How to make copies on a machine with your own hands. Copier for a wood lathe with a manual router. How the copier works

Lathes are specialized equipment used for making wood products. It is on this machine that furniture legs, door handles, balusters and other wood products are made. There are many models of modern lathes with different prices.

Models of wood lathes

There are a large number of different models of lathes, they can be divided into the following types:

• Standard machines, depending on the product, processing on such a device is carried out in the center, in a special chuck or faceplate. The equipment design includes an electric motor, a steel frame, cutters, chucks and a control system.
• Copying tools, with their help, produce the same type of wood products in large quantities. Manually operated devices are cheaper and will be a profitable option for small industries.
• Milling machines, on which wood processing is done along the axis of the product. The work is done using a milling cutter and a circular saw.
• Machines for twisted flutes; the equipment can carry out standard operations, as well as figured cutting on the sides of products. Electronic control greatly facilitates work, and the ability to simultaneously process two products increases productivity and saves time.

Copy wood lathe Proma DSL-1200

The lathe is designed for processing wooden products, turning profiles and decorative parts. A characteristic feature of the device is presence of two incisors. One is installed on a steady rest and is used for processing round workpieces, removing up to 10 mm of material in one pass. Using this cutter you can make round workpieces of different diameters. The settings are set on a special device.

The second cutter is installed in the copying carriage and turns the parts according to the copying machine. The original fastening allows you to quickly prepare the machine for work.

For the manufacture of long products, the delivery set includes a steady rest, which is mounted on guide rods as a support and prevents deflection of the long workpiece. By installing a faceplate, the machine will allow you to process multi-faceted products.

Characteristics:

• Voltage - 380V.
• Center height - 215 mm.
• Weight - 395 kg.
• Dimensions - 2105x1000x1225 mm.

Price - 255803 rub..

4-spindle copy lathe T4M-0

Model T4M-0 is equipped with a horizontal sanding unit, which is capable of processing 4 workpieces simultaneously using a copier (lace legs of tables and chairs, musical instruments).

• The cast bed and balanced parts eliminated vibration, increasing the processing speed of large workpieces.
• The shaft is installed automatically at the beginning of the cycle and returns to its original position after processing is completed.
• Pneumatic clamping on spindles.
• Adjustable shaft feed speed.
• Smooth adjustment of spindle speed using a block.

Characteristics:

Additional equipment:

• 7.3 kW motor.
• Inventory rotation speed control.
• Expansion of working space up to 1500 mm.

Price - 49,700 rub..

Copy wood lathe CL-1201

The CL-1201 machine is used in manufacturing industries for turning rounded products with a diameter of up to 1200 mm and processing cylindrical parts. Wide possibilities for processing are provided by clamps: faceplate, chuck, centers.

Features of the lathe:

• The heavy spindle is equipped with a device that controls the rotation speed, which allows high-quality processing of workpieces based on weight, dimensions, and type of wood.
• The spindle can change the direction of rotation, providing good processing of wood of any density.
• The lathe is controlled and configured from a portable console, which, at the user’s request, can be placed on the front or rear column.
• The stability of the machine is ensured by a frame made of steel, and the rear columns are made of cast iron. This ensures minimal vibration during operation and improves the quality of processing.
• The base allows you to process workpieces up to 1270 mm long, and to increase it you can use additional sections up to 1270 mm.
• The copying mechanism is included in the basic package, which significantly expands the possibilities.
• The milling attachment allows you to produce longitudinal grooves along the entire length of the workpiece.
• The mobile support moves over the entire surface of the part. Control is carried out by a flywheel. The processing depth is adjusted by lever
• With the help of a tailstock, the machining accuracy of long parts increases.
• The degree of protection of the machine is IP54, the engine is reliably protected from overheating and overload, and electronic parts are protected from moisture and dust.

The standard package includes:

• Copier and template holder.
• Knife support 254 mm.
• Mounting washer 254 mm.
• Rotating center.
• 2 straight cutters
• Chisel stand.
• Mobile rest.
• Devices for regulating spindle speed.

