[TheForge] optical trace cutting machine

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

i have been trying to google to find information on optical trace
sutting machines. these are not the typical cnc plasma cutting machines.
there are basically a 1:1 pantograph that follows a line drawing to cut
the part. just a photoelectric eye keeps the cutting machine following
the line drawing.

there are typical less expensive than the cnc plasma cutting machines.
the current plasma cutter is one that i built over many years and it
shows it. also to reduce enviromental concerns we are looking at having
a water table for the plasma cutter.

i have talked with several theforge e-mail list members and i have to
agree with them that i keep falling into the 'i have to do it all
myself' trap. i do not have to build the plasma cutting machine. i do
not even need to have a state-of-the-art cnc plasma cutting machine.
what i need to an optical trace cutting machine. a machine that will
follow a black line drawn on tabloid size paper to cut out the item
required. this is much faster than draw it in a cad program , reduce to
g-code, feed to the cnc machine.

would anyone have some links for information on optical trae cutting
machines?

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>