Author Topic: How wobbly is your CMS? (Read 9507 times)

Paddy R · « **on:** July 06, 2016, 01:25 PM »

Hi, I just bought a stand alone CMS module with router and ts 75 inserts. I am a bit concerned about how wobbly it is. If I push it gently with my little finger it will wobble a good 30-40mm. I repair and fit out boats and have bought the CMS because I have a big fit out job (probably 6 months) and the boat is a good 400 yards from my workshop, I figures that the time spent walking to the workshop and back a million times a day would pay for them in this job (I already have the of 2200 and a ts 75). If needs be I can fold up the legs and make a stand but I am wondering if my unit is faulty because I find it hard to believe that festool would make it so wobbly. I might have to go and find a shop (store) that has them displayed but just wondered how wobbly other owners find theirs.
Thanks Paddy
(This is my first post here, I had trouble registering as there were some prove you're human questions, one of them was what colour is the sky, well I live in the UK and the answer is obviously grey

SRSemenza · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2016, 01:39 PM »

Quote from: Paddy R on July 06, 2016, 01:25 PM

(This is my first post here, I had trouble registering as there were some prove you're human questions, one of them was what colour is the sky, well I live in the UK and the answer is obviously grey

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, the color of the sky does seem somewhat subjective

Seth

Peter Parfitt · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2016, 02:08 PM »

Hi Paddy and welcome

I have a region in my workshop where the floor looks even but it is all over the place. The great shame is that it is right where I like to film so things do sometimes demonstrate a wobble when they should not.

Are you sure that the floor is flat where you are working?

Peter

Shane Holland · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2016, 02:24 PM »

There is one leg with a larger rubber foot than the other three. Turning that foot will help you level the CMS. You may want to give that a try if you haven't already.

Welcome to the forum.

Paddy R · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2016, 02:33 PM »

Thanks for the replies. It's not wobbling like a table on an uneven floor. All four legs are in contact with the ground, it is flexing at the join by the black knobs at the top of the fold down legs. I've clicked it open and tightened them up but can clearly see them moving at the join without applying much force at all. Do yours do that? If that is just how they are then I can live with it or make my own stand, I'm just wondering if mine is a dud.
Thaks Paddy

Phil Beckley · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2016, 02:34 PM »

Quote from: Paddy R on July 06, 2016, 01:25 PM

Hi, I just bought a stand alone CMS module with router and ts 75 inserts. I am a bit concerned about how wobbly it is. If I push it gently with my little finger it will wobble a good 30-40mm. I repair and fit out boats and have bought the CMS because I have a big fit out job (probably 6 months) and the boat is a good 400 yards from my workshop, I figures that the time spent walking to the workshop and back a million times a day would pay for them in this job (I already have the of 2200 and a ts 75). If needs be I can fold up the legs and make a stand but I am wondering if my unit is faulty because I find it hard to believe that festool would make it so wobbly. I might have to go and find a shop (store) that has them displayed but just wondered how wobbly other owners find theirs.
Thanks Paddy
(This is my first post here, I had trouble registering as there were some prove you're human questions, one of them was what colour is the sky, well I live in the UK and the answer is obviously grey

Hey Paddy
Welcome to the forum......and yes your correct about the weather - on the eastern side it is as usual

......cloudy!!
Ok, check that the legs are seated correctly into the corner 'boss' and of course tightened up.....let me know after that (have to ask the obvious question first

)
rg
Phil

Phil Beckley · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2016, 02:34 PM »

Quote from: Paddy R on July 06, 2016, 02:33 PM

Thanks for the replies. It's not wobbling like a table on an uneven floor. All four legs are in contact with the ground, it is flexing at the join by the black knobs at the top of the fold down legs. I've clicked it open and tightened them up but can clearly see them moving at the join without applying much force at all. Do yours do that? If that is just how they are then I can live with it or make my own stand, I'm just wondering if mine is a dud.
Thaks Paddy

.....our posts crossed
rg
Phil

ear3 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2016, 02:57 PM »

At the risk of going beyond the bounds of my knowledge/experience given that I've only demoed the CMS and do not own one, but...

based upon using my MFT and the UG cart for the Kapex (and limited demo experience with the CMS), wobbliness is the price we pay for portability. In the case of the UG cart and the MFT, any wobble is transferred to the cut, and so I have never experienced any problems with the cut quality.

I assume, though, that once you check out a dealer you will be able to make a judgment whether your wobble is greater than normal.

windmill man · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2016, 03:05 PM »

Have you opened the legs and let them drop into the detents and then tightened up th black knobs (4 of them)?

Woodwork Wizard · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2016, 03:44 PM »

As already mentioned with the CMS and the MFT this is the price of portability. Because my CMS and my MFT never leave the workshop I removed the legs and made stands for both. No wobble at all anymore.
A lightweight and portable fold up system will always be compromised. Make your own stand.