Price - 153588 rub..

Copy wood lathe CL-1201A

The device is manufactured by the Austrian company Stomana, which has been supplying equipment for more than 20 years. The device is designed for processing wood and rounding products up to 1270 mm long, made of materials of different densities. The copier is supplied in a basic configuration; it is used to produce products according to the sample.

Included in delivery lathe includes:

• Copier and stand for templates.
• Knife support.
• Mechanism for applying spiral channels.
• Rotating center.
• Leading center with a diameter of 20 mm.
• Fastening washer.
• 2 incisors.
• Stand for lunette.

Copy wood lathe KTF-7

The KTF-7 turning device is used for processing wood on stationary and rotating workpieces. Equipment uses disc milling tool, which increases productivity and service life. This scheme allows you to obtain parts that cannot be made on a conventional lathe:

• Profile polyhedra.
• Surfaces with helical profile.
• Profile grooves on the product.

Work on a turning device is carried out according to a template with automatic feeding of the workpiece, in two passes. When moving forward, roughing occurs; when moving backwards, finishing occurs. Semi-automatic operation increases productivity and the number of irregularities on the wood surface during processing. The device is equipped with a mount for a hand cutter.

Characteristics:

• Voltage - 380V.
• The maximum length of the part is 1200 mm.
• Center height - 215 mm.
• Weight - 740 kg.
• Dimensions - 2100x900x1049 mm.

Price - 309,000 rub..

Both in production and at home, there is often a need to produce a part whose shape and dimensions are completely identical to the original sample. At enterprises, this problem is solved using a device such as a copy-milling machine, which makes it possible to produce copies of the original part in large batches and is characterized by high speed and the quality of the processing performed.

What is the milling process?

Copy-milling machines and any other equipment of the milling group can be found in almost any industrial enterprise. This is explained by the fact that the milling operation is one of the most common methods used to perform machining. This technology allows you to perform a wide range of roughing, semi-finishing and finishing operations with simple and shaped workpieces made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and to work on wood and plastic. Modern milling equipment can process parts of even the most complex shapes with high precision and productivity.

There are two main types of milling: counter (feed and rotation of the tool are in different directions) and down milling (the tool rotates in the same direction as the feed). The cutting part of the tools that perform milling is made of various materials, which makes it possible not only to successfully work on wood, but also to process (including grinding) even the hardest metals and alloys, artificial and natural stone.

Milling equipment is divided into two types: general purpose and specialized, which includes a copy-milling machine.

Capabilities of copy-milling equipment

The copying machine, which belongs to the milling group, is designed for copying and milling work with flat and three-dimensional parts. In addition, such a device can be used to engrave shaped profiles, apply inscriptions and patterns (even of high complexity) to products, and carry out light milling operations on wood and other materials.

Using tools with cutting parts made of various materials, parts made of cast iron, different types of steel and non-ferrous metals are processed on copy milling machines. Such devices for producing parts in small and large batches successfully produce blades for turbojet engines and steam turbines, propellers for ships, cutting and forging dies, impellers for hydraulic turbines, molds for pressing and casting, molds, etc.

A copy-milling machine performs technological operations that are practically inaccessible to universal equipment. The operating principle of such a machine is based on the copying method, for which a special template is used. The use of a template eliminates the human factor when processing even the most complex parts, due to which all finished products have the same shape and geometric dimensions. Conveniently, one template can be used to accurately manufacture a large batch of parts that will be completely identical to each other.

In order to copy the shape and dimensions of the template as accurately as possible, a copier (pantograph for a router) is installed on a copy-milling machine. The purpose of such a device is to accurately transfer all movements from the copy head to the cutting tool.

How does a copy milling machine work?

