Old school automated torch

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All the rage today is about CAD and automated this or that.  I can appreciate how nice it must be to be able to draw something in your computer and have it cut out on a water jet or laser machine, but I'm just too computer illiterate to get past that "computer" part.  I like drawing on paper.  Pencils don't have their hard drives crash or get finicky because the shop dust got in them!Imagine my surprise when I saw this gadget on one of my favorite blacksmithing Youtube channels!  Small footprint, easy to understand, and it follows the lines drawn on a sheet of paper!  No idea how it's doing what it's doing, but it looks like it's built well and would last a long time.  For a small operation like mine, one of these would be pretty fun to have in the shop!Anyone ever use one?  Were they common in the US?
Reply:

Originally Posted by VaughnT

All the rage today is about CAD and automated this or that.  I can appreciate how nice it must be to be able to draw something in your computer and have it cut out on a water jet or laser machine, but I'm just too computer illiterate to get past that "computer" part.  I like drawing on paper.  Pencils don't have their hard drives crash or get finicky because the shop dust got in them!Imagine my surprise when I saw this gadget on one of my favorite blacksmithing Youtube channels!  Small footprint, easy to understand, and it follows the lines drawn on a sheet of paper!  No idea how it's doing what it's doing, but it looks like it's built well and would last a long time.  For a small operation like mine, one of these would be pretty fun to have in the shop!Anyone ever use one?  Were they common in the US?
Reply:There are electric eye pattern cutters that follow a drawing. An Esab Silhouette 500 is this type of machine. The magnetic pattern machines are like this Airco Camograph. Victor, Koike and others also had versions of them. https://hanwayauctioneers.hibid.com/...rco-camograph/
Reply:That Esab 500 looks a whole lot more complicated, never mind taking up a bunch more room.  I could see it being nice to cut larger pieces, though.
Reply:SheetCam has software called "Scannything" that used a small camera mounted on a Plasma CNC table connected to the computer running their software to trace line drawing and produce a G-code for CNC plasma cutting.  I think there are others too.DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:I have a machine like that in my shop. Mine is a C&G, which I bought new in about 1991. I have cut literally tens of thousands of parts with it. Never had an issue with a fly...At the time I bought it, adding a computer to control it would have cost an additional ten grand, and then five grand for the software, and by now, 30 years later, I am kinda used to it. For onsies or twosies, its much faster to draw than to dick around with the computer anyway.Mine is 4 x 8, and has access to forklift a 4x8 plate onto, particularly if its 1/4" or thicker.

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Last edited by Ries; 10-20-2020 at 03:55 PM.
Reply:Lowbuck tools used to sale parts to convert a pantograph into an automated pattern traced.  Similar to what Rondo mentioned.  I don't see Lowbuck's site anymore, though products are still being sold.
Reply:The electric eye type They came marked in 1940's I look lately to still make new but did 1990'sIt uses paper draw and eye follows the line on paper drawing.https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...20&vt=4&sim=11They make 1 torch and upThe I own had 5 torches and could cut 5' x 10' part and I cut up to 6" plate.The one photo is small 24" x 24" they to work great but great for small shopsDave

Originally Posted by VaughnT

All the rage today is about CAD and automated this or that.  I can appreciate how nice it must be to be able to draw something in your computer and have it cut out on a water jet or laser machine, but I'm just too computer illiterate to get past that "computer" part.  I like drawing on paper.  Pencils don't have their hard drives crash or get finicky because the shop dust got in them!Imagine my surprise when I saw this gadget on one of my favorite blacksmithing Youtube channels!  Small footprint, easy to understand, and it follows the lines drawn on a sheet of paper!  No idea how it's doing what it's doing, but it looks like it's built well and would last a long time.  For a small operation like mine, one of these would be pretty fun to have in the shop!Anyone ever use one?  Were they common in the US?
Reply:Dang, no sooner do I find this video than a half-dozen of the more common modern types show up on bidspotter.  Unfortunately, all of the more modern versions have the same problem -- way to big for my space. What I liked most about the cutter in the video is that it has a very small footprint.  Sure, it limits you in a lot of what you can do, but it also means it'll fit in a very small shop like I have.  As much as I'd like something that could cut larger sheets, they all require that the print you're following be set beside rather than over top of the cutting table.  This effectively doubles the footprint so a 4x4 cutting table requires a 4x8 chunk of floor space.
Reply:Today building torch is option.The electric eye type would hardest to build. The CNC/stepper motor is easy too build the parts are shelf. I am suprises some does not have a kit.Dave

Originally Posted by VaughnT

Dang, no sooner do I find this video than a half-dozen of the more common modern types show up on bidspotter.  Unfortunately, all of the more modern versions have the same problem -- way to big for my space. What I liked most about the cutter in the video is that it has a very small footprint.  Sure, it limits you in a lot of what you can do, but it also means it'll fit in a very small shop like I have.  As much as I'd like something that could cut larger sheets, they all require that the print you're following be set beside rather than over top of the cutting table.  This effectively doubles the footprint so a 4x4 cutting table requires a 4x8 chunk of floor space.
Reply:I never knew that existed.  I've cut out art on old plow disks before for gifts and I use a kids projector to trace the pattern onto the not-flat plow disk.  I'd love to have a machine like this, thanks.