daryl
MN
 
Thanks for the link. I've already started on the "design as I build" process though. I've got plenty of scrap around to build this, and I think I've settled on a single level arm. I sourced some bearings for the pivot points, so hopefully there won't be much flex. Has anyone ever heard of someone machining their own torch head? Or is this better left to the factories?


---------------------------------Why buy something when you can build it for twice the price!
 
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