Hello Fellas ,
I have just aquired a Kuhlmann GM 1/2 Pantograph in very good condition . It was one of those can't turn down deals . Now I would like to find out a bit about it and how to use it for home use only .
I am a professional Gunsmith and would like to use it to engrave caliber markings on my barrels . Can I do this with this machine?
I have been reading all I can but there is not a lot of information on the older manual machines. If you can point me in the right direction I would be gratefull. Bison-j

Jim,

I'm not familiar with that unit. I see that it is manufactured in Germany. Below are some specifications that may help others assess its potential.

X-travel: 330 mm
y-travel: 200 mm
z-travel: 250 mm
work table: 500 x 200 mm
template table: 500 x 400 mm
spindle turning speed range: 4200/5400/8400/10000/16800/20000 U/min.
pantographic adjustment: 1:1-1:1000
max. engraving square 1:1: 210 x 210 mm
weight of the machine ca.: 240 kg
dimensions ca.: 1,2 x 0,9 x 1,3 m
electric 380 volt

Thanks David,
The machine only came with one 6mm collet and a few cutters and stylus . It also has a set of New Hermes 5/8 Double line fonts.
I can't quite understand how to engrave on the slight radius of a barrel. I have tried on flat aluminum plate and get a pretty good result. Do you somehow have to manualy hold pressure on the cutter spindle over a radius? Thanks Again , bison-j

Jim,

Unless you have a way to rotate (automatically) the barrel, you'd have to engrave at the top of the curve, where even though only slightly perceptable, the depth of the letter at the center, would be deeper than the tops and bottoms of the letters.

Most often, a single-line typeface would be used, not that double-line Century (probably what you have) wouldn't work.

The other consideration, if you don't have a cutter grinder, you'll want to make friends with someone who does. Routing into steel takes a pretty quick toll on cutters, especially those with small tip sizes, i.e. .010-.015.