Turning a hand router into a machine for producing large batches of parts using a copy sleeve

What are copy rings? What are they for and how to use them?

These questions are asked not only by beginners, but sometimes also by craftsmen with experience working with milling tools. What is it?

A copying ring is a device that allows you to process a part with high precision using a template. The second name for the copy ring is copy sleeve. It is mainly used to repeat many of the same type of processing of parts, for example, inserting door fittings: card and hidden hinges, locks, latches and strike plates for them. The ring is attached to the instrument using screws or latches provided in the design.

A copying ring is not always supplied with the router, and if it is, it may not be the right size for your tasks. You can purchase copying rings of the required diameter from a milling tool manufacturer, a template tool manufacturer, or order it from a turner.

In addition to copy rings, cutters with bearings can be used to work with the template. The bearing can be located above the cutter and at its end. The disadvantage of such cutters is the inability to dive to a greater depth to process the part. The depth of processing is limited by the height of the end of the template located relative to the part.

For a high-quality result, you need to take into account several nuances. Select the required dimensions of the ring and cutter, since the dimensions of the milling directly depend on this. The difference between the size of the diameters of the ring and the cutter is laid down during the manufacture of the template. Select a router that has no backlash under lateral and longitudinal loads. The outer diameter of the ring must be centered relative to the diameter of the cutting part of the cutter.

I talk in more detail about copy rings and their use in my video on this topic. To view click here.

Source: yamasterwood.com

What is it and what is it for?

The copying sleeve is a ring that slides along the edge of the template. As a result, the cutter exactly follows the specified contour and does not intersect the marking lines. It is impossible to cut a workpiece smoothly by guiding the tool manually, much less make several completely identical parts.

The copy sleeve consists of a ring and a flange. The axis of symmetry of the device coincides with the axis of rotation of the spindle. The flange is made according to the size of the hole in the supporting plane of the router, and is attached to it. When pressure is applied to the housing with the motor, the working part of the tool is lowered along the guides, perpendicular to the supporting sole.

The cutter ends up below the sole and cuts into the workpiece. The copying ring rests its side surface against the end of the template, preventing the tool from going beyond its boundaries. Using a stencil, you can cut out a design of any complexity onto a part. It is enough to go along the contour with a cutter, then clean the entire area of ​​​​the understatement.

How to make it yourself?

The strength and wear resistance of the metal of the copy ring determines how long the device will last. Power tool manufacturers make their bushings from tool steel. To connect the ring and flange, special welding equipment is used.

At home, you can make less durable, but cheaper devices for the router. To do this you will need a benchtop lathe.

Only a highly qualified specialist can weld together parts of such thickness. For amateurs, it is enough to place the flange on the glue and rivet the thin end of the ring.

How to use such a device for a router?

The stencil is applied to the workpiece according to the markings and fixed. A hole is made with a drill. A cutter is inserted into it and the contour is processed.

In everyday life, groove milling using a copy sleeve is most often used when installing doors. Craftsmen cut out grooves for handles and locks on site with high precision, and make lowerings for canopy slats.

In carpentry workshops, decorative furniture elements are cut out using a template. Using shaped cutters, a carpenter produces batches of parts with complex patterns. The copying sleeve makes it accessible and simple to select grooves and recesses of any configuration. It is enough to make the template correctly and adjust the processing depth.

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Choices.

If you need a tool for a variety of household work that does not require high precision and quality of milling, [url=»https://www.dns-shop.ru/catalog/17aa290e16404e77/frezery/?f=3550-8000]basic model will suit you priced from 3500 to 8000 rubles.

If you are going to use a router professionally for the manufacture of furniture or interior doors, pay attention to [url=»https://www.dns-shop.ru/catalog/17aa290e16404e77/frezery/?f=8000-20000]models from manufacturers specializing on the release of a professional instrument. Such a router will cost from 8,000 to 20,000 rubles, depending on the characteristics and configuration.

If you are going to use a router for metal work, you should pay attention to models with a high speed. Such a tool can be selected in the price range from 3,800 to 13,000 rubles.

If you need [url=»https://www.dns-shop.ru/catalog/17aa290e16404e77/frezery/?f=d0qu-adhy-2mjd]a powerful professional router for working with heavy cutters and large milling depths, get ready to pay 20,000 to 30,000 rubles.

If you are a professional furniture maker and you don’t yet have an edge router, pay attention to this type of tool - it can significantly speed up the processing of edges and provide them with the best appearance. Such a tool will cost you from 7,500 to 15,000 rubles.

What is a copy sleeve used for?

It helps to confidently guide the cutting elements of the router along a complex trajectory, maintaining the distance between the cutter blade and the edge of the template. As a rule, it is used in conjunction with various templates and rules that should be followed along the edge of the part. The outer edges of this instrument necessarily extend beyond the sole of the instrument.

