PantoRouter (wood joint milling system)
PantoRouter (wood joint milling system)
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE PANTO-ROUTER (WOOD JOINT MILLING SYSTEM)
Panto router, what is it?
"I call this machine the panto-router because it is essentially a large pantograph mechanism with a router inside. It is used to mill shapes from double sized templates. I originally developed it for routing tenons, but the machine is very versatile and can be used for all kinds of wood joints". These are the words of Matthias Wandel, who developed the first panto router made of wood.
The functional principle of a pantograph
The term "pantograph" comes from the Greek and can be translated as "all-drawing machine". This mechanical precision tool, also known as a "stork's beak", is used to transfer drawings proportionally - whether in their original size, enlarged or reduced. Its mode of operation is based on the principle of line division and parallel displacement.
Parallel displacement means that all lines retain their original length, even if the angles within the parallelogram change. While the diagonals can be stretched or compressed, point Garde load speed (the cutter in the panto-router) always remains exactly in the centre.
The pantograph consists of four legs that are connected to each other by a joint.
The operating principle of the pantograph is based on a central fixed point ( labelled F in the graphic), which serves as the device's pivot point. This fixed point is positioned next to the template or drawing.
- Enlargement: To enlarge a template, the stylus is moved along point A while the pen at point B creates the enlarged drawing.
- Reduction: To reduce the template, the stylus follows the template at point B , while the pen at point A creates the reduced drawing.
This precise scanning and transfer allows drawings to be reproduced exactly to the desired scale.
The pantograph in the Panto-Router works according to a similar principle, whereby the fixed point F is positioned on the base plate of the device.
- Point B marks the centre of the copying pin, which is used to guide along the template.
- Point A represents the centre of the cutter that machines the workpiece.
With this system, the template, which is scanned at point B, is always transferred to the router at point A on a reduced scale. In this way, the panto-router enables precise and reproducible milling work based on the selected template.
Structure and functions of the modern panto-router
Thebaseplate of the panto-router runs on four linear bearings on two guide rails mounted on thebaseframe. Thepantographmechanism and thetemplateholder are mounted on thebaseplate and can be moved in the direction of the milling axis by moving thelever. This movement can be restricted by means of the twostoppers. The milling depth can be set precisely using thescaleon the depth stop and the right-handstopper.
The workpiece is clamped ontothemilling table plate for processing. This can be tilted by up to 90° or positioned vertically using the twoadjustmentangles. To adjust the Panto-Router to the respective thickness of the workpiece, the workpiece (or a piece of wood of the same thickness) is placed between the template holder and the material thickness setting gauge (the setting gauge must be calibrated beforehand). To copy the shape of a template onto the workpiece, thepantographmechanism transfers the movements of the copying pin at a ratio of 2:1 to the Milling motors clamped inthemotor clamp.
Various templates are available as accessories. However, you can also produce these yourself from wood or using a 3D printer.
- Horizontal (MT3H & MT5H) and vertical (MT3V & MT5V) tenoning templates
- Slot templates
- Tine templates for dovetail tines
- Tine templates for finger tines
- Dowel templates
Your advantages:
- Height-adjustable template holder
- Special slot and tenon templates enable fine adjustment of the fit
- Easily adjustable and precise tracing device
- Exact milling motor alignment
- Tiltable machine table made of torsion-resistant aluminium
- Depth stop with scale
- Lightweight, torsion-resistant design
- Horizontal workpiece fixing for larger lengths
- Self-construction of templates allows almost unlimited application possibilities
Areas of application:
- Slot and tenon joints (stud and frame construction)
- Finger and dovetail tines (at regular and freely selectable distances)
- Drilling and grooving for round dowels, wide dowels, external keys, double wedge keys
- Insertion of fittings, e.g. lock cases, furniture hinges, etc.
- Guided free-form milling using, for example, self-made templates
Synchronised and counter-rotation milling
Hand-guided routers can only be used safely in the so-called counter-rotation mode. The router is guided along the workpiece against the direction of rotation of the cutter to prevent the router or the workpiece from being accelerated jerkily by the rotary movement of the cutter.
Counter-rotation vs. synchronisation: With hand-guided routers (illustration A), the manual feed is always in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the router cutting edges.
With mechanical feed (illustration B), as is the case with the Panto router, synchronised routing is also possible. With synchronised milling, the cutter cutting edge rotates in the same direction as the feed. Synchronised milling is only possible if both the Milling motors and the workpiece are firmly clamped.
Synchronised milling contributes to a better surface finish as there is less material tear-out. It also reduces wear on the milling cutter and increases tool life.
Use of the panto router
Dovetail tines (regular spacing):
To produce the dovetails, a copying pin Diameter 10 mm (no. 720643) moves along the vertical grooves of the template. An angle stop (no. 720568) enables the workpiece to be positioned at an exact right angle on the router table. The dovetails are milled out using an 8° dovetail milling cutter. The position and width of the dovetails are transferred to the counterpart by marking. After a Groove-cutting machine has been clamped, the height of the milling comb is repositioned and the bevels are scanned. Once the cutter comb height and the cutter path are set to scribe, the tines are milled out.
Dovetail tines (freely selectable spacing):
The 2-in-1 individual templates enable tine division with even or irregular tine spacing. The individual templates are attached to the template holder of the Panto-Router. The dovetails are milled with the copying pin in the template groove. The dovetails are milled out using an 8° dovetail cutter. To mill out the dovetails, their position and width are transferred to the counterpart. The counterpart can now be milled by tracing the outer contour with a groove-cutting machine. Depending on the groove-cutting machines and copying pin diameter selected, the fit must be adjusted by moving (up or down) the template holder. This gives you perfect dovetail tines, even at irregular intervals, with high repeat accuracy.
Free-form milling with the Panto-Router:
Using self-produced templates (made of wood or from the 3D printer), tenons of a wide range of cross-sectional shapes, nameplates, recessed grips, openings and cut-outs of various shapes can be milled quickly and easily with high repeat accuracy.
Mortise and tenon joints with the Panto-Router:
With the 2-in-1 templates, you can produce perfectly matched mortises and tenons faster and easier than with other methods. The slots are milled with the copying pin (no. 720643) in the template groove. Depending on the cutter diameter, different mortise widths are obtained, e.g. with a Diameter 12 mm Groove-cutters mortise widths of 64 or 38 mm. Without changing the template settings, the copying pin is replaced with a 20 mm diameter pin to cut the outer contours. The tenons are milled without changing the milling cutter. Milling in synchronisation produces tear-free milled edges. Thanks to the individually positionable templates, multiple tenons can also be milled easily and accurately.
Finger tines with the Panto-Router:
The milling comb made of solid sheet steel (no. 720567) enables tines in 6 mm and 12 mm widths. The contour can be scanned with the copying pin (no. 720643). Marking the material thickness makes it easier to set the depth of the groove-cutting machines. With a board width that is divisible by 6 or 12, whole tines are also produced on the outer edges. After one side of the joint has been milled, mill the counterpart. When placing the counterpart, it is shifted by the tine width. A moulding can be used here as a spacer. Perfect finger joints are achieved without changing the template or milling cutter.
Matériau du manche areas of application for the panto-router:
- Routing of tenons on mitres, bevels or shifter cuts (skew mitre)
- Routing of double keyways on mitre joints or butt joints, e.g. Hoffmann dovetails
- Milling of external keys, round dowels, wide dowels such as Domino dowels on mitre joints or butt joints
- Milling grooves for inserting external springs, guide rails or fittings such as mortise locks.
