I have been wracking my brain to figure out a cool new project for the summer and I finally think I have found one. I think we could make a great youtube how-to video in the process. We have a little Dremel tool that we have not really used very much, but that can be very useful for a lot of things. It all has to do with a business opportunity we have at Quality Corners. We need to make some small intricate router cuts on the edges of some parts. I figured out how to do it with something called a pantograph. Here is a very cool little java script that gives a good sense for how they work. The concept is that you can engrave two dimensional and carve three dimensional designs using the pantograph. The thing that makes it particularly appealing in this case, is that it is possible to trace a big pattern while cutting a small pattern or trace a big pattern while cutting a small one. It would be very cool to design and build a little machine to be able to make designs and wooden bas-relief sculptures. Grandpa Milo and Grandma Sarah have an amazing bas-relief chest that it would be fun to try to make. I think we might good ahead and jump into making a prototype of a pantograph on Saturday. I am thinking that we can use some drawer slides as a base for our first pass. We will keep you posted.