Copy bushings for router

Installation should be done using two mounting bolts. They are mounted in the threaded holes on the base of the router that are available there. There is a separate class of bushings; they are height adjustable. They must be used where a tight fit of the sleeve itself to the template or rule is required over an extremely large area. They are fixed with a clamping screw or screwed in from the bottom of the plate. The manufacturer makes the diameters of the guide surface of the bushing different in size and does this in order to be able to work with cutters of different diameters, as well as create combinations of cutters with bushings. The length of the segment limited by the edge of the template and the cut line is determined by the difference in the diameters of the guide plane of the copy sleeve and the cylinder. When working with a template, you should take this parameter into account. The length of the segment from the sleeve to the cutter is approximately 3–4 mm. This is done in order to ensure the free exit of chips arising during the work process. To protect the workpiece, it is important that the flange and heads of the bushing fastening screws do not extend beyond the plane of the milling machine base. The bushing flange must be flat and fit tightly into the groove intended for it. Before installing the bushing, this groove must be cleared of chips and resin. The thickness of the template plays an important role in the work process. At the same time, it should be such a thickness that the sleeve does not rest against the workpiece. This is necessary so that the protrusion does not spoil the part. With its help, you can mill liners, recesses, and also cut out various decorative elements.

Copy ring for Fiolent router

The copy ring is a round plate with a protruding shoulder that slides around the template when working. In this way, the required trajectory of movement of the cutting element of the milling cutter is ensured. The ring is attached with screws to the base of the milling machine. During operation, the ring protects the template from the cutting effects of the cutter teeth. The copy ring is characterized by such properties as strength, reliability, durability, and wear resistance.

On the Russian market you can purchase these Fiolent products at a low price - about 10–20 USD. e. Fiolent products are budget-friendly and designed for the mass segment of consumers.

Characteristics of milling cutters

Power. Directly determines the limits of the milling cutter's capabilities - the maximum diameter of the cutter and the depth of processing. An increase in power leads to an increase in the weight and price of the tool, so you should immediately determine the requirements for the milling cutter and select a tool of the power that is necessary based on the required processing depth and the diameters of the cutters used.

Spindle rotation speed. The cleaner the processed surface should be, and the harder the material being processed, the higher the rotation speed should be. At the same time, some materials (for example, plastics, tough metals, some types of wood) cannot be processed at very high speeds. Some types of nozzles also have their own speed requirements. Based on the above, if the router is intended to be used for various operations or with different types of materials, then you should choose a model with speed control. It should also be borne in mind that the spindle speed may drop under load; to prevent this phenomenon, some (mostly professional) models are equipped with the option of maintaining speed under load.

To prevent jerks when starting the engine, there is a soft start - milling cutters equipped with this function, although they will cost more, will last longer by reducing the adverse effects on the engine. And there will be less risk of damaging the part due to a sharply moving cutter.

Also, to extend the service life of the tool, there is an overload protection that comes into effect when the permissible engine temperature is exceeded. This function can be implemented in different ways - from LED indication to forced power off, but in any case it will not be superfluous.

Collet size. The larger the cutter, the thicker and stronger its shank, and, accordingly, the larger the diameter of the collet chuck should be. As a rule, powerful milling cutters are equipped with chucks of maximum diameter. However, the kit often includes several replaceable collet chucks. And, even if they are not included, they can usually be purchased separately. As a last resort, you can use an adapter coupling to install a cutter of the wrong diameter into the chuck. The cutter is secured to the chuck using two open-end wrenches, usually included in the package. If the router is equipped with a spindle lock , only one key will be needed when replacing the router.

Maximum milling depth. A parameter that directly affects the power of the tool, and therefore the weight and price. Therefore, it is reasonable to start choosing a router by determining exactly the required maximum depth. For most furniture manufacturing work, for example, a milling depth of 45-50mm is quite sufficient.

Since it is not always necessary to mill to the maximum depth, most routers are equipped with a cutting depth limiter , which can be adjusted to a given depth before starting work. With simple basic models, depth adjustment is done rather crudely, often using a simple millimeter scale marked on the rods. Expensive models can boast of special immersion depth meters and accuracy of tenths of a millimeter.

Often cutting is not done to the full depth immediately, but in stages. In this case, it will be useful to have a turret stop for several positions. This version of the depth stop is a rotating platform with stops of different heights. By turning it, you can quickly and accurately change the current milling depth. In some models, the stops on such a stop are made in the form of bolts, by tightening which you can adjust the depth of the milling steps, which increases the versatility of the tool.

Do-it-yourself copying bushings for a router

In some cases, the manufacturer does not equip the milling machine with such an important tool. To make this necessary device yourself, you will need a washer made of duralumin or sheet metal, and a plumbing extension made of metal with a thread. The manufacturing process is as follows:

In this article, we tried to briefly highlight the key points regarding bushings, talked about the method of their manufacture, and talked a little about such a useful tool as a copying ring.

