Office Sketch-O-Graph
This is a rendition of an old style sketch tool using *mostly* office equipment.
(You could make it using only office equipment - but the nuts and bolts hold things together better and make for a more accurate copy.)
It can be used to trace drawings and even enlarge or reduce drawings.
This one is made from:
- 4 x wooden (30cm) rulers
- 3 x nuts and bolts
- 2 pens
- a blob of Blu-Tack ( putty like substance that sticks to things)
- you will also need a drill and drill bit to make the holes.
(You could make it using only office equipment - but the nuts and bolts hold things together better and make for a more accurate copy.)
It can be used to trace drawings and even enlarge or reduce drawings.
This one is made from:
- 4 x wooden (30cm) rulers
- 3 x nuts and bolts
- 2 pens
- a blob of Blu-Tack ( putty like substance that sticks to things)
- you will also need a drill and drill bit to make the holes.
Drill the Holes in the Rulers
Use a drill bit that is slightly larger that the pens that will be going through the holes.
( Make sure that the bolts fit through and can be fastened as well)
Drill 3 holes in each ruler. One at each end and one in the middle.
Be careful - start drilling slowly as the thin wooden rulers can split easily.
( Make sure that the bolts fit through and can be fastened as well)
Drill 3 holes in each ruler. One at each end and one in the middle.
Be careful - start drilling slowly as the thin wooden rulers can split easily.
Fit the Pieces Together
Layout the rulers as shown and fix with the nuts and bolts.
If your rulers are curved on one side, be sure to put the flat sides together. They will work better that way.
In this configuration it will trace a drawing at the same size as the original.
Along the bottom of the device, the tracing pen is on the left, the middle joint is used to stick the device to the table as a reference (pivot) point.
The pen on the right is the drawing pen.
If your rulers are curved on one side, be sure to put the flat sides together. They will work better that way.
In this configuration it will trace a drawing at the same size as the original.
Along the bottom of the device, the tracing pen is on the left, the middle joint is used to stick the device to the table as a reference (pivot) point.
The pen on the right is the drawing pen.
Use the Device to Trace!
To use the sketch-o-graph, ensure that the center pivot is stuck firmly to the table ( it even helps to hold this in place while tracing).
Trace the image on the left with the tracing pen and you will see that the image is rendered on the left (usually upside down in this configuration.
If you use a fine pencil you can get a quite accurate tracing.
Other configurations for reducing and enlarging can be assembled by changing the positions of the tracing pen, pivot and drawing pen.
To enlarge:
Have the pivot on the far left, the tracing pen in the middle and the drawing pen on the right will enlarge the image.
To reduce:
Have the pivot on the left, the drawing pen in the middle and the tracing pen on the right.
Have fun!
Trace the image on the left with the tracing pen and you will see that the image is rendered on the left (usually upside down in this configuration.
If you use a fine pencil you can get a quite accurate tracing.
Other configurations for reducing and enlarging can be assembled by changing the positions of the tracing pen, pivot and drawing pen.
To enlarge:
Have the pivot on the far left, the tracing pen in the middle and the drawing pen on the right will enlarge the image.
To reduce:
Have the pivot on the left, the drawing pen in the middle and the tracing pen on the right.
Have fun!