Looking for an easier way to transfer/cut plans

[jack10525]

Hello,

Not new here and probably have scratch built several hundred planes. I guess I am getting lazy in my old age but I am looking for an easier way to transfer plans to foam and cut it out. Currently I do the old fashion way of printing out tiled plans, cutting them and gluing them to the foam board and then cutting the foam. This is way too tedious. I have bought speed built kits but the expense is just not worth it anymore. Might as well just buy a bnf. I've got my eye set on the FT 3D XL but it would be a lot of work to scratch build.

 

[Mr NCT]

Hello,

Not new here and probably have scratch built several hundred planes. I guess I am getting lazy in my old age but I am looking for an easier way to transfer plans to foam and cut it out. Currently I do the old fashion way of printing out tiled plans, cutting them and gluing them to the foam board and then cutting the foam. This is way too tedious. I have bought speed built kits but the expense is just not worth it anymore. Might as well just buy a bnf. I've got my eye set on the FT 3D XL but it would be a lot of work to scratch build.

Two suggestions:
Have the plans printed full size at Staples, etc. Their blueprint printing isn't that expensive.
Make a Needle Cutter. Not that difficult to make and not very expensive, lots of modifications and support available AND, as an extra added bonus, it's another rabbit hole to go down.

 

[Merv]

+1 on the needle cutter, I got mine working a few months ago. Well worth the effort, I wish I built one years ago.

Before the needle cutter, I did a lot of planes with a bandsaw. I made templates by gluing the plans to the FB, then I stacked several sheets of FB, to cut multiple copies of a plane at one time. Keeping the top one as a template for next time. Much better than doing it by hand, one at a time. A hand held jig saw would also make quick work of it.

 

[Foamforce]

The needle cutter is great! It’s a fair amount of effort to build it and get it working properly though.

For the traditional way, it helps a lot if you have access to an office printer that does 11x17. Then you only have four edges to join instead of ten.

Then to make it even quicker, since you only have to trim two edges on each sheet, use a framing square. Line it up once and cut both edges quickly.

After you have the sheets taped together, lay it on the foam board and center it. Then hold down one side and flip the other side back. Use a glue stick to apply a little glue between the pieces. Lay that down and flatten it onto the foam board, then flip up the other side and repeat.

Now your plan is attached securely to the foam board and you can cut right through them.

 

[jack10525]

Thank you. I will check out the needle cutter. Sounds like the right tool for the job.

 

[Bricks]

I am waiting with the way robot technology is going maybe we will see a blue prints to finish build all at once.