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Features of copy rings

Copy rings are a round plate that has a protruding shoulder.

When the equipment is operating, the collar slides around the template.

With the help of this component, the necessary trajectory of the cutter is ensured.

The mounting location for this device is the base of the router.

Various methods can be used to attach it.

Most often it is screwed into the hole with a thread.

Some copying rings are equipped with special antennae that are inserted into special holes when they are attached to the cutters. Copy rings can also be screwed on. Screws are most often used for this purpose.

When choosing this device, it is imperative to pay attention to its size. In terms of its diameter, it should match the diameter of the cutter as accurately as possible.

In this case, the selection of the ring is carried out in such a way that its diameter does not come into contact with the cutting parts of the cutter. To compensate for the diameters between the ring and the cutter, templates are selected so that they are smaller than the finished parts.

Varieties of attachments for working with templates

Regardless of which router you choose, using a specific router attachment is important.

Today there are quite a lot of such attachments. Therefore, in order to get a high-quality result, you need to think carefully about which one to choose for processing your parts.

There are several types of attachments that will help you make it easier to work on individual sections of a wooden piece. So, while cone cutters are capable of creating a certain angle in wood, disc cutters are an excellent choice for cutting parts at right angles. For roundings, molding type attachments are used. But rebated and profiled attachments are perfect for artistic finishing of wood parts.

There are also very complex parts. Here it is necessary to carry out milling over them in combination, using one or another type of cutter. In this case, even for the same area, several different nozzles can be used. Usually such complex works have a certain artistic value. At the same time, if you do not have the opportunity to use different attachments, you can limit yourself to one main one. But in this case, the work will be long and will require much more painstaking work from you.

So, the main points on working with templates for wood milling have been discussed. If you take into account the above tips and sequence, carry out milling carefully and don’t rush anywhere, you can achieve good results and get beautiful, identical parts.

Buying a bushing.

The bushings are usually made of brass or steel. Honestly, I don't think one material has a huge advantage over the other. A router with a brass guide bushing is less likely to damage the router bit. Let's take a closer look at the type of brass bushing. Many steel guide bushings are stamped and do not have much precision, so they can result in inaccurate milling. Brass bushings can be shifted in order to correctly position themselves at the base of the router and coordinate the position of the bushing with the center of the cutter. This is important and always gives accurate results; such a bushing solves the problem of centering on the base of any router model.

A router with a guide bushing is required in templates where dovetail cutters are used. The jig kit often already includes the correct guide sleeve for use.

Often, the manufacturer of template rulers such as dovetail grooves will do the work of selecting the correct ruler and guide sleeve (photo on the left). If you want to use your own tools that use bushings, then match the two diameters, cutters and bushings before using them. As a rule, when routing for the first time, I choose a slightly smaller cutter. This provides the necessary margin, for example inside the groove, during preliminary milling. If you use a router as a slotting device, then you must take into account the size of the offset on both sides of the groove; when milling one edge, you need to take into account the offset on only one side. will always open up new possibilities and I think you'll agree that bushing guides are a great way to do that. They just require a little skill in setting up to make precise connections.

Since the milling machine is a widely used tool among amateur and professional carpenters, additional tools for it, such as copying sleeves and rings, will be indispensable when working.

In this article we will tell you how to make a copying ring for a router yourself, we will figure out what the copying sleeves are for, and how to handle them at work.

Wood bits

The type of specific task and the shape required to perform it significantly influences the equipment used for a hand router. Sometimes it is necessary to create grooves on narrow parts, and standard nozzles are not suitable for such work. In such a situation, you will have to use additional equipment, or make it yourself.

The following factors stand out as distinctive features of additional attachments:

  • The use of specialized equipment for cutters allows you to limit the scope of the tool. This allows you to significantly improve the quality of the finished result (grooves).
  • The design consists mainly of a base, which can have any, even the most bizarre, shape.
  • Two pins are fixed to the base, which limit the movement of the router along the surface. Thanks to them the lines are straight

When making such a nozzle with your own hands, you need to know some subtleties. The guide pins must be located on the same strip with the center of the cutter used in the device. Only then is it possible to make a groove located directly in the center of the end of the material.

Important! Some nozzles are easy to make, but others have a complex shape, so they are easier to purchase than to create with your own hands. Increasingly, in stores you can find universal equipment that is used to create various items.

ManufacturerAnchor
Tool typeDovetail cutters

Cutting modes

In practice, the selection of optimal cutting conditions occurs experimentally, directly during production. This happens because the settings depend not only on the tool, but also on the machine, material, devices (AIDS system: Machine-Device-Tool-Part). However, you should rely on calculated values, which can be determined using lookup tables and formulas.

