marking lower

[strongpoint]

I found a french copy of a Hemes. for $450. came with a set of fonts. i'll buy a second set and get some cutters ground up. may as well just buy cutters at $20 each I won't grind them. sharpen yes, grind from solid no.

Any of the bench top models will work with minor mods. the one thats coming is going to need a lift kit to get the vise low enough to clamp a lower in. No big deal. one Saturday and some aluminum risers she'll be good to go.

I'm thinking about going the pantograph route as well; $450 is a damn good price for what you've got there. You mind keeping us updated with how the process of setting up the lift kit goes?

[kcstott]

I'm thinking about going the pantograph route as well; $450 is a damn good price for what you've got there. You mind keeping us updated with how the process of setting up the lift kit goes?

Why?

I'm going to machine some blocks, and be done, Raise it enough to the point I have to shim the part up. should be about 1 hour's worth of math and drawing and four hours machine time maybe six.

mount it up and test run it.

I've already got the engraving process down. I have good sharp cutters that have been test run and engrave very clean lines. I have a full set of fonts and digits.
The machine is ready to roll if a lower could fit under the cutter. So I need to make some 2" riser blocks and get some longer bolts and maybe dowel pin it just for GP.

[ar15barrels]

Why?

I'm going to machine some blocks, and be done, Raise it enough to the point I have to shim the part up. should be about 1 hour's worth of math and drawing and four hours machine time maybe six.

mount it up and test run it.

I've already got the engraving process down. I have good sharp cutters that have been test run and engrave very clean lines. I have a full set of fonts and digits.
The machine is ready to roll if a lower could fit under the cutter. So I need to make some 2" riser blocks and get some longer bolts and maybe dowel pin it just for GP.

I have a Hermes pantograph that is for flat work that needs lift blocks on it.
A buddy wanted to play with it and I think he did end up lifting it up as he has done some engraving with it on his projects.
I should probably go see how he has it all setup now...

[orbust]

80percentarms is an FFL and is providing engraving for 30 dollars per lower I just confirmed. He said they are a bit backed up with orders right now.

[strongpoint]

Why?

Mostly because I'm interested in a pantograph engraver, but I figure I would need to rig up something like what you're describing in order to fit a lower underneath the cutter. And being that you're way more knowledgeable and experienced than I am (which I think is the case with a lot of other readers in this subforum as well), I'd like to see how you solve the problem.

[kcstott]

I have a Hermes pantograph that is for flat work that needs lift blocks on it.
A buddy wanted to play with it and I think he did end up lifting it up as he has done some engraving with it on his projects.
I should probably go see how he has it all setup now...

Found out mine is a French made Scripta brand GP model pantograph. Neat little unit, I would much rather have a Hermes, but this one was complete and 1/3 the price of a hermes so I took a chance. Yours is probable 1/4" cutters too. which makes it much easier to get tooling for.

Mostly because I'm interested in a pantograph engraver, but I figure I would need to rig up something like what you're describing in order to fit a lower underneath the cutter. And being that you're way more knowledgeable and experienced than I am (which I think is the case with a lot of other readers in this subforum as well), I'd like to see how you solve the problem.

Ok well I thought the process was pretty straight forward in the explanation. but sure when I get the blocks made and done, I'll post up before and after picks. little how to, and what needs to be paid attention too.

1911's and Sig frames can be clamped as it sits in a stripped condition. i.e. no grips or grip bushings, sigs would need a few more parts removed to get a flat surface to clamp on

Ar's and AK's are going to require some fixturing and at least 3/4" lift more if the fixturing is thick, but thats no big deal, just some aluminum plate and some milling. I've already got one fixture made that is a AK and AR fixture for the FCG holes made out of steel plate. it all works off dowel pins. and you just set up the dowel pins in the correct position for the application.

[ar15barrels]

Found out mine is a French made Scripta brand GP model pantograph. Neat little unit, I would much rather have a Hermes, but this one was complete and 1/3 the price of a hermes so I took a chance. Yours is probable 1/4" cutters too. which makes it much easier to get tooling for.

I picked it up on Craigslist for around $120 with a couple fonts.
It's about 24" square and has a vise with replaceable jaws in the table and then a font table with room for 3 or 4 rows of 1" tall fonts.
I think the cutters are 3/16" or 1/4"
And I have a couple dozen of all different radiuses.

[kcstott]

I picked it up on Craigslist for around $120 with a couple fonts.
It's about 24" square and has a vise with replaceable jaws in the table and then a font table with room for 3 or 4 rows of 1" tall fonts.
I think the cutters are 3/16" or 1/4"
And I have a couple dozen of all different radiuses.

Damn that was a hell of a deal. now i feel like I got ripped off.