Router Thing-a-Jig

[Dragon]

Hope this is the right forum for this one. I'm looking to build, construct, cobble together, etc. a fixture/device for affixing a router so that I can use said router more or less as a hand operated CNC type of tool. I want to be able to access the entire surface area of a given chunk of wood without need for repositioning the material. Something similar to a panel cutter like they have at Lowe's or Home Depot but in a horizontal plane as opposed to vertical. Preferably, it would be adjustable for thickness of the work surface from 0 to about 48" or so, something along the lines of 3' by 6' on the horizontal, and portable so that I could move it off my workbench when not using it.

Any ideas, suggestions, or leads are welcome. I have the "idea" in my head but can't wrap my noggin' around it well enough at the moment to verbalize it in such a way as to make a machinist get the gist of my mental imagery. I've seen something along the lines of what I have in mind but can't recall where or what exactly the device was designed for.:BangHead:

 

[DaveO]

David even though the router is a hand held tool, the Hand Tools forum is more commonly used for tools without tails. I moved your thread over to the Power Tools forums as some of the Normites around here won't venture down into the Neanderthal world.

It sounds like what you are looking for/to make is a more versatile router sled. Router sleds are often used to allow a router to work across a wide work piece, like flattening a work bench top. They consist of two horizontal rails that are set level to each other. And the router sled which can be as simple as a piece of plywood long enough to span the rails at both extremes. A plunge router can give you some up and down movement of your bit.
The work piece is anchored between the rails and under the sled.
To improve on this concept you could build a bench with adjustable side rails that would stay parallel with each other to deal with different stock thicknesses. Your router sled would remain the same but could be beefed up with some sag support and possibly a collet extension to give you more range from the plunge mechanism.
There are also plans for shop built panel saws which could just as easily be used with a router as a circ. saw. But they are designed to move smoothest in only the X and Y planes and wouldn't do well in the Z plane (think of an EtchaSketch)


Dave

 

[Dragon]

Sounds like you've given me something to work with here. I'll haf'ta have a look into that sled idea. (off to the www I go)

 

[Mike Davis]

An X-Y sled shouldn't be too hard to cobble together.

Z will cost you.

I would get a good plunge base and build off of that.

Aluminum Structural Framing from Bosch would make great rails.

here's a link to the manufacturer...

Bosch

 

[Dragon]

An X-Y sled shouldn't be too hard to cobble together.

Z will cost you.

I would get a good plunge base and build off of that.

Aluminum Structural Framing from Bosch would make great rails.

here's a link to the manufacturer...

Bosch

Thanks for the link info. Will check into that........