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A couple of years ago I posted this same question about neck carving macshines and am giving it another go. I fully understand manual carvers can not be compared with CNC, and that CNC is the technology of our time, but don't see myself moving into the CNC world at this point. I have little computer support here and no CNC programming experience.and I'm kinda old to go down that path. If I was younger, then yes. I see somesone selling a manual carving duplicator made by Carvermaster on Craigslist. They don't do instruments, so I can't get real info from them on how it might work for necks. Carvermaster says it will do a great job of carving guitar necks, and that they have sold many of their machines to luthiers, but they can't give me any references to talk to. Anyone used or seen one used? Have a great Holiday Season, Thanks, Bob

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

Can't help with the carving machine but I'm not sure I would put your question in the kit guitar subforum. And you might want to reach out to the archtop builders who sometimes use dupli-carvers to lessen the labor of making tops and backs. Benedetto shows a home made one in his book, I think Siminoff used to use one.

Hi Bob I have no info on the Carvemaster but was curious if you have seen this
http://www.doolinguitars.com/articles/neckdupe/
I built one for guitar necks and it works fine but I quit using it. I like things a little slower.

there were a few carving machines I saw that worked none were perfect
Alred made one that was on slides that worked X and Y used a stylus in the shape of the bit
he used a 1/2 box bit, the verticle was in you hand on a lever . Cave decent results
Hanali Moon hand another design , used a slide table on a drill press with a rotary cutter that look like a large
nutmeg grinder and worked well
each rig has their strengths and weaknesses

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I got a Duplicarver setup from my brother in law with their gunstock attachment, which allowed for longer workpieces, IE guitar necks.
It's a big awkward pantograph type setup, with counter weights, long arms, etc. Like John said, used a stylus similar to the bit shape to pick up on a master and drive a router.

About the same timeframe, I got a Piranha XL (12x24) CNC router that fits on a small benchtop. I've spent 30 years in and around CNC machining.

I pushed the duplicarver into a corner.