CMS side and off feed tables DIY?

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm looking seriously at getting the CMS router and TS 75 modules. When I price out my list I find I want to cut costs as far as getting the side and off feed tables by perhaps making my own versions or just using the MFT 3 for off feed and foregoing altogether the side table..

I'll be using a setup consisting of the CMS GE, OF 2200 TS 75, the sliding table and the vacuum hose setup.. I'm getting the CMS GE set with the OF 2200 router, I buy at the same time the OF 2200 accessory  set  ZS- OF. Which to my mind is a must if I will get the most out of the OF 2200 handheld.. And of course the sliding table for the CMS is it's bedste accessory so that's definitely on my list too..

I've gone back and forth on this purchase for the longest time, but now I have an immediate need and the funds..

My question then are there any plans for making off feed tables and side tables that actually connect to the CMS GE?

Thanks in advance for any help..

Regards

PreferWood

 

[Kev]

I'll start with I know of none BUT !! ...

I was looking at mine the other day and I realised that cutting an "L" shaped section from suitable sheet stock and adding V-groove edge of appropriate height on the inside of the "L" - plus 3 adjustable legs - would really make a CMS-GE very useful !!

If you want to use the Festool rip fence you're facing a more complex problem as the fence slides on the track of the side extension table and relies on the gap between the CMS table and the outfield table.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Thanks Kev for the quick reply..

I'm asking this as I saw a DIY version for the offcut table in a German You Tube video.

He doesn't explain anything about his DIY offcut table but it appears at around 5:01 something that tightly mated to the CMS GE can only be a DIY mod, it's most likely just a wooden version of the Festool version.

 

[Kev]

Ah yes - he's simply mated his extension to the V-grove .. he's not using the Festool rip fence, so it's a simple mater of mating to the extrusion and trimming till you get the right height.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Ah yes - he's simply mated his extension to the V-grove .. he's not using the Festool rip fence, so it's a simple mater of mating to the extrusion and trimming till you get the right height.

No he doesn't use the rip fence with his CMS, but later on in the samme video he attaches the mitre fence on to the side of the sliding table to create a rip fence on the left side of the blade,  Quite an inventive fellow.. He also makes his own CMS module tables for the Belt Sander and jigsaw modules..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I think I may just go ahead and get the VL extension table for the CMS, after some searching I've found it and a few other items on my list at a big enough savings so I break pretty well even compared to my earlier total price. Even though I don't like to micro manage my shopping like this, the prices on the CMS system elements seem in some cases to swing wildly for no apparent reason. So to get a sane handle on the setup I'll do it somewhat reluctantly..

My list will look like this

OF 2200 set with the CMS GE offered in the EU
vacuum hose with duel size hoses going into the Y attachment
The Sliding Table
CMS Extension table VL
OF 2200 Accessory systainer
TS 75 CMS insert.

a Few CMT bits
up feed 12mm shaft notch cutter short and long sizes
Template cutter bit 12mm shaft
a bit suitable for jointing, I don't know if I'd need the Festool version with the replaceable blades for the volume of work I'll be using it for but it's a pretty slick solution..

Main point of this thread though is wether or not I could rig up an extension table for the CMS GE, after some thought and for the price I've found it for now, I think I'll just get it and have the benefits of durability and portability of the Festool CMS VL version..

 

[sancho57]

Thats what I was going to suggest was the VL. There are a couple of ways to go with this set up. You can use the incra  fence or the CS70 fence. I don't know for sure but I heard that the CS 70 fence will work on the MFT. That should give you plenty of cutting capacity

 

[GarryMartin]

He doesn't explain anything about his DIY offcut table...

I know you're looking to buy the Festool tables now, but he explains his outfeed table in a different video entry.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Thats what I was going to suggest was the VL. There are a couple of ways to go with this set up. You can use the incur fence or the CS70 fence. I don't know for sure but I heard that the CS 70 fence will work on the MFT. That should give you plenty of cutting capacity

I'm afraid you may have mis understood what I'm trying to do here, I'm talking about making a DIY extension for the CMS GE out of wood this would work but be somewhat limiting as the GE is really a portable beast and dragging along home made add ons doesn't seem in the end to be  in the spirit of mobility.. The confusion I think arises is the  naming of the MFT VL and the CMS VL extension tables are too close..

 

[Amalix]

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.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

He doesn't explain anything about his DIY offcut table...

I know you're looking to buy the Festool tables now, but he explains his outfeed table in a different video entry.

Thanks so much for this Garry, I searched and searched for this but it just eluded me..

 

[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.

Thanks Amalix this clears things up pretty well.. I like that the CMS GE  rig ends up being free standing with the Festool add on as I will be moving this around...so a freestanding CMS GE makes leveling easier.. I'll weight the legs down with sandbags etc for stability..

Edit. I will also add that I own the MFT 3 so making wider rips I can accomplish there so for me the wider rips on the CMS GE isn't something I'm planing on using so much,  Once I've gotten the main setup I can always add the CS-LA and the CMS-VB if needed..

