hi there. this is my first instructable. as an architecture student its cool to do freehand lettering, especially when you do it efficiently. But sometimes, there is a need to jazz up your designs by making those letters mecahnically drawn. .that is, if you have enough time to beat the deadline.

This instructable teaches you guys how to make a lettering machine. a real one would cost you around 1300 pesos..around 26 dollars...

we would make one with 2 hundred pesos...4 dollars....cheap. :)

Step 1: What We'll Need

1. a staedtler, or rotring student compass
2. 2 pieces 1/8" dia. x 1/2" bolts (with nuts)
3.a worn out transistor...or anything that will serve as our handle
4.a push pin
5.a ruling pen (google around so youll know what it is...its pretty "old school"..lets say.. the grandfather of the technical pen..) many school supplies, engineering supplies, and department stores sell them still.
6.extra bolts from ruling pen....find any in your grand father's drafting kit..(or, purchase an extra ruling pen)
7. an electric drill, and a 1/8" dia drill bit (for steel of course)
8.some spacers for our nuts and blots....plastic washers will do good...u could buy these at any radio and electronics supply
9. hack saw
10 extra piece of metal from an old compass
11.some stuff will be mentioned later...:)

Step 2: The Theory: Three Points of Contact

this little thingy were about to make works just like a pantograph...it has three points of contact.
1. the scriber
2. the pen
3. the center of motion ( i just wanna call it that way....its that little "tounge" that fits the "groove" that the lettering template has.)

Step 3: Know What Ur Doin'

know what ur doin'...be careful when using a drill. feel free to ask.

Step 4: Another Angle

the isometric...drawn not to scale.

Step 5: The Distance Matters Negligibly

its a little factor...because its adjustable. but if u want to make sure... ill give it to ya.

Step 6: You Could Make It Look Like the Real Thing If You Want To

google for the real thing and emulate it. but personally, i like to make it ghetto looking....IT CONFUSES PEOPLE lol.... (like: man, what the heck are u doin with ur compass.?)

feel free to ask questions...sorry for the poor illustrations....i just kinda "sketched" them...took me about an hour to finish this whole instructable. ill try to update it, though...

thank u vry much 4 ur tym..

:)