GB2405368A

GB2405368A - Three-dimensional duplicating router

Info

Publication number: GB2405368A
Application number: GB0320114A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Hughes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-27
Filing date: 2003-08-27
Publication date: 2005-03-02
Also published as: GB0320114D0

Abstract

The duplicating router follows the outline of an article and produces a three-dimensional reproduction of that article on a workpiece. The article to be reproduced and the workpiece are releasably secured to a platform (4, fig. 1). A frame (2, fig. 1) supports guide means (6, 8, fig. 1) on which a cradle 10 is mounted. The guide means (6, 8, fig. 1) permit sliding movement of the cradle 10 in two perpendicular planes and pivotal movement of the cradle 10 in an arcuate path about the guide means. The cradle 10 comprises a first section having a profiling pin 22 releasably located therein and a second section having means 28 for mounting a router 30. The profiling pin 22 and the router mounting 28 are interconnected by a rod 32 which translates rotational movement of the profiling pin 22 into a similar movement of the router 30.

Description

THREE-DIMENSIONAL DUPLICATING ROUTER

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional duplicating router.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a duplicating router that follows the outlines of an object of art or other article and produces a three-dimensional reproduction of such article on a workpiece.

For many years, there has been a need for arrangements which follow the contours of an article to be reproduced and produce a three-dimensional to reproduction of such article on a workpiece, which is typically a relatively soft material, e.g. wood, plastic or soft metal. Generally, with such arrangements, a stylus or profiling pin is used to contact the article to be reproduced, which is connected to a router and routing bit to remove material from the workplace to enable reproduction. One such prior art arrangement is disclosed in Is US 4,078,474 which describes a router directly linked to a stylus on a horizontal shaft; the horizontal shaft is, in turn, mounted for rotation on a wheeled transverse shaft. The stylus and router can then be moved vertically in an arcuate path about the horizontal shaft to permit movement in three dimensions.

The arrangement disclosed in US 4,078,474 permits movement in three degrees of freedom such that the router and stylus can be moved to any point contained within the shafts in three dimensions. However, the router and stylus are rigidly fixed and cannot be moved in roll, pitch or yaw motions (i.e. rotational movements) outside of these three dimensions. As intricate designs on articles to be reproduced are often highly textured and decorative, these would be impossible to duplicate using this prior art technique.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional so duplicating router suitable for home workshop use or commercial use. The interconnection between the router and profiling pin is such that rotational movement of the router is possible which enables even greater flexibility and improved overall workplace appearance, where texturing or undercutting of the article to be reproduced is required. The present invention enables three-dimensional carving to be performed with the least number of changes of router bit.

According to the present invention there is provided a duplicating router suitable for following the contours of an article to be reproduced and producing a three-dimensional reproduction of such article on a workpiece, comprising: to a platform, which allows said article to be reproduced and said workplace to be releasably secured thereon; a frame, supporting guide means providing slidable movement in two perpendicular planes; and a cradle, pivotably connected to said guide means providing pivotal movement in an arcuate path about said guide means, said cradle further comprising a first section having a profiling pin releasably located therein and a second section having router mounting means suitable for accepting a router and bit therein, said profiling pin and said router mounting means being interconnected to permit rotational movement therebetween.

In a preferred embodiment, said platform is fabricated from sheet metal or wood, and having a plurality of apertures situated at regular intervals. In one embodiment, the plurality of apertures are threaded and threaded clamps are used to secure the article to be reproduced and said workplace to the platform. In a further embodiment, the article to be reproduced and said workplace are secured using dowelled keepers.

In use, the frame may be fabricated using square or rectangular steel or aluminium sections. The guide means is fabricated using two parallel so shafts mounted on the frame at a fixed height above the platform. On these two parallel shafts, linear bearings are slidably mounted that are, in turn, secured to a further shaft interposed therebetween. Such configuration provides slidable movement in two perpendicular planes above said platform.

Further, in use, said cradle is counter-balanced by a suitable weight placed on the other side of said guide means so as to allow ease of use by the operator. Preferably, said router mounting means is suitable for securing any standard router and router bit and, in use, the router mounting means comprises a European standard 43mm collar, but could be adapted to carry any type of router. Further preferably, the profiling pin is located in a chuck in JO said first section of said cradle and the profiling pin is changeable for different duplicating applications.

The advantages of the present invention are that a three-dimensional duplicating router is provided suitable for home workshop use or commercial use. The interconnection between the router and profiling pin is such that rotational movement of the router is possible which enables even greater flexibility and improved overall workplace appearance, where texturing or undercutting of the article to be reproduced is required. The present invention enables three-dimensional carving to be performed with the least number of changes of router bit.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specifically described herein.