Copy-milling machines, as mentioned above, are used for planar (processing of profiles) and volumetric (processing of reliefs) milling. They use cutters as a working tool, which, when processing the contour or volumetric surface of a part, repeat the movements of the copier. The connection between the working element and the tracking system in manual machines is ensured by mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic elements necessary to generate the force transmitted from the copier to the working element of the copy-milling machine.

The template on such machines is a flat contour or spatial model, a standard part or contour drawings, and the element that reads the shape and dimensions of the template is a copying finger or roller, a special probe, or a photocell. To make a template, you can use an aluminum sheet or a sheet of other metal, plastic or wood. The template and the workpiece are located on the rotating work table of the machine.

The working body of copy-milling equipment is set in motion thanks to such structural elements as a screw, spool valve, solenoid, differential or electromagnetic clutch. Relays installed in the amplification devices of copy-milling machines can be electromagnetic, hydraulic or electro-optical.

The quality of the workpiece (surface roughness, accuracy of shape and size) depends on such a parameter as the speed of movement of the tracking device. In this case, the following characteristics of the finished product can be achieved: roughness – No. 6, profile accuracy – 0.02 mm. The main elements of the executive circuit of such equipment are an electric motor and a hydraulic cylinder.

A pantograph installed on copy-milling equipment ensures copying at a given scale. The pantograph structure consists of a guide pin, its axis, a tool spindle and a separate axis of rotation. The spindle and guide pin are located on the same rail, the ratio of the arms of which determines the copying scale.

Moving along the contour of the template, the finger sets in motion the rack, which rotates freely on an axis. Accordingly, on the other side of the rack, the machine spindle makes identical movements, processing the workpiece. On do-it-yourself copy-milling machines, such a device will also not be superfluous; its presence significantly increases the functionality of the equipment.

Types of copy-milling machines

The equipment of a copy-milling machine may include various types of drives. Based on this parameter, the following are distinguished:

• equipment with a pantograph (suitable for processing parts in 2–3 dimensions);
• devices with a copier mounted on a rotary rack moving in a vertical plane;
• single- and multi-spindle machines equipped with round or rectangular rotary tables;
• machines, the feed on which is ensured by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic devices;
• photocopying equipment.

A homemade copying machine can be any of these types (including copying and grinding machines). You just need to find drawings on the Internet and select components.

According to the degree of automation and the method of fixing the workpiece, the following categories of copy-milling machines are distinguished:

• manual or desktop, on which the workpiece is fixed mechanically (on these devices you can drill holes of various shapes in accordance with the template);
• automatic equipment of a stationary type, the workpieces on which are fixed using pneumatic clamps (such machines work with aluminum);
• automatic equipment of a stationary type with pneumatic clamps, on which a three-spindle head is installed (on these copy-milling machines, triple holes are simultaneously drilled, which does not allow the production of units of the two previous types).

How does a copy milling machine work?

As noted above, on a copy-milling machine the workpiece is processed using a master device - a copier. All movements of the copier along the contour or surface of the template are transmitted thanks to a special (copying) device to the working head of the machine in which the cutter is fixed. Thus, the cutting tool exactly repeats all the movements made by the copier used to equip the router.

The movements of the elements of a copy-milling machine during the processing of a part are divided into main (rotation and movement of the spindle when cutting the tool into the workpiece material, movement along the contour of the work table and slide) and auxiliary (movement of the spindle head, slide and table in accelerated mode, as well as installation movements made by the tracer table, the copying finger, the stops and the clamp that secures the spindle head).

In copy milling machines working on aluminum, two tracking schemes can be implemented: simple action and feedback action. When implementing the direct action scheme, the working body of the machine makes movements due to the fact that it is rigidly connected to the copier. The reverse action scheme does not provide for such a connection and movements from the copier to the working element are transmitted not directly, but through a tracking system.

As mentioned above, contour and volumetric milling is performed on copy milling machines. When contour milling, the movements of the copier occur in a plane parallel or perpendicular to the axis of the tool. In the first case, the movement of the equipment working table can only be longitudinal, and the cutter and copying finger move vertically. In the second case, the table moves both longitudinally and transversely. In volumetric milling, the part is processed in stages - thanks to several movements of the table and tool performed in parallel planes.