Feed per tooth

In this article we will analyze in detail what feed per tooth is and how to calculate this parameter.

Application of the ring

When using a milling ring, it is possible to mill according to a template. In this case, the same pattern is copied onto the workpiece.

Performing certain jobs requires not only carpentry skills, but also the ability to handle tools. For example, in order to install door hinges, you need to spend a lot of time.

To reduce it, a hand cutter is used, into which a copying ring is pre-installed. With its help, you can produce the most accurate milling of small parts.

The copying ring is designed to protect the template from the cutter. When the tool operates, a flange slides along the edge of the template.

It should have an optimal size that will allow the cutter to rotate freely during operation. That is why the distance between the cutter and this device is taken into account.

In order to find out the optimal distance between this device and the cutter, it is necessary to subtract the diameter of the device from the diameter of the cutter. The resulting value is divided by two.

This number will become the optimal distance between the cutter and this device. If templates are made that have numbers, then this requires increasing the distance between the cutter, the movement of which is carried out inside the template, and this device. In this case, the template itself should be a little larger.

In order to determine the movement characteristics of the cutter, a distance is added between it and this device. For example, if you use a 12 mm cutter and a copy ring whose diameter is 16 mm, then using this tool you can attach flush hinges for a folding table, the size of which is 30x71 mm.

Once the copy ring is installed, it should move five millimeters under the base.

To make a template, you must use a board whose thickness is at least six centimeters. You need to cut off a small piece from it.

Its size must fully correspond to the size of the tool, which will provide high-quality support. On one side, it is necessary to mark the place where the hinges will be attached.

After this, the distance between the cutter and the copy ring is added in accordance with the above formula.

Calculating the distance between this device and the cutter is quite simple. It can be produced independently, even by a master without relevant experience.

If the copying rings for the cutter are selected correctly, this will ensure the highest quality work.

Milling with copy ring

The copy ring (or bushing for a router) is a steel plate with a round hole in the center and a ring-shaped edge. It allows you to quickly create multiple copies of one part, which greatly facilitates the execution of labor-intensive small jobs, such as installing hinges for a door. In addition, the smooth base of the ring greatly facilitates the work of milling and ensures its accuracy.

One of the purposes of the copy ring is to protect the template from the action of the cutter, so its flange should be of such a size that it can easily move along the edge of the template without slowing down the movement of the cutter. To achieve the desired result, you must correctly calculate the distance between the ring and the cutter. It is calculated by the formula: subtract the diameter of the ring from the diameter of the cutter and divide by 2. If the templates contain numbers, then the calculated distance is added to them.

Calculation example for creating a template

The task is to prepare hinges measuring 30 mm by 71 mm to connect the parts of the folding table. Tools for work: cutter for grooves with a diameter of 12 mm, a copying sleeve with a diameter of 16 mm, when fastened, the ring moves relative to the base by 5 mm. A piece of board about 6 mm thick is suitable for the template. On the prepared base, mark the area where the loops are attached, from which 2 mm are counted (calculation using the formula: (16-12): 2 = 2 mm). Moreover, a correctly made template will be larger in size. In this way you can easily prepare signs with inscriptions and hinges for hanging doors.

The time spent on making the template will later pay off, since it will only take a few seconds to prepare the parts according to the template.

Do-it-yourself copying bushings for a router

In some cases, the manufacturer does not equip the milling machine with such an important tool. To make this necessary device yourself, you will need a washer made of duralumin or sheet metal, and a plumbing extension made of metal with a thread. The manufacturing process is as follows:

In this article, we tried to briefly highlight the key points regarding bushings, talked about the method of their manufacture, and talked a little about such a useful tool as a copying ring.

Ring technique

Copy rings included in the set

The operation of this device is quite simple.

When moving the router along the template, it is possible to obtain a pattern that fully corresponds to this template.

Using this method, you can easily make an eye-catching door sign.

Most often, this method is used when there is a need to install flush door hinges.

In this case, you have the opportunity to produce the template yourself. Several grooves are milled along it, into which hinges will later be installed.

Making a template is a fairly lengthy process. Despite this, the production of the grooves themselves will be carried out within a few seconds.

Very often, a ready-made template is purchased for milling. It must be clamped with clamps.

You need to insert the flange of this device into it, and then just turn on the router. Next, the cutter is placed into the part and the router is moved in accordance with the shape of the template.

Milling of parts using a template is carried out using a fairly simple technology. When milling, the template imprint is not made to the full thickness.

In this case, there is a small distance between such devices as the edge of the template and the milled groove.

In order to eliminate this defect, it is necessary to attach the loop in the appropriate place and circle it with a pencil. It is necessary to determine the distance between the cutter and this device in accordance with the formula described above.