A specific non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the three-dimensional duplicating JO router according to the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates further detail of how the carving cradle is configured. i

Referring now to the drawings, a router for three-dimensional reproduction of articles is illustrated in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the present invention is implemented using a frame 2 and platform 4 having two parallel shafts 6 mounted on columns using shaft mountings 14 at a fixed height above the platform 4 and parallel to the platform 4 running in the 'X' direction. On these shafts 6, linear bearings 16 are mounted running in the 'X' direction. Connected to these linear bearings 16 are mountings 18 which connect the 'Z' direction shaft 8 to the 'X' direction shafts 6. The mountings lo 18 prevent movement to the 'Z' direction shaft 8 in the 'Z' direction and ensure that the 'Z' shaft 8 remains at 90 to the 'X' shafts 6. In use, such a configuration provides slidable movement in two perpendicular planes (i.e. the X' and 'Z' directions) above the platform 4.

Is Mounted on the 'Z' direction shaft 8 are two linear bearings in housings which firstly permit slidable movement of the carving cradle 10 in the 'Z' direction. Arms from these housings 20 are connected to the carving cradle via ball races 38. The combination of the two sets of bearings 20, 38 allows the cradle 10 to rotate about the 'Z' direction shaft 8 which permits movement of the cradle 10 in the 'Y' direction. The cradle 10 is also able to rotate about its own 'Z' axis (i.e. a yaw rotation about the 'Z' axis) via ball races 38. So as to allow ease of use by the operator, the weight of the carving cradle 10 is counter- balanced by a suitable weight 12.

Further detail of the carving cradle is shown in Figure 2. The carving cradle 10 is a rigid frame that is divided into two sections. In one section there is mounted a shaft connected to the frame via two ball races 36 which allows the shaft to rotate about the 'X' axis, a second shaft mounted at right angles to the first shaft carries a chuck 24 in which the profiling pin 22 is secured. In the JO other section of the cradle is the router mounting 28 in which a router 30 and bit 26 are secured. This mounting 28 is connected to the frame as above allowing the mounting to rotate about the 'X' axis. l

The profiling pin 22 and the router mounting 28 are connected to each other via a rigid rod 32 provided with clevis mountings 34 and ball races 36 that translates any movement of the profiling pin 22 about the 'X' axis into a similar movement at the router mounting 28 (i.e. a roll rotation about the 'X' axis). The rigid rod 32, clevis mountings 34 and ball races 36 in combination with the two sets of bearings 20, 38 also allow the profiling pin 22 and router mounting 28 to rotate about its own 'Y' axis (i.e. a pitch rotation about the 'Y' axis). In this configuration, the profiling pin 22 and router mounting 28 are to able to move in all possible motions relative to the workplace (not shown) and article to be reproduced (not shown).

The router mounting 28 carries the router 30 (the mounting shown is for the European standard 43mm collar, but could be adapted to carry any type of router). It is the router bit 26, set at the same height above the platform 4 and with the same shape as the profiling pin 22, guided by movements from the profiling pin 22 following the contours of the article to be reproduced (not shown), that removes material from the workpiece (not shown).

to Various alterations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A duplicating router suitable for following the contours of an article to be reproduced and producing a three-dimensional reproduction of such article on a workpiece, comprising: a platform, which allows said article to be reproduced and said workplace to be releasably secured thereon; a frame, supporting guide means providing slidable movement in two perpendicular planes; and a cradle, pivotably connected to said guide means providing pivotal movement in an arcuate path about said guide means, said cradle further comprising a first section having a profiling pin releasably located therein and a second section having router mounting means suitable for accepting a router and bit therein, said profiling pin and said router mounting means being interconnected to permit rotational movement therebetween.

2. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 1, wherein said platform is fabricated from sheet metal or wood and having a plurality of apertures situated therein at regular intervals.

3. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of apertures are threaded.

4. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 3, wherein threaded clamps are used to secure the article to be reproduced and said workplace to said platform.

5. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 2, wherein said article to be reproduced and said workplace are secured using dowelled keepers.

6. A duplicating router as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said frame is constructed from a suitable box section material, such as steel or aluminium.

7. A duplicating router as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said guide means comprises two parallel shafts mounted on said frame at a fixed height above said platform.

8. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide means further comprises a transverse shaft interposed between said two parallel shafts.

9. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transverse shaft and said parallel shafts are interconnected using linear bearings and mountings to permit slidable movement of said cradle in two perpendicular planes.

10. A duplicating router as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cradle is counterbalanced by a suitable weight placed on the other side of said guide means so as to allow ease of use by an operator.

11. A duplicating router as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said profiling pin and said router mounting means are connected to each other via D: a rigid rod provided with clevis mountings and ball races to translate any rotational movement of the profiling pin into a similar movement at the router mounting means.

12. A duplicating router as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said router mounting means is suitable for securing any standard router and router bit.

13. A duplicating router as claimed in claim 12, wherein said router mounting means comprises a European standard 43 mm collar.

14. A duplicating router as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said profiling pin is located in a chuck in said first section of said cradle and said profiling pin is interchangeable for different duplicating applications.

15. A duplicating router as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.