stock duplicator

Build one, if you really need one.

Take a look on Ebay, and other parts of the web, and you should be able to work out the minor details.

A router, some bicycle parts(chain, sprockets), to synch the rotation of the master and the blank, and a bit of space to put it in.

Most, make that all, the ones I have seen seemed to be based mostly on massive profit margin for the seller, as a guiding principle.

Cheers
Trev
 
Item 140291987336 on Ebay.

Looks like about $300 worth of raw materials, and if you cannot figure out how to build it or one like it, from the pictures posted there, you may not ever work out how to use it, even if you do buy it.
I'm looking at the pictures that show the one end and am wondering if the design even uses a synchronized spindles set-up, or if it just uses two idexes, and requires the user to stop every so often and rotate the two spindles the same amount each.

I'm so cheap it hurts, sometimes.:D

You could build one up out of all wood components, including the rails, if you were so inclined.

Supersize the images on the auction, then right-click and save them to peruse at your leisure.
Spending a bunch of money on linear rails and bearings won't make it any more accurate, just less fatiguing to operate day in, day out, in a production setting. Probably not the goal anyway.

Apparently Sears used to sell a duplicator under their Craftsman name, too. Cheap, but not too rugged, either.

Cheers
Trev
 
or build one of these :D
wood20carving20duplicator.jpg
 
cost would be more than $300.00. I have one being designed right now and the bearing for it ,is going to be more than $300.00 . the one on ebay can be built easy ,using skateboard wheels.
 
Referring to the photo in 45ACPKING's post, I bought the plans, to make one of those machines. It is about 98% finished, almost ready to go, once I finish the pattern and work holders. I think it should be a useful machine. Movement of the cutting head is smooth and predictable in the three axes. There are more sophisitcated machines that provide five axes of movement.
In the past, I have used a 12 spindle North Star carving machine. Large, heavy, commercial production machine. No comparison to anything homemade.
Incidentally, these machines aren't like CNC. You don't throw in a chunk of walnut and take out a stock. There is a learning curve to getting acceptable results.
 
Whether you build or buy a ready made one make sure It is set up for a dust collection system.If you are building your own "Linear Bearings" are your friend.
Also Radar Carve or Davis machines are a piece of sh it
 
marba said:
cost would be more than $300.00. I have one being designed right now and the bearing for it ,is going to be more than $300.00 . the one on ebay can be built easy ,using skateboard wheels.
Click to expand...

A $300 bearing?

Good gods man, I hope that is for a machine that you will be making a living with!
Linear rail is nice stuff, if you can get it cheap, but the interest in homebuilt CNC routers has swamped that source. For something as low-tech as a stock duplicator, about as flash a set of rails and bearings I would consider is a stick of PGMS (precision ground mild steel) and some rubber shielded bearings from a bearing house, like BC Bearing. Poor-boy linear rail, tried and proven.:)

I looked at the site for the plywood box one, and the big downer from my perspective on that one, is the amount of space that it would take up in the shop. Most of the metal framed ones can be folded down pretty close to flat, once they are off the table that they are set up on.

You have to spend some serious money, or get really lucky, to come up with a professional grade machine. Most of the hobby machines are pretty poor in comparison.

Cheers
Trev
 
There is more then one bearing on these designed stock machines.The cheaper the bearing ,more fab. work has to be done.The CHEAPEST way is to use 6 skateboard wheels (three on each side) on square tubing ,with gussets on either side and a couple linear bearing on your headrig.You also need some type of bearings on your tailstocks.So ,start adding up the the costs. I have a good stock of dust covered bearings all from BC Bearing , that would work great BUT ,you have mill out something for the bearing to sit.You buy the best and build it once.
 
Whatever you use to make it If the blank can come out of the machine with this quality of finish or better you have a good basis for a machine.
GB-Lam_4_001.jpg
 
joe-boy said:
Nice work RR !! :D

Do you have any other pics of your machine you'd be willing to share ??
Click to expand...

Actually No
Some of it is proprietary ( I may have reinvented the wheel but some of it's my wheel) some of it was designed by another stock maker. I will help you guys what I can .
For example a simple drive system uses 3/4 x 16 spur drive for the headstock and live centers from a wood lathe for the tailstock.
 
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