Alternate MFS system located

[Cheese]

It's 17.8 mm. It is their super track.

Thanks... I just figured that out. That’s a good thing from an availability perspective. I think the MFS is 16mm.

 

[rmwarren]

Can't for the life of me figger out why WP insists on making this a OTT. They already stock the extrusion, just whack out a bunch of the custom hardware and throw it on the shelf. Cut/slot/engrave the extrusions as needed for a JIT supply and it becomes a stock item. I'll bet they even farm out the clamping plates and probably plastic parts.

I can understand why most OTT's have that status, too many customized parts to make them mainstream. This one puzzles me.

RMW

 

[live4ever]

Can't for the life of me figger out why WP insists on making this a OTT. They already stock the extrusion, just whack out a bunch of the custom hardware and throw it on the shelf. Cut/slot/engrave the extrusions as needed for a JIT supply and it becomes a stock item. I'll bet they even farm out the clamping plates and probably plastic parts.

I can understand why most OTT's have that status, too many customized parts to make them mainstream. This one puzzles me.

RMW

Because you'll pay more for it that way. 

 

[Bob D.]

Just ordered the VRJ, Woodpeckers' version of the MFS.

Agree with Rich as to why is this a OTT. Maybe if it proves popular
they will do as you suggest and keep some in stock.

 

[live4ever]

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.

Yep - I had bought the Supertrack and sourced the parts from McMaster and done a test run.  Just hadn't done all ends of every profile yet lol. 

I'm curious what people think would be the best way to make those slots for the square nuts they sell as part of their DIY kit. 

 

[Bob D.]

You could make a jig and use a router. A 1/4" shank mill might hold up
better than a router bit for multiple cuts in aluminum.

If you had access to an X-Carve or similar machine easy-peasy.

 

[live4ever]

You could make a jig and use a router. A 1/4" shank mill might hold up
better than a router bit for multiple cuts in aluminum.

If you had access to an X-Carve or similar machine easy-peasy.

Yeah handheld router seems like the most reasonable way to go.  But ya know, I keep telling myself that a mill sure would be handy to have around the shop...for many years now...

 

[Michael Kellough]

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.

Me too. I've had a stack of that stuff sitting around for years for the same purpose. Other than the double thickness it was an obvious choice for this purpose so I held off making my own, thinking someone would gear up to do it any time now. Took a long time though...

 

[Svar]

You could make a jig and use a router. A 1/4" shank mill might hold up
better than a router bit for multiple cuts in aluminum.

Agreed. Something like mortise cutting jig, end mill, slow speed, small increments. Or one could use MFS, oh, wait a minute...

 

[Michael Kellough]

For the DIY version you first have to get the end cuts PERFECT. It's possible to to do that with the MFT and a good aluminum cutting blade but it isn't easy and close isn't quite good enough.

 

[Bob D.]

For the DIY version you first have to get the end cuts PERFECT. It's possible to to do that with the MFT and a good aluminum cutting blade but it isn't easy and close isn't quite good enough.

Buy the track, whatever make/thickness you want in the lengths you need, and put your own slots in it. The ends should be square, at least as square as the manufacturer made them.

 

[Michael Kellough]

For the DIY version you first have to get the end cuts PERFECT. It's possible to to do that with the MFT and a good aluminum cutting blade but it isn't easy and close isn't quite good enough.

Buy the track, whatever make/thickness you want in the lengths you need, and put your own slots in it. The ends should be square, at least as square as the manufacturer made them.

close isn't quite good enough. I'm referring to the stock Supertrack with the close comment.

I expect the ends of the new product to be PERFECT so I will be ordering the value added version of the Supertrack.

 

[Michael Kellough]

You could make a jig and use a router. A 1/4" shank mill might hold up
better than a router bit for multiple cuts in aluminum.

Agreed. Something like mortise cutting jig, end mill, slow speed, small increments. Or one could use MFS, oh, wait a minute...

This part is the easiest to do since it does not have to be precise. Just drill enough overlapping holes to provide clearance for the oval washer and the head of the cap screw. As long as the end of the rail is square it will clamp up fine.

 

[Cheese]

I'm curious what people think would be the best way to make those slots for the square nuts they sell as part of their DIY kit.

I've used a solid carbide end mill in a 1010 router, on speed 1-2 along with a MFS to enlarge the slots of 80/20 to accept Festool Quick Clamps. Just go slow especially if the end mill has a small diameter.

 

[blaszcsj]

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.

Im going to Russia in a month. I may have to pick one of these up.