Next, the template is cut out. To sand its edge, you need to use fine sandpaper. Milling should be done in two stages on both sides of the loop.

It is also necessary to cut out recesses for the hinge pins. This will ensure that you can get the same level between the surface of the material and the loops.

Copy rings for a router, a video about which is presented below, are an ideal option for obtaining the most accurate workpieces.

How the ring works

It works very simply: by moving the router along the template (inside, as with numbers, or outside), you can get a pattern corresponding to the template.

This method can be used to make an eye-catching door sign, but is especially useful when, for example, you need to install flush hinges on multiple cabinet doors. In such a case, you can make your own template and mill the required number of grooves on it to install the hinges. It will take time to make the template, but then each loop groove will take only a few seconds. After all, to make a loop groove with a regular chisel, it will take much more time.

Ready template

We bought a ready-made template with numbers. It is very similar to the templates used to draw numbers with a pencil.

Letters made by hand

We clamp the template with clamps, insert the flange of the copy ring into it, turn on the router, plunge the router into the part and move the router according to the shape of the template.

1-2-3

Here's how easy it is to route using a template. Here you can clearly see that the milling is not done across the entire width of the template, and there is a small distance between the milled groove and the edge of the template.

Guide rail

The guide rail, like the rip fence, ensures the linear movement of the router relative to the base surface during wood processing. Meanwhile, unlike a parallel stop, such a guide for a router can be located at any angle to the edge of the workpiece. Thus, the guide rail can provide the ability to accurately move the router during wood processing in almost any direction in the horizontal plane. A guide rail equipped with additional structural elements is also useful when milling holes located in wood at a certain pitch.

Fixation of the guide bar on the work table or workpiece is ensured by special clamps. If the basic configuration of the device does not include such clamps, ordinary clamps will be suitable for these purposes. Some models of guide bars can be equipped with a special adapter, which is often called a shoe. The adapter, connected to the base of the router via two rods, slides along the profile of the tire during processing and thus ensures the movement of the working head of the router in a given direction.

Making a groove with a router using a guide rail

A milling device such as a guide rail is best used in conjunction with routers whose support platform is equipped with height-adjustable legs. This is explained as follows. In cases where the supporting surfaces of the router and the tire are in different horizontal planes, which can happen when the device is too close to the wood workpiece being processed, the adjustable legs of the tool make it possible to eliminate such a discrepancy.

Guide devices for equipping a router, which, despite the simplicity of their design, will be highly efficient in use, can be made with your own hands without much difficulty. The simplest of such devices can be made from a long wooden block, which is secured to the workpiece using clamps. To make this device even more convenient, you can supplement it with side stops. If you place and fix a block simultaneously on two (or even more) pieces of wood, you can mill a groove on their surface in one pass.

Milling along a wooden plank fixed to a workpiece

The main disadvantage that distinguishes the device of the above-described design is that it is not easy to accurately fix the block relative to the line of the future cut. The guide devices of the two designs proposed below do not have such a disadvantage.

The first of these devices is a device made of interconnected boards and plywood sheets. To ensure alignment of this device with respect to the edge of the groove being made, the following conditions must be met: the distance from the edge of the stop to the edge of the plywood (base) must exactly correspond to the distance at which the tool used is located from the extreme point of the router base. The device of the proposed design is used if the tree is processed with cutters of the same diameter.

Device for making grooves with a router

For milling operations performed with tools of different diameters, it is advisable to use devices of a different design. The peculiarity of the latter is that when using them, the router comes into contact with the stop with the entire sole, and not just its middle part. The design of such a stop includes a folding board on hinges, which ensures the correct spatial position of the device in relation to the surface of the wood product being processed. The purpose of this board is to ensure that the stop is fixed in the required position. After this procedure is completed, the board folds back and thereby frees up space for the working head of the milling cutter.

Device with folding bar

When making such a device for a router with your own hands, you should keep in mind that the distance from the center of the tool used to the extreme point of the base of the router must correspond to the width of the folding board and the gap between the board and the stop, if it is provided in the design of the device. If in the manufacture of this device you focused only on the edge of the cutter and the edge of the groove that needs to be formed with its help, such a device can only be used with cutters of the same diameter.

Often, grooves in wood blanks have to be milled across the fibers of the material, which leads to the formation of scoring marks. The amount of scoring can be reduced by devices that, by pressing the fibers in the place where the cutter comes out, do not allow them to break off from the surface of the wood being processed. The design of one of these devices consists of two boards, which are connected to each other with screws at an angle of 90°. The width of the groove made in such a device must match the width of the recess created in the wood product, for which cutters of different diameters are used on different sides of the stop.

Another milling device, the design of which consists of two L-shaped elements, fixed to the wood product being processed with clamps, is required for milling open grooves and ensures a minimum amount of scoring during processing.

What is a milling cutter?

