Automated Table Saw Fence
- Thread starter 4nthony
- Start date
You could use a cheap Chinese 2 axis DRO with both axis reading the same tape. One axis for Metris and one for imperial. In fact thinking about that makes me think of other possible uses beyond the metric/imperial thing which would be worth exploring.
woodferret
Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2020
- Messages
- 1,090
Jeremy's forthright in mentioning that he's okay with the backlash. That's probably why cheap solutions haven't been made available for third party because people are going to complain that it's not repeatable. 0.1mm is noticeable, hence why we have all those techniques to batch cut without moving the fence. People buying these things likely expect it to be dead on when coming back to the same number.
After noodling it, I think I'll go with the Harvey fence, and then add on a DigiFence which also has an adapter for the Harvey fence.
It is really the easiest (and cheapest) way to switch between metric and imperial. And fact is I rarely need the repeatability of the Incra. I don't do those insane nested dovetails that it was designed for, and as [member=72072]woodferret[/member] pointed out, I always bulk cut anyway. If recuts are needed, I usually use another piece from the bulk cut to reposition.
And if I can find a dual calibrated tape that will fit over the OEM one, then I don't even have to switch out the scales. Fastcap has one that might work.
ETA: it will also restore my ability to cut on the left side of the blade for miter cuts (Incra ruins that).
It is really the easiest (and cheapest) way to switch between metric and imperial. And fact is I rarely need the repeatability of the Incra. I don't do those insane nested dovetails that it was designed for, and as [member=72072]woodferret[/member] pointed out, I always bulk cut anyway. If recuts are needed, I usually use another piece from the bulk cut to reposition.
And if I can find a dual calibrated tape that will fit over the OEM one, then I don't even have to switch out the scales. Fastcap has one that might work.
ETA: it will also restore my ability to cut on the left side of the blade for miter cuts (Incra ruins that).
kevinculle
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2016
- Messages
- 615
Since I have a Festool Kapex in metric and the rest of my tools are Imperial I work across tha two systems. I keep 4 old cheap calculators around my shop and each one has the number 25.4 (the exact inch to mm conversion) stored in memory. Like you I have an Incra TSIII system on my tablesaw/router table, so I design in inches. When I go to the Kapex a brief stop at one of the calculators bridges the gap.
smorgasbord
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2022
- Messages
- 1,063
fritter63 said:
The Wixey retrofit DRO for tablesaws switches between metric and imperial at the touch of a button.
kevinculle said:
Thanks. Rethinking it again, no longer sure the Harvey fence will adapt well to my old unisaw (not enough length for bolting it on and supporting the Router table and extension (currently hangs off the Incra rails) (would have to build a frame I think).
oy oy oy. Maybe just go with an all new Harvey TS? Maybe just admit that I don't have enough furniture projects left in me to worry about it?
ETA: Btw, I have an HP-12C app on my iPhone that emulates and old Hewlett Packard RPN calculator, and includes and nice conversion section for going from metric to imperial, etc. Can do more than just length. "allRpn" I think in the App Store.
smorgasbord
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2022
- Messages
- 1,063
fritter63 said:
I own it and it works fine for me. Will check out the other reviews later.
Similar threads
