Thread: Kuhlmann Pantograph Engraver

G'day All,

I've recently acquired a somewhat vintage (1962) Kuhlmann GM0 3D engraver.
The cutting bit is held in the spindle by a small collet which according to the manual is a 'B type' or in other parts of the manual is referred to as a 260b. I only have the one intact collet and would like to be able find some spares.

I'm not really familiar with collet nomenclature other than the ER and 5C types. I'm hoping some of the more experienced members might recognise the Kuhlmann terminology and be able to point me in the right direction to source some spares and alternate sizes. If the numbers don't mean anything to anyone I will take some photos and measurements and come back to the brains trust.

Thanks In Advance,
Simon

Hello Simon,

Welcome to this forum.

You probably have already looked at this site but on the slim chance you haven't it may be of interest - https://forum.zerspanungsbude.net/vi...p?f=13&t=26108

Mention is made of converting the spindles on the Kuhlmann GM1-1 and GM1-2 to accommodate ER16 collets. It might be applicable to the GM0 also?? A dig around amongst the other posts on the site could prove fruitful.

Kuhlmann made some neat gear. (I have one of their old, probably '50s, parallelogram draughting machines stashed in the garden shed. ) The GM0 pantograph is a nice looking bit of kit.

Bob.

Kuhlmann Spindel_GM0-3D.jpg

Thanks for the link Bob!

I hadn't stumbled across that site but it does look like a possible alternative to finding replacement collets. For those who requested photos, hopefully there are some attached below.

Simon

Thanks for the pics. Looking at the collet that you have, if you wanted to keep it original, you might be able to turn down an ER collet to suit. Failing that, do what Bob suggested and modify the spindle to accept the ER collets.
Kryn

Thanks Kryn, I might grab an ER collet and compare the two to see how far different they are and go from there.

I had an opportunity over the weekend to pull the machine down and give it a good clean. After removing the years of dust and scarf it appears to be in pretty good shape. Hopefully I'll have another opportunity in the next few weeks to get it all back together with a bit of fresh oil where required.

Pics below - who doesn't love a scraped surface?

When you see something like that, usually shows quality.
Kryn

HI,
I have acquired a Kuhlmann GM0/10 3D pantograph engraver .
(bench top model)
It is in less than pristine condition. I dismantled the major parts
to get it in the boot of my car.
I am now cleaning it and I am trying to reverse engineer its functions.
Does anyone know where to find a manual?
cheers, NevilleM

Hi Neville,
I have the same machine along with a copy of the original manual. Is there something specific you're wanting to know from the manual? I have been meaning to scan and digitise my copy for longevity, when I do I will try to remember to get in touch with a copy.
Simon

Thanks for replying Simon,
I have the machine in pieces, I am cleaning them and re-assembling them. While I am doing this I am trying to work out how it is used. There are calibration marks on the spindle assembly that relate in some way to small adjustments of depth,
and a toggle that lifts and drops the cutter, but there are functions there which I have not worked out.
I have a Gravograph pantograph engraver for which I have built many attachments, but I obviously needed a real machine for making my clock parts and tools.
There are some puzzling flats on the machine as if there are other attachments that can be used on it. There is a spike on the top of spindle that seems to have a function, maybe for setting it up.
The whole manual is what I think I need, but it is quite a task to scan it. If you do scan the manual, make sure it is at a reasonable definition. Once it was difficult to send big documents by email, but I am sure the world has got past that now.
The machine is a suitable size to mount my dividing head/rotary table on it. It does not however have screw feeds on the axis, and an auxiliary machine slide may help me.
cheers, Neville.

Originally Posted by SJW

Hi Neville,
I have the same machine along with a copy of the original manual. Is there something specific you're wanting to know from the manual? I have been meaning to scan and digitise my copy for longevity, when I do I will try to remember to get in touch with a copy.
Simon

Originally Posted by NevilleM

Thanks for replying Simon,
I have the machine in pieces, I am cleaning them and re-assembling them. While I am doing this I am trying to work out how it is used. There are calibration marks on the spindle assembly that relate in some way to small adjustments of depth,
and a toggle that lifts and drops the cutter, but there are functions there which I have not worked out.
I have a Gravograph pantograph engraver for which I have built many attachments, but I obviously needed a real machine for making my clock parts and tools.
There are some puzzling flats on the machine as if there are other attachments that can be used on it. There is a spike on the top of spindle that seems to have a function, maybe for setting it up.
The whole manual is what I think I need, but it is quite a task to scan it. If you do scan the manual, make sure it is at a reasonable definition. Once it was difficult to send big documents by email, but I am sure the world has got past that now.
The machine is a suitable size to mount my dividing head/rotary table on it. It does not however have screw feeds on the axis, and an auxiliary machine slide may help me.
cheers, Neville.

One question that i have, does the manual describe making negative copies? If the follower traced the underside of a pattern the workpiece would have hollows where there was a ridge. When pressed into sealing wax, the workpiece
would show the same shape as the pattern. It would also mean that writing would not be reversed when the workpiece is used as a punch. Or maybe this is too hard for a pantograph engraver.
NevilleM

G'day Neville,
Give me a week or two and I will scan the manual for you, can either email or drop off a hard copy if that's easier? Which part of Sydney are you in?

The 'spike' on top of the spindle is a nifty little feature to allow engraving on a curved surface, there will be another heavy cast iron arm you will need to take advantage of this feature. You may even have a variety of different shaped 'spikes' for differing surface shapes. I'm sure the picture will make much more sense.

As far as the negative copies go; I think I know what you mean and yes I think the manual describes just what you're looking to achieve. I'm not home at the moment to get the manual otherwise I'd send you a quick photo.

While we're going, I've got a small request. I'm still not sure that I have all of the parts for my stylus holder, any chance I could trade a copy of the manual for a few photos of your stylus setup?

All the best,
Simon

Hi Simon, I live at Beacon Hill, next to Frenchs Forest on the Northern Beaches.
It would be really great to get a manual and find out the different features and methods. Email is a good method to send it.
Even individual copies of each page as JPGs would work.
I have not investigated the stylus, I will have a look tomorrow. Anything that I can photograph is no problem.
cheers, Neville

Hi Simon,
I dismantled the stylus assembly and found that the arm holds a 30.0mm diameter assembly.
Within the 30mm assembly there is a simple chuck for holding 12.0 mm diameter stylus or stylus holder.
In the 12mm chuck there is a simple 6.0mm chuck that holds the stylus.
So there is a choice of 12mm or 6mm styli. I suppose for a physically big job you would want the rigidity
of the 12mm stylus if it needed to be quite long.

Originally Posted by NevilleM

Hi Simon, I live at Beacon Hill, next to Frenchs Forest on the Northern Beaches.
It would be really great to get a manual and find out the different features and methods. Email is a good method to send it.
Even individual copies of each page as JPGs would work.
I have not investigated the stylus, I will have a look tomorrow. Anything that I can photograph is no problem.
cheers, Neville

Hi Simon,
Thought that I had sent you a reply, and it was really good, but it seems to be lost.
The stylus holder is 30mm diameter, and has a 12mm simple chuck for holding a 12mm stylus rod,
or a smaller simple chuck to hold a 6mm stylus rod.
See the pictures if I can make them stick to this reply,
cheers, NevilleDSC_9473 copy.jpg

Hi Simon, I will try to get another image up,
NevilleDSC_9471 copy.jpgDSC_9474 copy.jpg