The direct action scheme can also be implemented through a pantograph, which allows you to reduce the size of finished products in relation to the size of the template used (scale). Most often, such an additional device, which is easy to make yourself, is installed on machines used for engraving and light milling work.

Another variation of a self-made machine

How to make a copy milling machine with your own hands

Many home craftsmen would like to purchase a copy-milling machine to equip their workshop, but the cost of such equipment is quite high. Meanwhile, if you have the desire, and without spending a lot of time, effort and financial resources, you can make such equipment with your own hands.

Naturally, homemade copy-milling equipment cannot be compared with professional ones in terms of power, reliability and functionality, but such machines can also make high-quality copies, work with wood and process workpieces from other materials. Many people try to attach a copying device to an existing one, but this is impractical, since it would require redoing almost the entire machine. As practice shows, it is better to assemble your homemade copy-milling machine from scratch, selecting the appropriate components for this.

The photo below shows an example of a homemade machine with an addition in the form of a video. The creator of the machine narrates the story in English, but in principle everything is quite clear even without translation.

The easiest way to make a copy-milling device with your own hands is according to a standard design, which includes a supporting structure - a frame, a work table and a milling head. The drive to ensure rotation of the working tool is an electric motor that transmits movement through a two-stage mechanism, allowing two speeds to be obtained. The desktop of this homemade device can be adjusted in height.

Many of those who have made a copy-milling machine with their own hands note that when changing operating modes, such equipment begins to show a lot of shortcomings. The most common of these shortcomings are vibrations of the machine frame, curvature of the workpiece and its deflection, poor-quality copying, etc. To avoid such problems, it is best to make the copy-milling device highly specialized and immediately configure it to process workpieces of the same type. This is explained by the fact that it is almost impossible to take into account all the shortcomings that will arise in universal equipment when changing operating modes.

The size of a homemade copy-milling machine is of great importance, which must be selected depending on the size of the workpiece you are going to process on it. When processing large workpieces, significant vibrations arise, which only massive equipment can dampen. With such processing, serious loads are transferred to the guide axes of the machine, which must also be able to withstand it.

The first thing you need to do before making a copy-milling machine with your own hands is to decide on the tasks that you are going to solve with its help. The size of the work table, the method of securing the workpieces and template, and the direction of movement of the cutting tool will depend on this.

Depending on what parts you are going to make on your homemade copy-milling machine (as well as on the material for their manufacture), the power of the electric motor is selected. So, for engraving and other woodworking, an electric motor with a power of 150–200 W is quite suitable.

The probe and the working body of the machine are rigidly fixed to each other and installed above the work table so that the height of their location and their planes completely coincide. After installation, such a structure must move horizontally and vertically parallel to all sides of the desktop.

In the two videos below, another master talks about making a copy-milling machine with his own hands.

If you need to make a copy of an object made of wood or metal, copying equipment comes to the rescue; for this purpose it is used in many enterprises. In particular, copy-milling installations are designed to create objects that replicate the original sample as closely as possible.

Modern types of machines make it possible to perform work accurately and quickly in large quantities. Such installations are great for creating copying works on a plane and in volume using appropriate copiers and volumetric models. We will learn from the article what a wood milling and copying machine is, how it works and what its approximate price is.

Milling and copying equipment

This type of machine is one of the methods of mechanical processing to create objects of the desired geometric shape. The surface of the workpiece is processed in several stages - roughing, semi-finishing and finishing.

The scope of application of milling machines is very wide - these are shaped parts made of wood, plane milling, profile processing, volumetric milling of reliefs of objects and parts. Before going into mass production, milling machines must undergo special certification to comply with all safety standards and regulations necessary during the work process.

Thanks to the method of template copying technology, the same shape of all parts is obtained and the error of the worker servicing the machine is reduced to zero, since the person does not influence the working process of the unit.

