I build a copy router MW-style especially for copying pinblocks of pianoforte which needed to be replaced. This was a big step forwards. Thank you Matthias from Germany !
I took 3 years of mechanical engineering before I realized this... I'm now in my 3rd year of biomedical engineering... If your goal is to design, like some of the brilliant things shown in these videos, I'd recommend looking into a more specialized degree, or plan on going to grad school... Hats off for these videos, you are brilliant, I used to think I was handy in the workshop until I found your videos... I'm now learning Google sketchup... You sir, are an inspiration. Keep the videos coming
Linear ball bearings are expensive, and require high precisions holes and had ground shafts. That could easily triple the cost of the project, and make it more difficult to build.
The part where you shave down the tight parts of the hole where the router was rubbing reminded me of a technique greek stone masons use to fit giant pieces of granite together. They coat one piece in red dust, try to fit the two together, and then chip away the parts of the other stone that have red dots.
Your video is very instructive. I like how you make the device with the aid of a CAD program, and how you solve all details for a good fit. I also like all the tools you've designed and you use for an easer and better use of the machines. Thanks you very much for sharing.
If you're like me, you hate to throw things away that you might use later. That posture results in a lot of stuff that takes up space. Rather than tossing any of it, I began deconstructing it. Printers, for example, contain many interesting parts that I saved. In addition to any small moving parts, stepper motors, lasers, and select circuit board components are many stainless rods of various lengths, and diameters, a plethora of springs, screws, and gears abound. The gears have a dense, sticky grease that has an affinity for dust, lint, dog hair, & saw dust, and they become rather unsavory to play with pretty quickly. To solve that, I tossed them in one leg of a pair of panty hose that I cut off at the knee, then tied. This went in the washer with my next load of grungy jeans along with a liberal squirt of Dawn. They came out greasless, and considerably more conducive to tinkering.
You didn't show it this time but I have noticed in the past that you mount your patterns with glue that leave's a mess when you pull it off. Here's what I do. Cover the wood with masking tape then mount your patterns with spray glue. When everything is cut out all you have to do is peel off the masking tape and your wood will be free of glue. Give it a try!
I admire your skills, young buck. Doubtless that it was the best kind of work, the kind that make you run to the shop even before brushing your teeth every morning, that keep you up way past your bedtime at night & that wake you up in a cold sweat, You've worked hard to have earned your skills. No such thing as "talent". I write congress regularly.to go metric, & begin teaching a 2nd.language no later than 2nd grade among many other things that I think they need to understand. :D
Brother! You are a congenial person, I dreamed of such a machine, but my knowledge is too weak, could you give me detailed instructions and dimensions. Thanks in advance, regards to your talent Leo
No, I haven't. And I guess that if what you do works, and it's cheap, then it's better then something expensive (Though I still can't believe that using Linear BBs would be more complex then what you did, but let's not argue. Again, you've got the experience, it was just an idea. You're probably right.). Keep up the amazing work!
mattias, estoy muy agradecido por tus vídeos , son muy útiles y de mucho aprendizaje en cosas que no sabia ... un saludo cordial desde san luis - argentina - dano guardia
Most mechanical engineers don't design anything, actually. There is so much more work in software thanthere is in mechanical design. So a mechanical engineer, by training, is more likely to be programming computers than designing machines.
I find it amusing you measure things with calipers to thousandths of an inch, yet you're perfectly fine with roughing out a line with your fingers, and a pencil.
A comment on my last comment. Linear ball bearings would probably be more expensive then what you have used, and it would also be less "fun" to make the jig using those as it would be easier.
Dear Mr. Matthias is a pleasure to greet you write from Venezuela I like all your projects and I would love if there is the possibility of some but as would in that case as would have to do to see your designs or drawings including some in specific such as those concerning the router
Wouldn't it be easier to use a linear ball bearing for the larger shaft rather then 3 normal ball bearings rotated 90°? Linear ball bearings are designed for this purpose! There are several configurations of linear ball bearings, as they may accommodate not only for round shafts, but also for something like a drawer in a wardrobe. However, round ones exists, and come in many lengths and diameters. It would reduce the complexity, and increase the accuracy and reproducibility of your jig.
Masking tape (actually, tape in general) has a nasty habit of gumming up cutting edges, and it does so rather quickly; this is because tape adhesive doesn't dry or cure. The glue Matthias uses dries/cures hard; in fact, wood glue supposedly dries/cures with density and hardness comparable to some woods, so the machines should have little trouble with it, and it is actually less trouble to quickly mill off the glue than it is to clean tape adhesive off tools.
I see. As I mentioned, Linear BBs would be more expensive, but I am surprised that you claim that they would require higher precision (I don't claim that I'm right as I am a process engineer, not a mechanical engineer and woodworker. So I trust you more then myself in this case since you have a lot more practical experience then me) as your configuration requires 6 high precision holes and linear BBs would only require 2 high precision holes with regards to the large shaft - side way movement.
Right, which is what I want to do! My parents keep trying to get me into Arduino and actual programming languages and stuff like that. I need a project that requires working with a modelling program or even just requires more than a computer and soldiering iron. something i can put together in my basement!
Hey Matthias, im a mechanical engineer at Florida State University and I love your videos! My parents encourage my choice of major and are very supportive. However, they seem to think that mechanical engineer means 'electrical engineer with moving parts' and they keep trying to get me into computer and electrical stuff. I'm not opposed to it, but its not the kind of stuff i want to do. What kind of project could i do to show them what a mechanical engineer does? thank you and keep making videos!
Hi Matthias, you inspired me to make my own! I'm getting there and I made a video like yours to explain it. it would be great if you could watch it, I'm building carved top guitars!
Hey dud e I m watching all your projects and they r so good but I wanna say something that the third bearring is standing against the motion I guess... Am I wrong????
Matthias Emergency Help Please. I have a job to carve decorative staff bead for sash windows. They are in 2.5 meter lengths. I couldn’t do them in my cnc as the carving wraps around the front nosing. I built a copy router as yours but you can only carve within the confines of the shaft. Any attempt to reposition or stagger the follower pin will not work. I did not foresee this. Have you any other ideas. I’ve got a pantorouter from your plans 90% complete but not sure if this will work Thx Mick
Hi Matthias I purchased the plan for the router copier Which I though was very clever how ever i have a question, what is the size of the bearings you use? Thanks Basil
They are 8 mm ID and 22 mm OD. If you google 608 bearings or rollerball bearings, those are the ones to buy. They are available all over the net, Amazon, etc. BTW, if you bought the plans, this is listed on the materials list in the "Other Hardware" section. If you click on the link for "hardware list/cut list" on the index.html page you will find it.
Mathias, Your videos are fantastic. I will be ordering several very soon. Regarding the Router Copy Carver and the 3D Router Pantograph, would there be any issues with using your BigPrint software to effectively double the size of all of the parts on the plans to make the machine twice the size? I would like to have more capacity for doing replicating larger items without having to make mirror images of the items that I would like to replicate.