 

[Amalix]

Looked for this earlier but wasn't able to find it quickly:

[attachimg=3]

From the following thread:http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/compact-module-support-(cms)-table-and-inserts/

If you check the other 2 picture attachments, I went out and took a picture of my GE with the rip fence, it still gives you max 11,5 cm from the blade to the fence. I really like the rip fence compared to the slightly shaky WA which is always attached to the sliding table.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Looked for this earlier but wasn't able to find it quickly:

[attachimg=3]

From the following thread:http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/compact-module-support-(cms)-table-and-inserts/

If you check the other 2 picture attachments, I went out and took a picture of my GE with the rip fence, it still gives you max 11,5 cm from the blade to the fence. I really like the rip fence compared to the slightly shaky WA which is always attached to the sliding table.

Okay , that VB side table and the LA fence just moved up my list thanks to you..

 

[Woodwork Wizard]

In and out tables for a CMS. Kapex crown stops, plywood, an old retired ladder as frame and leg. It's free box section and the grippy rubber foot of the ladder is perfect. Assembles and breaks down very quickly and gives total support for long narrow pieces and cost £100 to do.  In this case that's less than £10 for every additional foot. However this is not a portable solution as I'd highly recommend using the CMS with legs folded or removed and on a workshop built stand so it is dead stable.

 

[sancho57]

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.

I have the same set up as you do. I could it took quite a bit of fiddling around with the side table to get the fence to both align and clamp where the gap is between the side table and base table and slide easily pass the gap. I finally got it but it took a while.
Also I noticed in your photo you use a American style fence ( fence is as long as the table) and not the European style (fence only goes to the rear of the blade).

I've been using the Euro style fence set up mainly because well it's a euro saw.

Oh for those considering this set up, what I found I had to do to make the fence slide easily  from the base table to the extension table is the V has to be aligned and the tops have to be the same height . There is a step on both the tables and extension just behind the ribbed area, I leveled that and aligned the v groove and that seen
to help quite a bit. I'm getting pretty good cuts now.

Maybe I'll set mine up at the BBQ  add the sliding fence for the guys to look at.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

In and out tables for a CMS. Kapex crown stops, plywood, an old retired ladder as frame and leg. It's free box section and the grippy rubber foot of the ladder is perfect. Assembles and breaks down very quickly and gives total support for long narrow pieces and cost £100 to do.  In this case that's less than £10 for every additional foot. However this is not a portable solution as I'd highly recommend using the CMS with legs folded or removed and on a workshop built stand so it is dead stable.

Thats a nice idea, I think i will use it for more permanent jobs, As I will be working at some outdoor semi public gardens from the start I'll have to move things into the tool shed at night... I say in my signature that I'm going to try and get a shop space in 2016, it may just happen, but until then I'll use the portability of the setup to best advantage..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Well I now have found one dealer in Germany that has all the elements I've mentioned above at the lowest possible prices. I've used them  before  when my previous main dealer didn't offer the Sys 4 Sort 3 Strainers and i also  just recently bought the MFT Fixing elements set..

When they have everything on my list at an okay price I think i'll just go ahead and  get both the VL and VB extension tables and the Fence.. I know I'll want the added width possible with the VB side extension for cuts sooner rather than later.

I've earlier (one year ago) mentioned that I would get the MFT VL unit instead and use an incra positioner setup, but after mulling this over I just feel it becomes to complicated and expensive.. So many ways to work around issues with repeatability are to be found both on the internet and in my own past experience.. So I'll likely just keep to the CMS modules and add ons, for the table and use any additional funds to get a bandsaw and the CMS beltsander module.  I would like to keep my setup small portable efficient and easy to manage..

Thanks for the inputs so far. I've got funds on the way in the next couple of weeks, and will order then so I can use the summer to get some experience using the tools on some real life projects..

 

[Amalix]

Also I noticed in your photo you use a American style fence ( fence is as long as the table) and not the European style (fence only goes to the rear of the blade).

I've been using the Euro style fence set up mainly because well it's a euro saw.

The picture I took is from how it's stored in my sliding shelf, I do usually slide the fence back so it works the way you describe it here:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/la-cs-50cms/

I don't use the WA fence on it but its a good tip for other readers perhaps.

 

[Acrobat]

I have the CMS with the sliding table and the longer and more substantial LA fence. I have removed the legs and put the whole CMS on a wooden cart wheeled base since I got sick of lifting it around the garage, and have added an outfeed support table for it made from mdf, and I ordered a joining plate (from the kapex UG wings) to fit it in the v groove. Looking at it, I could have made this part from timber and saved a few dollars but I was lazy, and I like the convenience of easily attaching/removing it if needed and it may end up doing double duty by adding it to a right hand side home made UG wing to my kapex if I make one.
Because the LA fence goes the whole length of the cms main table, there is a gap there so I can slide the fence as close to the blade as possible. Other than that, it's a simple add-on thats been really useful for me. Sorry it's not all that clear a picture, but all I have on the ipad at the moment. other pic shows the cms inserts I swap in and out and store on shelf brackets.