PreferrablyWood · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2016, 03:50 PM »

I'm about to take delivery on my CMS GE, I'm pretty sure given the dimension of the table and the way it's constructed that it will not be rock solid. My solution is going to use weights(sandbags) on the legs to increase stability, just as you often see them do with lighting stands in location filming.. I like the light weight of the th Festool tables because of my need for a portable solution.. For a shop I'd make a base it could attach to.

Paddy R · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2016, 04:58 PM »

looks like I'll be making a stand. Thanks for replies, Paddy

SMJoinery · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2016, 11:06 PM »

Hi Paddy
Welcome to the FOG.
I use the TS75 and 2200 in the CMS and don't find much of a wobble.
My workshop concrete floor (old stables) is very uneven and needed some shims bonded to it to bring the CMS and two MFT3 to a uniform level but when in use they are fairly solid. Last week it was some fairly large section oak battens through the TS75 and can't report any issues.
We also use the CMS away from the shop and after setting it up using the adjustable leg again wouldn't say I was concerned with its stability.
Please just make sure you are tightened in the appropriate indents etc and have a ply about with the adjustable foot to see if you can get it solid.
My only other tip would be to check that the rubber feet are all correctly pushed home just in case one is causing the problem.
Good luck and let us know how you get on with the CMS.
Cheers.
Scott

Michael Kellough · « **Reply #13 on:** July 07, 2016, 01:04 AM »

Quote from: Paddy R on July 06, 2016, 02:33 PM

Thanks for the replies. It's not wobbling like a table on an uneven floor. All four legs are in contact with the ground, it is flexing at the join by the black knobs at the top of the fold down legs. I've clicked it open and tightened them up but can clearly see them moving at the join without applying much force at all. Do yours do that? If that is just how they are then I can live with it or make my own stand, I'm just wondering if mine is a dud.
Thaks Paddy

This doesn't sound right. Within the limits of the traction of the feet the table should be pretty steady and the joints when tightened down should not move at all.

You paid for that table so take a little time to figure out if it's defective or if you simply have something wrong.

Acrobat · « **Reply #14 on:** July 07, 2016, 05:43 AM »

Paddy 30-40 mm is not right. Something is amiss there, you shouldn't have anywhere near that type of play. At a guess I would say one set of legs is not seated correctly with the tightening screws and knobs. Undo them and refit.

pntlindsay · « **Reply #15 on:** July 07, 2016, 06:54 AM »

Paddy, something is not right. It has always amazed me at how stable my CMS/ TS55 unit is. I really can't imagine needing to build a table for it, rather defeats the purpose. I regularly cut down long lengths of 200*50 on this saw as well as sheet goods, without any significant issues. I suggest you try and look at another unit at your supplier to compare. Good luck.

Roseland · « **Reply #16 on:** July 07, 2016, 07:11 AM »

Do these fit the CMS as well?

https://www.festool.co.uk/Products/Accessories/Pages/Detail.aspx?pid=495502&name=accessories-mft-3-qt

Andrew

tjbnwi · « **Reply #17 on:** July 07, 2016, 08:20 AM »

Not to be insulting but...

Are you tightening the knobs the proper direction? The knobs will become "tight" turned in either direction.

Tom

Woodwork Wizard · « **Reply #18 on:** July 07, 2016, 02:23 PM »

Do these fit the CMS as well?

https://www.festool.co.uk/Products/Accessories/Pages/Detail.aspx?pid=495502&name=accessories-mft-3-qt

Andrew
[/quote]

The MFT/3 leg braces will not fit the CMS as the table profile is different. The CMS only has a v-groove at the top whereas the MFT/3 profile also has 2 x t-tracks within its profile - one at the side and another underneath which is where the MFT/3 leg braces would be attached.

Roseland · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2016, 05:40 PM »

Thanks for answering that. It's a shame they don't use the same profile.

Andrew

PreferrablyWood · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2016, 05:16 PM »

I received my CMS GE today, and notice that it does have flex at the knee's. I'm not to worried though. But my idea of mitigated wobble by using sandbags on the bottom braces doesn't solve this issue, I'd have to a a couple lines going from the upper part of the table above the joint down to a weight to stop the wobble if it even is an issue for me in actual use..

Paddy R · « **Reply #21 on:** April 06, 2017, 10:23 AM »

Just thought I should update this post. After many months I got to try a different CMS unit and it did not have the wobble that mine did. The wobble came from where the legs fit into a hole that attaches them to the corner piece. I rang festool and with no quibble they sent me new legs which do not have this issue.
Paddy

onevw · « **Reply #22 on:** March 21, 2018, 10:34 PM »

I just bought a CMS last week and after setting it up I noticed is was very shaky. I compared it to my other CMS and it is for sure shaky.

Festool thought it was the pivot joint but after a close look I found the steel tubs were loose on the pivot casting where they make a crimp. All 4 and very loose.

So Festool said they would send me a set of legs or I could just return it to to he dealer. I chose the new set of legs.

I sure hope the new legs are crimped better.

Rick

Up Date: 3.22.18

New legs on the way per Festool. Can you imagine getting this customer experience from the other guys. Even getting a return call after you leave a message will not happen from the other guys. GOOD JOB FESTOOL