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Matthias Wandel’s “carving machine” is the Pantorouter: a template-guided woodworking router for cutting joinery, not a computer-controlled CNC carver. A bearing follows a physical template while a pantograph guides the router bit to reproduce its shape at half size.
What the Pantorouter is—and is not
Wandel describes the Pantorouter as a “template guided router for cutting shapes in wood.” He says he invented and published the original design in 2010, built the Pantorouter XL for plunge routers in 2014, and revised the original design in 2018. The name “carving machine” can be misleading: the Pantorouter relies on a physical template and mechanical movement, rather than computer control or a CNC program. Wandel’s overview of how the Pantorouter works explains the mechanism.
How its template and pantograph guide a cut
The work template sits above the router. A ball-bearing follower tracks the template, and the linked pantograph transfers that motion to the router at a fixed 2:1 reduction: the bit cuts a shape half the size of the one being traced. The reduction is fixed in the design Wandel describes.
For internal cuts such as mortises, the back half of the machine slides on linear guides, while a side lever moves the router’s plunge sled. Depth stops limit plunge depth and travel. Wandel describes using modified drawer slides for the guides and springs, string and cams to counterbalance the router. These are details of his machine design, not specifications that necessarily apply to every version sold or built.
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What joints can it make?
Wandel designed the original Pantorouter to cut tenons and demonstrates mortise-and-tenon joints and dovetails. The commercial PantoRouter vendor lists mortise-and-tenon joints, box joints, dovetails, sliding dovetails, and angled or compound-angle joints. Those are vendor-described capabilities for its commercial machine; check the particular machine version, templates and workpiece limits before assuming they apply to another build. The commercial PantoRouter site describes its machine and accessory categories.
A 2019 Woodworking Network article about the Hybrid PantoRouter describes indexing workpieces for longer box-joint and dovetail pieces and gives a practical workpiece limit of 4 inches high by 8 inches long for that machine. That is a version-specific secondary-source figure, not the specification for Wandel’s original wooden machine. Woodworking Network’s 2019 article and video discuss the Hybrid model.
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- High-Precision Engraving: The CNC router machine features an aluminum alloy body and a 1.57 in (4 cm) heavy-duty base for stability and reduced vibration. The 60W spindle and 32-bit control board deliver ≤0.07 mm repeat positioning accuracy
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Original Pantorouter dimensions and cutting envelope
Wandel’s specifications for the original machine give the following dimensions and limits. The width capacity depends on the router size; the depth of cut depends on the router.
| Original-machine specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall dimensions | 50 cm high × 46 cm wide × 66 cm deep |
| Table | 34 × 46 cm |
| Approximate weight | 18 kg (40 lb) with router |
| Maximum cut height | 8 cm |
| Maximum cut width | 21 cm with a large router; 25 cm with a palm router |
| Cut depth | Limited by the router |
These are the creator’s published figures for the original machine; they should not be substituted for limits on the XL or a commercial model. Wandel’s original Pantorouter specifications provide the figures.
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Router compatibility: check the body and machine version first
The original Pantorouter plans are for routers with cylindrical bodies up to 89 mm in diameter, as well as palm routers. The specifications list an 89 mm large-router option and a 71 mm smaller option, with the Bosch Colt / GKF 600 given as an example. Wandel’s FAQ says a fixed-base router with a 3.5-inch body will fit the original, but fit alone does not establish that a router is suitable for every cut: required power depends on the work. He recommends variable speed and soft start. Confirm the router’s body dimensions and base configuration against the machine version and plans before buying or building around it. Plunge-router users are directed to the Pantorouter XL plans. Wandel’s FAQ addresses router fit and power.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Build from plans or buy a machine?
Wandel sells downloadable plans for the original Pantorouter, and his plans page also links to a prebuilt all-metal machine. The commercial vendor presents its own machine and categories of templates, router bits, guide bearings and accessories. The available sources do not establish a current side-by-side price comparison, stock, shipping terms or availability by country, so check those directly before choosing.
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- 【High Quality Materials】This palm router is made of aluminum and high quality plastic. The handle conforms to ergonomics, which increases comfort and durability.
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- Building: Consider whether you have the time, tools and woodworking skills to make the machine, and whether a DIY build suits your needs.
- Buying: Compare the exact commercial model and its included templates and accessories rather than assuming parts or limits carry across versions.
- Either route: Verify router-body and base compatibility, the workpiece envelope, accessory fit, total cost and availability in your country.
The plans page says its package includes detailed part drawings, 23 drawings and illustrations, full-scale printable templates, assembled-machine drawings, instructions with more than 200 photos, and a SketchUp model. It says the plans are metric except for drill and shaft sizes, and that a French version of the 2010 plans is available. The page lists the plans at $20 USD; that listed price can change. See Wandel’s Pantorouter plans page for current details.
Quick Recap
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- Adjustable Angle Base: Tiltable design with minus thirty to forty five degrees range enables precise bevel cuts and edge profiling for diverse woodworking projects
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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