Alternate MFS system located

[Mr_Mod]

I was trolling the web and came across this assistent-system from Belarus, looks to be an interesting producthttps://assistent-system.by/shop/routing-jigs/routing-f-track sadly my russian is crap but they do seem to have some agents in Europe that sell them.

 

[ear3]

It looks really close to the MFS, and I would almost think that they might be open to patent infringement (assuming MFS is patented -- though not sure how tight Belarusian intellectual property regulations are) -- they do say explicitely in their product description though that it is distinguished from the MFS because of the locking system, which is done through a hex key accessible from the top of the template, as opposed to locking the screw inserted into the side channel.  Their locking system actually looks like an improvement over the MFS.

Price is right as well, with 900 mm profiles (the longest available) sold at around $40 a piece.  Wonder if they ship international?

 

[Tinker]

I often use my MFS as a squaring tool to square up my guide rail with the item I am cutting. With the Belarus system, it appears that a locking bolt is always exposed at one side of every outside corner.  That eliminates one use.
Tinker

 

[Gregor]

I often use my MFS as a squaring tool to square up my guide rail with the item I am cutting. With the Belarus system, it appears that a locking bolt is always exposed at one side of every outside corner.  That eliminates one use.

I suspect the locking bolts are removeable by fully releasing the screw on the top of the profile, similar to how the domino cross anchors work...

Price is very interesting on them, if they could be linked easily (so you can add up two for a greater span) they would be perfect.

 

[rmwarren]

I'm not getting a translation or an English site when I open the link:https://assistent-system.by/shop/routing-jigs/routing-f-track

Any trick to this?

RMW

 

[GoingMyWay]

If you have Google Chrome, it should automatically prompt you to translate the webpage or you can enter the URL into Google Translate:https://translate.google.com/.

Here's the URL for the translated page:
https://translate.google.com/transl.../shop/routing-jigs/routing-f-track/&sandbox=1

 

[Svar]

It looks really close to the MFS, and I would almost think that they might be open to patent infringement

Doubt it. Festool wasn't the first to come up with this setup. There are several very similar systems out there.

 

[promark747]

Their locking system actually looks like an improvement over the MFS.

Yes, I like how it locks from the middle of the profile's end instead of the edge.  Would seem to be more likely to make a square connection, though I haven't had an issue with the MFS.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Didn't TSO post recently that they have an MFS alternative in the works?

 

[Cheese]

Didn't TSO post recently that they have an MFS alternative in the works?

I don't know if Hans did, however Shane did. See reply 38
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...festool-would-bring-back/msg529998/#msg529998

 

[Linbro]

Virutex also have a MFS style system. Looks identical to the Festool.

 

[HarveyWildes]

... that it is distinguished from the MFS because of the locking system, which is done through a hex key accessible from the top of the template, as opposed to locking the screw inserted into the side channel.  Their locking system actually looks like an improvement over the MFS.

Price is right as well, with 900 mm profiles (the longest available) sold at around $40 a piece.  Wonder if they ship international?

Yep - looks like an improvement to me, along with the fact that you can order the lengths of track that you need. Someone ought to try to import them.

 

[jlt23]

Woodpeckers has a one time tool now.https://www.woodpeck.com/variable-router-jig.html

 

[Cheese]

Woodpeckers has a one time tool now.https://www.woodpeck.com/variable-router-jig.html

That’s probably what Shane was referring to... [tongue]

 

[Cheese]

Count me in on the latest Woodpeckers offering. I love the clamping methodology and the manner in which the rails are attached to one another appears to be superior to the Festool product.

I’ve always had a problem with the Festool rail racking slightly because the fasteners were placed on the outside of the rail. Normally this wouldn’t be encountered, however, because I’ve needed different router groove lengths while using the same MFS setup, I always cut different lengths of wooden stops that were inserted into the MFS aperture. The racking of the rails however made that task difficult.

The clamping method also appears to be an improvement. In the past I’ve had to drill holes in the MFS to screw it down to the material I was routing. Otherwise with the clamping of the MFS, the router body, the cord and the vac hose in a very small area, things got congested very quickly.

 

[jlt23]

Count me in on the latest Woodpeckers offering. I love the clamping methodology and the manner in which the rails are attached to one another appears to be superior to the Festool product.

I’ve always had a problem with the Festool rail racking slightly because the fasteners were placed on the outside of the rail. Normally this wouldn’t be encountered, however, because I’ve needed different router groove lengths while using the same MFS setup, I always cut different lengths of wooden stops that were inserted into the MFS aperture. The racking of the rails however made that task difficult.

The clamping method also appears to be an improvement. In the past I’ve had to drill holes in the MFS to screw it down to the material I was routing. Otherwise with the clamping of the MFS, the router body, the cord and the vac hose in a very small area, things got congested very quickly.

What are your thoughts of it not having the router support piece that the Festool version came with?

 

[Cheese]

What are your thoughts of it not having the router support piece that the Festool version came with?

Good point...I looked all over for the height of the extrusion but was unable to find that info. Perhaps a request to Woodpeckers would be a good idea. I’ve made previous requests and many of them have been honored.

Woodpeckers is using their Supertrack which has a width of 3.850” and a thickness of .700”.

 

[HarveyWildes]

Woodpeckers has a one time tool now.https://www.woodpeck.com/variable-router-jig.html

The first one that I've been tempted by in a long time.  The clamping does look positively sturdy.

WRT to the router support, can you just make your own out of wood, customized to the depth of the rail?

 

[Svar]

I looked all over for the height of the extrusion but was unable to find that info.

It's 17.8 mm. It is their super track. With a bit of grinding FT clamps fit in the slots.

 

[Svar]

Woodpeckers has a one time tool now.https://www.woodpeck.com/variable-router-jig.html

Nice. They beat me to it. Just as I was going to make my own out of their super track. Two screws per side seems redundant though.