To produce a series of absolutely identical finished products it is necessary to use special templates or a product that was made based on it. Experts recommend equipping the unit with a pantograph. This is a mechanism that transmits movements to the cutting tool as accurately as possible along the head installation profile.

Processing the workpiece according to the copier through the copying mechanism gives a command to all actuators of the unit. The installation cutter and the part that is being milled recreate the surface specified on the copier in relative movement.

The main movements include the working table of a milling machine, movement along the contour of the slide, and rotation of the spindle. The secondary ones are:

• Moving the tracer table, the installation nature of the copying finger and stops.
• Acceleration of the movement of the spindle of the slide and the working surface of the table.
• Spindle head clamp.

Copy milling can be of two types:

• Outline.
• Volumetric.

Contour milling is different in that when processing wood the copier curve is located in a parallel or perpendicular axis working tool. In one case, the working surface with the workpiece and the copier moves only in the parallel or transverse direction of the copier, its curved line. They can also only move longitudinally, in which case the entire curve process is controlled by moving the tracing finger and cutter in the vertical plane.

When the volumetric copying process is underway, the workpiece has a spatially complex surface. It is processed by two or more parallel strokes of the work table, with each stroke performing contour milling. The working tool of the machine that carries out the entire process, after each working pass forced to move relative to the part to the cross feed rate perpendicular to the line, then the table moves again.

Purpose of milling and copying units and their advantages

This equipment has long become indispensable for small furniture workshops. They help to mill straight and curved surfaces, drill holes, and make nests of various configurations in wood.

They are used for carving different types of wood, for copying sculptures and flat-relief surfaces. Machines help to significantly improve the quality of processed products. The main advantages of copy-milling machines for wood include:

• Compactness.
• High strength.
• Long service life.
• High precision and reliability of machines.

Price for wood milling and copying machines

The equipment is designed for surface treatment soft and hard wood, so they are perfect for carpentry and model workshops.

Milling and copying units made in Italy G 60 - G 80 - G90 GRIGGIO, are very popular in carpentry and furniture production. They are designed for milling curved and straight contours, nests, contours and grooves, drilling and countersinking holes in carpentry and furniture blanks. Excellent for processing furniture facades and door panels. Worktable size - 750x600 mm, vertical travel of the worktable - 150 mm, spindle movement in the vertical plane - 80 mm, spindle rotates with a frequency of 9,000-18,000 rpm. Approximate price: 339,000 rubles.

Milling and copying machine VFK-810 (table rotation angle up to 45 o) - designed for milling curved and straight contours, nests, grooves, countersinking and drilling holes in furniture and joinery blanks. An important advantage is the high speed of up to 20,000 rpm, the ideal quality that the spindle provides. The lift of the table is 200 mm, its size, length - 1,000 and width - 800 mm. Approximate price - 274,000 rubles.

Milling and copying unit WINNER LH-1000 made in Taiwan - ideal for making paneled doors and other types of carpentry work. Such operations are the most complex and labor-intensive, so even an experienced and highly qualified master is not able to cope with such a task in a short time. It produces a paneled element in one pass; the multi-level spindle quickly changes the profile without rearranging the tool. It is equipped with a special table with a flat coordinate system, which provides high accuracy of all milling operations performed, as well as safety. The spindle rotates at a frequency of 9,000 rpm, the price of the machine is 1,246,463 rubles.

Copy-milling machine made in China MX 5068. Its distinctive features are high speed up to 18,000 rpm, the spindle provides ideal quality, and the products do not require further processing. Vertical movement of the spindle from a pneumatic drive, table rotation by 45 o, increased work table dimensions - 805-600 mm, maximum workpiece thickness - 150 mm, machine weight - 440 kg, product price - 193,240 rubles.

Equipment such as a modern copy-milling machine is distinguished by high accuracy and reliability in performing various types of work. In order to start working on it, 2-3 days of training is enough, after which you can create real masterpieces in wood.

