I was posting here a while back for info on tracers and pantagraphs.
which leads to wondering about just building something. What I am
trying to do is stack 6 .050 thick brass blanks and at least do alot
of the roughing to match some patterns we have to duplicate. Most have
many tight curves and I usually have to lay a piece out bandsaw as
close as I can and then die file. some of these are alot of work and
not cost efficient. These are patchboxes, toeplates and sideplate for
muzzleloaders if ya know what that is.
If I could mill out 75 % and then go in with saw to get sharp corners
and also have less die filing it would save me ALOT of work.
Waterjets, wire EDM, all that fancy stuff is too expensive. Its either
some cheap system or doing it the same way as before
I wondered if I could make a system using something like Thomson
bearings in the x and y axis with my pattern at say 6 in from my
clamped blanks. And also at 6 in a bearing same dia as cutter as my
guide. I'm wondering about all the vibration and bouncing this is
going to cause at the cutter and how to dampen this. I'm still going
to be die filing a bit all over the parts but the smooter the finish
the easier all round.

The second project is cutting info wood using a router as cutter. We
have patterns and are trying to cut channels for muzzleloader rifle
barrels. Were trying to duplicate some old guns so there are several
different shapes to do. Plan so far is to use Thompson bearings and
run the axis on a tube frame. the y axis runs on the x axis and at
the center is a pivot blank to the left and pattern to the right.
Anybody see any problems with this?
I've used thompson shafting before but we used it just for moving
large objects on frames we build on dip molding machines. I'm just a
lowly machinist and find myself for the first time with out some know
it all engineer telling me to do everything and somehow I'm now the
shop know it all --- God help us