A few years ago (1978!) I watched an engraver at work and he told me that his machine was called a "patterngraph". I've tried to find something similar without success, until recently. Broadening my search, I found it is actually called a "pantograph", and can be made to transcribe patterns or templates so a router can cut them.
Here is a fascinating video on how to make one. My thought is to use it for cutting holes for speakers, but I think with a bit of ingenuity it may work well for inlays too!
http://woodgears.ca/pantorouter/
Here is a fascinating video on how to make one. My thought is to use it for cutting holes for speakers, but I think with a bit of ingenuity it may work well for inlays too!
http://woodgears.ca/pantorouter/