Pantograph

A Pantograph is a drawing aid that simplifies the enlarged copying of pictures or figures. It makes a great educational toy for families with children, or for people who are into craft activities like patchwork, woodworking, modelling, etc. The Pantograph is shown set up for threefold expansion (note that when the set up is correct Arms A and C are parallel and Arms B and D are also parallel - you will know if it is wrong as it will not move). Pivots 1 and 2 are permanent and do not need to be undone. Pivots 3 and 4 are moved to select the magnification required ( x3, x4 or x5 ) - the nearer Pivot 2 is to the anchor point the greater the expansion. Using the pantograph is simple. The drawing surface should be about 60cm square with the anchor point located in the bottom left hand corner and taped down. With the pantograph in its closed position, the picture to be copied is placed so that the tracing point (pivot 2) is just on the left hand bottom corner of the picture and the picture is then taped down. Place the blank drawing paper so that the pencil sits just on its bottom left hand corner. Move the pencil end so that the tracing point moves to the top right hand of the picture and ensure that the pencil is still on the blank paper. If so, tape down the drawing paper. Sometimes, depending upon the size of the picture, it may be necessary to overlap the the picture and drawing paper and copy the picture one half at a time.