In the modern world, there is often a need to create a copy of something or reproduce and repeat something. For this purpose, many enterprises widely use copy-milling machines, which are designed to create products whose shape most closely matches the given original sample. They make it possible to produce parts in large quantities, while ensuring high speed of processing and manufacturing of each element.

Features of the milling procedure

Milling is one of the common machining methods. Using milling, roughing, finishing and semi-finishing of shaped and simple surfaces of workpieces made of steel, non-ferrous metal, cast iron and plastics is carried out. Milling is characterized by a high level of productivity, which allows the final result to obtain products of the correct geometric shape.

Milling can be carried out in two ways: the procedure of up milling (against the feed), when the feed is opposite to the direction of rotation of the cutter, and down milling (along the feed), when the directions of rotation of the cutter and feed coincide. Using cutters that are equipped with modern cutting materials (mineral ceramics, synthetic super-hard), you can process materials that are hardened to high hardness, thereby replacing the grinding procedure.

Milling machines are designed for milling the surfaces of levers, strips, housings, covers and brackets of simple configurations, complex configurations of contours (such as templates, cams), and surfaces of body parts. Milling machines are divided into two main categories: general-purpose machines and specialized machines. The first group includes longitudinal milling, cantilever, non-cantilever and continuous milling machines. The second category includes thread-milling, gear-milling, slot-milling, key-milling and copy-milling machines.

Purpose of a copy milling machine

Copy-milling machines are usually used to perform copying work in volume and on a plane, as well as in volume using three-dimensional models and corresponding copiers, for engraving various shaped profiles, patterns, ornaments and inscriptions, as well as for light milling work. The indisputable advantage of such units is that they are capable of producing incredibly complex patterns with their own simple design.

The machine can perform various milling operations on steel, cast iron and non-ferrous metals using high-speed and carbide tools in large- and small-scale production. On such machines, propellers of ships, blades of turbojet engines and steam turbines, impellers of hydraulic turbines, cutting and forging dies, press and casting molds, various cams, dies, molds, metal models and blanks are produced.

Such equipment is also used for drilling holes for handles, locks, latches, metal hinges, as well as making frames for mirrors and channels of any size on plastic and aluminum profiles, as in the video about copy-milling machines. On universal machines, the processing procedure for such products is almost impossible.

A copy-milling machine is intended for milling curved parts using a copying technique according to a template from which the shape of the future product is copied. The use of templates makes it possible to eliminate the influence of the human factor during such a complex operation, and all finished parts, as a result, have the same shape.

To make several completely identical products, you can not only use a single template, but also make all subsequent parts based on the first one. However, for the most accurate repetition, it is recommended to supplement the machine with a copying device called a pantograph. Its design can be different, but the function is the same in all cases - to more accurately transmit the movement of the copying head along the profile to the cutting device.

Design of copy milling machine

The copy-milling machine is designed for processing profiles (planar milling) or reliefs (volumetric milling) of products using a carbide cutting tool - a milling cutter. The cutter reproduces on the product the contour or surface of the setting device - the copier. The driving device of a manual copy-milling machine has a pneumatic, mechanical or hydraulic connection with a tracking system, which is responsible for directing the cutting tool, on the one hand acting on the amplifying device, and on the other influencing the executive body.

A flat template, a spatial model, a reference part, a contour drawing can act as a copier, and a probe, a copy roller or finger, or a photocell can serve as a copy device. Samples for copying can be made of metal, plastic or wood. The workpiece and the copier are mounted on a rotating table.

The executive body can be a spool, a screw, a solenoid, an electromagnetic clutch, or a differential. In the amplification devices of copy-milling machines, electromagnetic, hydraulic or electro-optical relays are used. The surface roughness of the workpiece and the accuracy of the profile depend on the speed of movement of the tracking device: roughness No. 6 and a profile accuracy of 0.02 millimeters are achieved. The actuator circuit is driven by a power hydraulic cylinder and an electric motor.

