[TheForge] New Member introduction.

[MattCrunk at aol.com]

Thanks all, for the warm welcome and response.  
 
A tattoo machine is really a very simple electric device that has remained  
largely unchanged since it's invention more than 100 years ago. A version of 
the  device intended for use on paper was actually the first electric device to 
ever  receive a US patent.
 
It consists of a frame (the part I want to cast) to which are  affixed a pair 
of electromagnetic coils, a flat spring, an armature bar,  and a set of 
contact points. The tube, grip, and needle bar ( the part the  artist holds like a 
pen when tattooing) are completely separate and not really  considered part of 
the tattoo machine itself(which is sometimes called the  machine head).
 
There are only a couple of critical dimensions on a tattoo machine frame:  
the plane onto which the spring attaches (called the spring perch) and the  
point where the upper contact attaches, and both their relationship to coil  
height and alignment with the tube vice.  Beyond that, the design  is mostly a 
matter of esthetics, ergonomics, or simply tradition. And yes,  there are right 
and left hand models.
 
The tube vice can be any number of different styles, but can be cast as a  
simple solid piece then drilled/cut as required later. In fact all holes  
required in a frame can and should be located and drilled after casting. That  said, 
even the most critical of parts can vary (in casting) as much as 1/4"  or so 
without seriously effecting the geometry of the frame.
 
While I'm only interested in cast frames for my purposes, they can also be  
cut and bent from sheet metal, milled from solid stock, or even welded up using 
 items like nails, spikes, old wrenches, vintage door keys, horseshoes and  
all sorts of other metal objects.  I've even seen a few that were  nicely hand 
formed by blacksmiths.
 
-Matt Crunk
 
In a message dated 12/25/2006 11:23:04 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
phlip at 99main.com writes:

I'm not  a caster, but I've seen tattoo machines/guns made out of an
assortment of  materials, just never paid too much attention to them.
However, since we  have an expert here ;-) why don't you tell me about
them? What bits are  necessities, and in what respect does arranging
them make a more effective  tool? Does it need to be in a pistol
configuration, or is that merely a  matter of general personal
preference, and some folks prefer a wand or pen  configuration? Are
there different sizes for different sized hands? How  about for left vs
right handers?

You're an expert on an unusual  tool, and we're all tool users here, so
please, tell us whatever you think  is important about them.