A milling cutter is a tool for milling: cutting material with a rotating cutter directed perpendicular to the surface being processed. Using milling, you can obtain straight and shaped grooves and holes of complex shapes in the material; You can profile straight and curved edges. All of the above fully applies to hand-held milling cutters – the tool that will be discussed in this article.

Structurally, a manual vertical milling cutter is designed very simply - the collet chuck is fixed directly to the electric motor shaft, the electric motor itself is placed in a housing that can move up and down along guide rods rigidly fixed to the support platform (sole).

In addition to the most common and universal vertical manual router, there are also several highly specialized types on the market:

Edge milling cutter (trimmer) – as the name suggests, is designed for processing edges. In essence, it is a vertical router optimized for processing exclusively edges. Used by professional furniture makers, it is better for the home craftsman to pay attention to more universal vertical routers.

A lamella router is another highly specialized tool used by furniture makers for selecting oval grooves for lamellas.

A rotary or tile router - this tool is usually purchased by finishing craftsmen for fine work on ceramic tiles.

Although hand routers were originally created for woodworking, modern routers are also capable of processing artificial stone, plastics and soft metals. A router can hardly be called a universal tool, but many operations that are performed with a router are almost impossible to do with anything else. All this makes the router an indispensable tool for any craftsman. Here is a short list of the capabilities of a manual router:

  • sampling a quarter (an open groove - “step” - from the edge of the board)
  • figured or straight edge profiling (furniture façade, table top)
  • making grooves, splines, folds, sockets (to connect parts to each other)
  • production of seats for door locks and hinges
  • cutting out flat parts of various shapes
  • cutting holes of various shapes in flat parts
  • decorative carving and engraving
  • Some models allow grinding surfaces, making paired holes, and milling ceramic tiles. But, although the list of materials processed by hand milling machines is quite large, wood remains the main working material for milling machines. And, accordingly, its main users are carpenters, finishing craftsmen and furniture makers.

    It would seem that since the device of the router is so simple, then the different models should differ in price only slightly, and even then only due to different engine power. In fact, milling cutters of the same power can cost either 6,000 rubles or 30,000 rubles. What is the difference between expensive and cheap models? The quality of the materials from which they are made and the variety of accessories included in the kit. A cast, not stamped, sole, precise positioning of the accessories and the head of the router, light and clear, without play or distortion, the movement of the head - these are the signs that distinguish a high-quality professional tool. Expensive milling cutters are able to provide greater precision and accuracy in processing parts and give the craftsman more processing options. In addition, the professional models add some features that are not found in the basic models.

    Features of the production of devices

    A copying ring is a universal device that is widely used for milling a variety of parts with a high level of accuracy. These products are characterized by:

    Maximum precision in the production of workpieces when using copying rings is achieved thanks to their correct geometry. Copying rings are characterized by the presence of several standard sizes, which allows them to be used for various tools.

    The production of these devices is carried out using universal technology, which ensures their excellent performance. For the manufacture of copy rings, heavy-duty metal is used, which limits the possibility of their breakage during operation.

    Thanks to the presence of a special coating on the products, they are resistant to corrosion and other negative environmental influences.

    Thanks to the ergonomic shape of this device, a high level of convenience is ensured during its installation on the cutter. These devices are quite small parts, which provides convenience during their storage and movement.

    The copying ring is an integral part of the milling machine, with the help of which the most accurate work is carried out. For this purpose, you just need to select the right ring.

    Milling and its features

    Today, many people, when installing furniture, carrying out repairs, etc. need metal or wood processing. Milling is most often used for this purpose.

    This is a process in which metal is cut. For this purpose it is necessary to use a rotating cutting tool.

    Simultaneous feeding of the workpiece is carried out according to the linear principle. Removal of material from the workpiece is carried out using a cutter, onto which a copying ring is placed, to a certain depth.

    When processing material, the work of the cutter can be carried out from the periphery or from the end. When the tool operates, the cutter rotates.

    The copy ring rotates with it. The tool has peripheral and end cutting edges of the teeth, with the help of which milling is carried out. In this case, there is an increase in the cut thickness towards the center and a decrease in it upon contact between the cutter and the workpiece.

    The copy ring is an integral part of milling equipment. With its help, templates are read, which greatly facilitates the process of working with a milling machine. Installation of this device on the router is carried out without the use of special tools, which allows anyone to easily perform this action.

    In appearance, the copy ring resembles a round plate, which is characterized by the presence of a protruding collar. The rings are made of steel, which ensures long-term operation.

    The copy ring is characterized by the presence of an internal and external diameter. The internal diameter of this device is a fairly important aspect, since this indicator is used to select it for a specific cutter.

    With the help of copy rings, a milling machine not only produces blanks, but also rounds corners. To perform this action, it is necessary to use copying rings that match the cutter in diameter as closely as possible.