Copying at a specified scale is carried out using a special device called a pantograph. If you are interested in how to make a copy-milling machine yourself at home, then you can supplement it with this device. The pantograph has a structural guide pin, which is located on an axis and moves along the copier, a rotation axis and a tool spindle. When moving along the finger pattern on the workpiece, the spindle describes a geometrically similar figure. And the copying scale is determined by the proportions of the pantograph arms.

Types of copy milling machines

Based on the type of drive, the following main types of copy-milling machines are distinguished: with a pantograph, which is designed to work in 2 and 3 dimensions; universal devices with a pantograph, which is located on a rotating arm in a vertical plane; single- and multi-spindle units with rectangular and round tables; with mechanical feed, electrically and hydraulically, as well as photocopying.

There are several types of similar milling and copying machines, which differ in the level of automation and clamping of the workpiece being processed:

1. Manual or desktop copy-milling machine with mechanical profile clamping. With its help, you can drill holes of various shapes according to a template, however, for triple holes you will need a three-spindle attachment on a machine or drill.
2. Automatic (stationary) milling and copying machine with pneumatic profile clamping. Such machines also do not allow triple holes to be made for installing handles and, as a rule, are used for the production of aluminum structures.
3. Automatic (stationary) milling and copying machine with pneumatic profile clamping and a 3-spindle attachment for drilling triple holes.

Operating principle of a copy milling machine

Processing of products on a copy-milling machine is carried out using a master device (copier), the action of which causes, through the copy device, a corresponding movement relative to the workpiece of a special cutting tool. Through the copying device, the copier acts on the actuators, while the workpiece and the cutter recreate in relative motion the surface that is specified on the copier.

The main movements are rotation of the spindle, movement of the table and slide along the contour, and movement of the spindle head when cutting. Auxiliary movements - acceleration of movement of the slide, spindle head and table, installation movements on the table of the tracer table, stops, copying finger and clamping of the spindle head.

Aluminum copy-milling machines are capable of operating according to 2 tracking schemes: action with feedback and simple action. The copy probe and the cutter in the simple-action scheme are rigidly connected to each other, and the movement of the probe along the copier is transmitted to the cutter. The deflection of the trace probe in the feedback circuit causes a mismatch in the position of the trace probe relative to the cutter.

The result of such a mismatch is sent to a special tracking system, which issues a signal to the actuator to adjust the tool path. In this case, there is no rigid connection between the cutter and the copier, and the copier does not perceive the cutting force, but only transmits the corresponding signal to the executive bodies.

There are two types of copy milling - volumetric and contour. When contour copying, the copier curve can be placed in a plane that is parallel or perpendicular to the axis of the cutter. In the first case, the table with a copier and the workpiece moves in the longitudinal direction; control of the change in the curve is accomplished due to the vertical movement of the cut-in and the carbon finger. In the second case, the table with the copier and the workpiece moves in the transverse and longitudinal directions according to the shape of the curved line of the copier.

The complex spatial surface of the workpiece during volumetric copying is processed with a cutter sequentially, through several parallel table strokes, that is, contour copying is performed with each working stroke. At the end of the pass, the cutter is shifted relative to the workpiece perpendicular to the line by the amount of the transverse feed, then the next working stroke occurs.

There are also direct-action copy-milling machines, in which the milling probe transmits movement through the pantograph. Such machines are mainly used for light engraving and milling work. When using a pantograph, in addition to copying, it is possible to reduce the scale of workpieces in relation to the copier. The movement of the copy probe along the copier, which is installed on the machine table, is transmitted to the spindle, which, when processing the workpiece, describes a contour similar geometrically to the copier.

Do-it-yourself copy-milling machine

Currently, the market offers milling and copying machines of various designs and levels of complexity. However, it is not always possible to buy one, and the price of a copy-milling machine is quite high. Therefore, we often face the question of how to make a copy-milling machine at home.

