Portable rail system for mounting an engraving device
A portable rail system for mounting an engraving device includes rails and crossbar members that are precisely joined, and include height adjustment devices for incrementally adjusting the height of the rail system relative to a work surface or contact surface, thus making the portable rail system capable of being assembled and disassembled at a work site to enable the use of an engraving device, such as a CNC router engraving systems, in situ, or on-site, rather than in a workshop. The portable rail system enables the use of a CNC router device or other engraving device on vertical surfaces.
1. A portable rail system for mounting an engraving device used for engraving hard materials in situ, comprising:
two rail lengths, each rail length having a first end and a second end;
at least two crossbars positioned, in use, to each extend between the two rail lengths to position the two rail lengths in parallel spaced apart arrangement relative to each other, each said crossbar having a first end and a second end; and
locating pins positioned at said first end and/or said second end of either said two rail lengths or said at least two crossbars, the locating pins being received within correspondingly positioned bores formed through at least two of said first end or said second end of either said two rail lengths or said at least two crossbars.
2. The portable rail system of claim 1 , wherein said two rail lengths are each formed with a mounting rail positioned along an upper surface of each of said two rail length for slidingly receiving a gantry thereon.
3. The portable rail system of claim 2 , wherein said two rail lengths are each formed with a metering device positioned to engage a gantry mounted on said mounting rail of each of said two rail lengths, the metering device providing measured incremental movement of the gantry along said two rail lengths.
4. The portable rail system of claim 1 , wherein the locating pins further comprise two upstanding pins, and wherein said first end and said second end of each said crossbar is structured with two locating pins.
5. The portable rail system of claim 4 , wherein the first end and said second end of each of said two rails is formed with two said bores positioned to receive therein the locating pins positioned on the first end and second end of said corresponding crossbar.
6. The portable rail system of claim 1 , further comprising a locking member positioned in proximity to said locating pins to secure said two rail lengths to said at least two crossbars when said locating pins are received in said corresponding bores.
7. The portable rail system of claim 1 , further comprising a height adjustment device positioned in proximity to said locating pins for providing adjustment of said two rail lengths and at least two crossbars relative to a contact surface.
8. The portable rail system of claim 7 , wherein each said height adjustment device further includes a securement member to secure the height adjustment device at a selected height.
9. The portable rail system of claim 1 , wherein said at least two crossbars are each configured with a contact surface-engaging device for selectively engaging the portable rail system to a contact surface.
10. The portable rail system of claim 9 , wherein said contact surface-engaging device further comprises one or more suction members.
11. The portable rail system of claim 2 , further including a gantry slidingly received on and between said mounting rails of said two rail lengths.
12. The portable rail system of claim 11 , further including an engraving apparatus positioned on and movable along said gantry.
13. The portable rail system of claim 12 , further including a data storage device in electronic communication with said engraving apparatus.
14. A method for assembling a portable rail system for an engraving device used for engraving hard materials in situ, comprising:
providing a modular rail system comprising two rail lengths, each rail length having a first end and a second end, at least two crossbars positioned, in use, to each extend between the two rail lengths to position the two rail lengths in parallel spaced apart arrangement relative to each other, each said crossbar having a first end and a second end, and locating pins positioned at said first end or said second end of either of said two rail lengths or at said at least two crossbars, the locating pins being received within correspondingly positioned bores formed through at least two of said first end or said second end of either said two rail lengths or said at least two crossbars;
arranging the two rail lengths spaced apart from each other and generally parallel to each other;
arranging the at least two crossbars to extend between the two rail lengths and positioning the first end and second end of each crossbar to align with a first end or second end of the two rail lengths to form a frame;
inserting the locating pins into the corresponding bores to snugly engage the crossbars to the two rail lengths; and
securing the at least two crossbars to the two rail lengths by locking members located in proximity to the locating pins.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising inserting height adjustment devices through said two rail lengths and/or through said at least two crossbars.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said two rail lengths each have a mounting rail connected thereto, and further comprising attaching a gantry to slidingly engage with said mounting rails.
17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising attaching an engraving apparatus to said gantry in sliding engagement therewith.
18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising placing a data storage device in electronic communication with the engraving apparatus and the gantry.