    In order to make the procedure as simple as possible, you need to use a template. Quite often, an adjustable template is used.

    With the help of copying rings, working with the milling machine is greatly simplified for the operator.

    Despite the fact that these devices have relatively small dimensions and are almost invisible in a milling machine, they allow you to produce a variety of workpieces with maximum precision.

    Instructions for working with templates

    IMPORTANT: BEFORE USING THE TEMPLATE HOLDER FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE RECOMMEND TO MAKE TRAINING INSERTS ON THE BAR OR OLD DOORS.
    The inserts are installed in the template holder so that the inscription is at the bottom. IMPORTANT: the difference in diameter between the copy sleeve and the cutter should be 4mm. See Fig.1

    The difference in diameters (20-16) = 4 mm.

    Offset (distance between cutter and copy sleeve) 4/2=2mm

    An example of the relationship between copying bushings and straight slot cutters

    20mm sleeve - 16mm cutter

    18mm sleeve - 14mm cutter

    16mm sleeve - 12mm cutter

    14mm sleeve - 10mm cutter

    12mm sleeve - 8mm cutter, etc.

    Inserts are designed for copy sleeves no higher than 20mm

    For the depth of the locks, the inserts are designed for a 20mm, 30mm, 32mm copy sleeve and a 16mm cutter. Bushing 30 and 32 are made to allow the collet nut to fit into the bushing while increasing the routing depth.

    Loop insertion. Markings for installing the SD.

    (If you have Vashablon MINI)

    Before you start inserting the hinges, measure the thickness of the door and frame up to the seal; if the size of the door is larger than the size of the frame (Fig. 4), then we begin inserting the hinges from the door. If the size of the box is larger (Fig. 3), then we start the insert from the box. If the door and the frame are the same in thickness (Fig. 2), then you can start cutting in either from the frame or from the door (there will be no difference).

    When inserting loops, the SD is installed at the place where the loop will be inserted. There is an o on the SD, this mark should coincide with the previously drawn line. Then we secure the SD with clamps.

    The door is installed in the StroyProfi door holder, then measured from the top of the door 250 mm (if the hinge length is 100 mm), a line is drawn down with a pencil, the bottom hinge is marked in the same way, the line means the middle of the hinge. Next, we apply the pre-prepared box, with a 45-degree cut upwards, to the end of the door, where the line is located. We measure 3 mm from the bottom edge of the frame to the doors and fix it. We continue the line from the door to the frame from bottom to top.

    (MAXI template) The MAXI template can be installed in 2 ways:

    1 method is described above;

    Method 2: at the edges of the template there are steps with a difference of 3mm. We install the short steps flush with the door, the longer ones - to the frame; if you install this way, you will get a distance from the edge of the door to the hinge of 200 mm. You don’t need to measure anything, the template measures everything for you. This method is simpler and less labor-intensive J.

    Important: the edge of the front side of the SD must be in line with the plane of the door, only after this we fix it with clamps.

    Select the size of the desired insert for the loop. Next, we adjust the platform with the insert. If the difference between the width of the loop and the thickness of the box is 10mm, then set the “loop” risk to 10. Fix it with the thumbs.

    Example: t

    Box thickness - 40mm, hinge width - 30mm. 40-30=10.

    We adjust the router to the cutting depth and mill. We remove the SD, cut out the corners with a chisel and attach a loop. You no longer need to adjust the motor until you finish cutting all the hinges.

    . When transferring hinges from doors to frames, you need to use a measuring ruler, with which you determine the distance from the hinge to the template. After inserting the first hinge, we install the template onto the insert of the second hinge; after inserting, without removing the template, we rest the measuring ruler against the template, and fix the second end on the first embedded hinge (this is the distance we need to transfer the hinges to the frame (door). When transferring, after cutting in the first loop, apply a measuring ruler to the beginning of the loop with the already measured distance, rest the template against the ruler and cut the second loop in. If everything is done correctly, the loop will be cut in like at the factory: evenly, tightly, neatly and beautifully.

    Lock mortise.

    When all the hinges are embedded, turn the door over with the lock side facing up. The distance is measured from the bottom of the doors and the SD is set by sampling on the clamping bar “Center of the lock handle” (picture below) with the center to the mark (if you have a plumbing lock 165-20 and the like), (if you have a magnetic lock 196-18 and the like , then we set double inserts according to the sample). Select the desired “lock face” insert. The platform with the insert is adjustable; if the door thickness is 40mm, then the platform with the insert is set with the “center” mark at 20mm. Everything is fixed with thumbscrews (there is no need to adjust the SD until the insertion is completed). We adjust the router to the depth of the lock face and mill it. Changing the insert

    on the “lock body”, adjust the router to the depth, and mill it. If everything is done correctly, the lock will fit perfectly.

