CMS side and off feed tables DIY?

[PreferrablyWood]

Thanks Acrobat

I think you have made the CMS into a super useful moveable workstation, I will consider copying some of your ideas when I get a permanent space, for now being portable I'll just use the Festool addons I know it's kind of expensive but with some research I've found the different parts at a fairly reasonable price. With the choice of the CMS I'm keeping in mind that the systems ability to be used with the other modules like the router and Belt sander, I also may rig up my own additional modules for it like a drill press or a spindle sander etc.. This multi functionality make it a good choice for the occasional use it will get from me. Yes one tool that morphs into many makes more sense in my case storage and transport cost more with bigger setups..

 

[Acrobat]

Yes the CMS is expensive, it's festool, but with the inserts - you can make some of your own, like the belt sander, and jigsaw. I've even made one for the planer. I got the table second hand so was much cheaper than getting everything new and separately. If I were to get a new one, it may be cheaper to simply buy a dedicated table saw-with extra blade height for deeper cuts, the ts55 in the insert only gives you 50mm. But for a small workshop and its ability to have the saw, router, jigsaw, belt sander and planer in, it it's been so useful.
Having the right side table has been helpful but I think you'd be better off with an outfeed table first. Every job I cut uses the outfeed but not every cut needs the extra width. The LA fence is more secure when ripping and has a micro adjust feature which really helps too.

 

[sancho57]

Acrobat,

It depends, for the VL unit yes I can see needing the outfield table, for the GE if you have a MFT it can be used as a outfeed table, as Festool designed the system so that the GE is the same height as the MFT.

I do agree that unless someone takes advantage of the module system either by buying the ones they will use (for me the router/ts 75 saw/jig saw modules) and make your own. I made one for my 5" disk/ belt sander. I won't make any more until I move back to the states where Ill be making more projects and will have more room for storage.

Maybe that would be a good thread to start "What modules did you make for the CMS or would like to make"

 

[Acrobat]

  Hiya mate, yeah, good idea on the thread topic.
Re: MFT and cms heights, yeah I forgot about that, it's great they are the same and as you say the mft can be an outfeed table if you have it. Smart thinking.
I often wonder why Festool doesn't do some promotional material and videos on the various inserts, and I guess on most of their accessories too. Only ones I've seen are the TS insert and router insert, but none for the special belt sander nor jigsaw. I know they are relatively self evident, but surely having videos of them in action and someone like Frank the German Festool guy (or the english bloke who does an equally good job) demonstrating them would sway others sitting on the fence to order them. I'm sure they would sell more.
  Also the MFS router guide templates I see are being withdrawn?, maybe they didn't sell as well as they would have liked but without much promotion no wonder. I've seen a couple of vids where its been used and clamped differently but really not many out there for such a useful pice of kit. Maybe they are bringing out a new style router template instead but I'm glad I managed to snag the 700 extensions recently anyway.
Rant over [big grin]

 

[bkharman]

Yes the CMS is expensive, it's festool, but with the inserts - you can make some of your own, like the belt sander, and jigsaw. I've even made one for the planer. I got the table second hand so was much cheaper than getting everything new and separately. If I were to get a new one, it may be cheaper to simply buy a dedicated table saw-with extra blade height for deeper cuts, the ts55 in the insert only gives you 50mm. But for a small workshop and its ability to have the saw, router, jigsaw, belt sander and planer in, it it's been so useful.
Having the right side table has been helpful but I think you'd be better off with an outfeed table first. Every job I cut uses the outfeed but not every cut needs the extra width. The LA fence is more secure when ripping and has a micro adjust feature which really helps too.

Curious what you have done with your planer mate. Been giving some thought, but don't have a good idea on that front yet.

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Acrobat]

Hi Bryan
I did have a pic on the FOG here somewhere of the planer setup. I'll see if I can take another couple and upload it. Then maybe you can make a better version and I can upgrade mine! [big grin]
It really isn't anything much, (as I already had the Festool fence and bench unit for the the EHL85 planer anyway- which can be put on any flat surface) so I simply secured it to a DIY bottom plate to hold it in the CMS table. And I made a small adjustable infeed support for it from mdf. I'll remake a longer version out of something else at some stage but for now its works fine. It's only a small planer but it gives such a fantasticly smooth finish and for smaller items saves me time hand planing which I'm not the best at.
If you don't have the (rather expensive) bench accessory it would take some time to make your own but you'd save $.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I keep adding things to my list what with the OF 2200 CMS GE with complete list of add ons VB VL sliding table and vacuum hoses the, the OF 2200 accessories kit, the MFS 700 plus the MFS 200 + 1000 extensions. The TS 75 module, I'm looking at a very serious investment.. Have to do some thinking and planing.. I'll additional get 6 cutters of various types for the router...

I've got the funds almost, but it seems it's a never ending spiral.. On the other hand there is quite a learning curve to get all these bits to function optimally, so there's perhaps no time to waste either as I've been waiting on this for a couple years now..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm thinking and rethinking this purchase, I think I'll just focus the first order on everything I need to get going with the CMS GE, and wait on getting the Accessory kit for the OF 2200. Using the money saved there for getting the router bits I need, and materials for the first projects I'll be making.

Then in a month or two I'll get the MFS setup and accessory kit..

It's also better from the suppliers point of view to send of a couple of smaller orders than one big one as the risk that one or two missing items in a long lists can delay things.. Shipping is relatively inexpensive so that's what I'll do..

 

[Acrobat]

Curious what you have done with your planer mate. Been giving some thought, but don't have a good idea on that front yet.

Cheers. Bryan.

Hi Byan, finally got the pics taken, hope they show well enough. As I said, I need to adapt it a bit further as the other day I found myself wanting to use the planer freehand and currently in this setup its a pain to remove from its cradle and insert base. Need to re-think that part. Overall because I had the Festool cradle accessory it is simply a matter of mounting it to a plate to fit the cms hole.

 

[bkharman]

I like it Acro!  I was originally thinking I was going to have my MFT be the infeed side and rig up some way to use one of my Kapex wings for the outfeed but abandoned that after staring at it for a while!!

I need to ponder it a bit more. Thanks for the pics, you have given me some more ideas... Stay tuned!

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Do note that to use the CMS/CS50 fence on the CMS-GE you will need the side extension (mentioned by Kev in the second post).
For larger rips you will need it.

Dont confuse the MFT-VL with the CMS-VL!

The CMS-VL is just outfeed support and can be replaced by whatever you can attach to the CMS-GE or has a height of 900mm, for example a MFT/3 table.
The MFT-VL attaches to the MFT/3 and is the version with 2 legs, replaces the GE version.

I would suggest buying the CMS-VB (the side extension) with the CS-LA (rip fence) and rigging up your own outfeed support.

So I can't use the mitre WA fence with the side extension VB, I suspected as much so it's going on my second shopping list which will come hot on the heals of my first.

 

[GarryMartin]

So I can't use the mitre WA fence with the side extension VB...

Yes you can. It has the same profile as the table and the WA angle stop fits without issue on any of the three available sides.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

So I can't use the mitre WA fence with the side extension VB...

Yes you can. It has the same profile as the table and the WA angle stop fits without issue on any of the three available sides.

Okay thanks you saved me some money there, which will be I'm starting to warm to the LS super fence idea..