Of course, homemade machines cannot fully compete with industrial models, but they are still functional and allow you to make high-quality copies. I would like to immediately make a reservation that it will be very difficult to adapt a copying device to an industrial milling device, and this concerns, first of all, a radical redesign of the entire device. Therefore, the easiest way to assemble a homemade copy-milling machine is practically “from scratch” using a rod system and an electric motor with a clamping chuck for the cutter.

There can be many designs of copy-milling machines. The typical design of the apparatus is as follows: the machine structurally consists of a work table, a supporting frame and a milling head. The working surface can be adjusted in height, the milling head is equipped with an electric drive motor and a two-stage transmission mechanism that provides two speeds of the milling shaft.

Many homeowners complain that when copying a product, the resulting part has many flaws and inconsistencies that appeared when changing the direction of the cutter, vibration and trembling of the supporting structure. Adding to the trouble is the sagging and curvature of the workpiece, which is associated with an increase in internal stress due to the removal of wood. It is impossible to avoid all the shortcomings when making a homemade copy-milling machine. It is simply recommended to make the copying machine narrow-profile, and not universal.

A homemade copy-milling machine should be optimized for the production of specific products that you need. For example, to effectively manufacture a wooden part of a gun and a propeller screw, different technical solutions are required; they cannot be combined in one machine, and side effects that are difficult to correct may occur. Thus, it is more practical to assemble machines for specific tasks. This approach can save you many costs and difficulties.

An important factor is the size of the machine. The larger the product you plan to process, the more massive the design should be. It is necessary that the vibrations transmitted from the cutter drive are absorbed by the weight of the machine's supporting structure. Loads must be supported by guide axes, which must also have a safety margin and not bend. The optimal parameters when designing a copy-milling machine with your own hands are selected experimentally, this ensures smooth operation of the cutter.

When designing a copy-milling machine, determine the type of parts you will produce. To perform engraving work and to mill long products, a different work table and a method for securing workpieces with a template on it are required. Freedom of movement in different planes of the cutting tool depends on the type of work table.

The power of the electric motor, which rotates the cutter and is installed on a homemade copy-milling machine, depends on the parts being manufactured and their material. For engraving and milling of wooden products, a 150-200 watt DC electric motor is sufficient.

To ensure an accurate copying procedure, you need to rigidly connect the copying probe and the device to each other, securing the cutting tool in it. In this case, their height and planes above the desktop must coincide completely. The created rigid structure should be installed above the desktop in such a way that it can move in the vertical and horizontal planes along the axes that are conventionally created by the sides of the desktop.

A variety of equipment, including machines, can be used to work with wood. Through the use of such equipment, it accelerates the process of mechanical processing of wooden blanks. A wood lathe with a copier is in great demand, which greatly simplifies the execution of tasks: making furniture legs, door handles and balusters.

Many people decide to buy and install lathes in their own workshop because of their possible use in the manufacture of cylindrical products. There are quite a large number of different models; they can be divided into several groups:

1. Classic equipment, when the workpiece is located in a chuck or faceplate. A cutter is used as a cutting tool. The workpiece can rotate at different speeds. However, the equipment is not suitable for mass production.
2. Copying machines can be used to work from a template. By using a template, you can simplify the task of manufacturing similar products. For small-scale production, a manually operated machine is suitable, as it is low cost and easy to use.
3. Milling machines are extremely common today. This is due to the fact that they are widely used in the production of cabinet and flat parts made of wood and metal. There is also a wood turning and milling machine, which can be used to perform various operations.
4. Models with numerical control. In mass production or the manufacture of expensive products, equipment that has a CNC unit can be used. However, the use of a copier significantly reduces the cost of the product.

In addition, the manufacturer paid quite a lot of attention to the degree of protection of the machine from environmental influences. For example, the engine has a protection system against overheating or overload, all electronic parts are also protected from moisture and dust.

The only but significant drawback is the high cost of the proposal. A homemade design will cost several times less.