what happened to this layout square ?

dearchap · August 01, 2024, 11:23:09 AM

Doesnt seem to be available anywhere ?

Jim_Rogers · August 01, 2024, 12:32:01 PM

They (TFHQ) discontinued making it because of the cost from the machine shop making them.

When I bought mine when they first came out the cost was $147. Then they went to $167 then to $197, then to $247. And the machine shop guy told TFHQ next batch will be even more money.

They (TFHQ) felt that no one was going to pay $247 let alone another higher price. So, the stopped making them.

Jim Rogers

beenthere · August 01, 2024, 03:03:05 PM

Might it be something a cnc router could be programmed to make, or possibly a 3D printer?

Is the basic material aluminum? Would plastic from a 3D printer be stable enough for the task?

dearchap · August 01, 2024, 04:14:56 PM

I'm working on a 3d printed design. Would anyone be interested ? I'm in the process of adding an overhang

Dave Shepard · August 01, 2024, 06:44:36 PM

The ubiquitous Borneman layout tool is the one to have. I've added scribe marks to mine to help layout peg holes. I'd love to have a Dutch scaled Borneman, which would be 18"x24".

Jim_Rogers · August 01, 2024, 07:52:48 PM

Quote from: beenthere on August 01, 2024, 03:03:05 PMMight it be something a cnc router could be programmed to make, or possibly a 3D printer?

Is the basic material aluminum? Would plastic from a 3D printer be stable enough for the task?

Yes the base material is aluminum but it is anodized.

When TFHQ discontinued theirs, I copied their ideas of ruler marking along one edge and across the top on one side. To copy theirs exactly my machine shop guy said it would be over $247 each.
So, I only added to rulers along the template. He (my machine shop guy) called this version the "deluxe". I had him make up both the deluxe and the standard.
The original one was over 12" wide. Like around 12 1/2" wide. To reduce costs, I had him make them 12" wide that saved some money to make the ruler markings on the template.

The deluxe version sells at about twice the rate of the standard version. And we have decided to drop the standard version at this current production run. He is making a batch of deluxe as we speak. It could be 20 weeks or more before I see them. And there will most likely be a new cost due to the cost of metal going up.

Jim Rogers