    Transom insert

    We install the SD on the edge of the door (where the crossbar will be located) at the extreme notch on the clamping bar. The center of the sample should coincide with the top edge of the door. We press with clamps. We install the “crossbar” insert; the arrow on the insert should show the direction of the top of the door. We mill the entire depth of the crossbar, turn the insert over and cut in the thin part of the depth. Afterwards we smooth out the transition of depths with a chisel. Install and screw the bolt. The installation is complete.

    Double inserts (reversals) (interior latches, knobs, strikers)

    The center of the double inserts (reversals) is set along the second sample (on the pressure rail) from the edge. We mill the first part, turn the insert over and cut in the second part.

    Assignments of samples on the clamping strips: (old sample template)

    ( in earlier versions, there is no selection" center of the lock handle). You can draw it yourself by taking 35mm from the center to the right and 35mm to the left. This selection is used for plumbing lock 165-20 and similar ones. When inserting, the lock handle will be at the height that you measured).

    On the new version of the template, the clamping bar is informative, all the data is written on it. Let us dwell in more detail only on the side engravings.

    (center of universal inserts)

    The template has an engraving on the sides of the clamping bar “TsentrUV”, many people ask this question. Now we will tell you WHY.

    Mainly intended for universal inserts (UV), these inserts come with radius flags to make insertions of any length of a radius lock. To align in the center, measure the thickness of the door EXAMPLE: door thickness (TD) 40mm. divide by 2, we get a center of 20mm. On the “UV Center” scale we set it to 20. On the movable plate we set the mark with the letter “P” to 2mm on the “center” scale. That's it, the template is set for insertion using universal inserts with radius flags in the center. This procedure also allows you to embed the lock body with thin doors and a 32mm copy ring. without unscrewing or moving the aluminum support angle.

    INSERT OF COUPE HANDLES

    To insert compartment handles, we use the appropriate insert. Pull the pressure rail all the way and clamp it with the wings. We set the movable plate with the letter “P” on the scale to the center position zero (0) and boldly cut it in. Using these procedures, we set the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the insert to 50.5 mm.

    More detailed information on inserts and working with the template holder can be found on YouTube or in the VKontakte group https://vk.com/stroyprofi2010

    (group “StroyProfi, templates for inserting hinges and locks”), our website
    www . template - master . ru
    Subscribe to news and changes, leave your feedback, we will be glad to cooperate with you.

    Exercise

    It is necessary to attach flush hinges measuring 30 x 71 mm for the folding table. We will use a 12 mm groove cutter and a copying ring with a diameter of 16 mm. After installation, the copy ring is shifted 5 mm under the base. The template is made from a board with a thickness of at least 6 mm. We saw off a piece of board large enough to provide support for the entire base. On one side, mark the place for the loops and add the distance between the copy ring and the cutter: 16 mm - 12 mm = 4 mm, which we divide in half. That is, you need to add 2 mm.

    Source

    Set of cutters for router

    Purchasing cutters individually is quite expensive. It's better to buy a set right away. A set, of course, has a higher cost than one cutter, but if you buy the same cutters separately, you will spend much more. There are many such sets and they are sold in any store. Let's look at the five most common sets from:

    • The first set has six edge cutters with radii of 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm, equipped with a support bearing at the bottom. The shank of all cutters has a diameter of 8 mm
    • The second set contains 12 cutters. By purchasing a set, you will receive two edge cutters with a radius of 6.35 and 9.5 mm and with a support bearing; one figured with two radii of 4 mm and with a support bearing; three end mills having a diameter of 6, 12 and 16 mm; one end with a diameter of 12.7 mm; one corner (90 degree angle) with an outer diameter of 12.7 mm. The set also contains one groove cutter with a radius of 6.35 mm; one end radius with a radius of 6.35 mm and a support bearing; one end mill with an angle of 45 degrees with a support bearing, as well as one slotted (dovetail) with an end diameter of 12.7 mm and an angle of 14 degrees. Such a large set will become a faithful assistant to a beginning carpenter, because it will help to implement different types of work on creating simple pieces of furniture
    • the third set contains 16 items. It is very similar to the previous one. In addition to those described above, in the set you will see end mills with a diameter of 3 and 12.7 mm; slotted with a radius of 3.2 mm and a special drill with a diameter of 6.3 mm
    • The fourth set is intended for professional craftsmen. The set contains 12 reinforced cutters with all the functions of the second set
    • The fifth set has some similarities with the fourth, but includes 20 cutters of a reinforced design with a wide variety of characteristics and the addition of an end groove cutter with a width of 9.5 mm and a diameter of 32 mm. The set is also intended for professional craftsmen.


    In addition to the sets described above, there are 10 more sets equipped with cutters in various combinations. The choice of sets is quite wide, any master will choose the right one for himself.

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