Before I spend any meaningful brain power attempting to come up with a solution on my own, has anyone successfully designed and implemented a safe and smart workaround to the fatal flaw of the CMS-TS modules - namely, the inability to mill dadoes/trenches/rebates without first removing the CMS riving knife (and thereafter either working sans riving knife or going through the absurd hassle of remounting the stock TS riving knife followed by having to remount the CMS-TS riving knife once the associated operation is complete)? That Festool allowed this glaring problem to enter the marketplace is the stuff of madness (especially since it leads to users bypassing crucial safety features). This flaw is particularly pronounced on the CMS-TS 75.
Two quick thoughts.
Here's what a stock TS-75 riving knife looks like sitting next to its stock CMS-TS 75 riving knife brother:
Is any advantage achieved by modifying the CMS riving knife so that its mounting points mimic that of the stock TS riving knife (as mocked up below)?
View attachment 1
Since most of the hassle inherent in this demonic gymnastic routine is experienced during the portions that involve the CMS-TS riving knife, if those segments could be improved upon (by making the CMS-TS riving knife easier to install and remove) than that, I guess, would be considered a "win". But, I don't want to perform the mod only to learn that it results in the riving knife failing to work properly.
Alternatively, what about the notion of fabricating an entirely new stock riving knife and a new CMS-TS 75 riving knife both of which mimic the (far more) intelligent design of the two-part TS-55/CMS-TS 55 riving knife, as shown below?
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
I particularly like the idea of employing a thumbscrew in place of the hex fastener (the latter of which requires a tool). Plus, I suspect that this two part design can be disassembled while the TS module is still installed in the CMS. If so, this would be a huge improvement for those of us who own a CMS-TS 75 module. That said, I'm also aware that the existing mounting hole on the TS-75 is situated in a different position (higher up the blade shroud) so this difference and its potential implications will need to be explored.
EDIT: Wait, how does this work? The bolt must lock the riving knife (and thus the blade?) in place(?). That doesn't make any sense. I guess the design of the CMS-TS 55 must be an entirely different animal from the CMS-TS 75.
A more involved approach would involve fabricating a new "all-in-one" riving knife and a new mounting assembly (or maybe by modifying the existing one) that could somehow permit the user to loosen a captured thumbscrew (or two) in order to then move said riving knife up and down (along the lines of a less elegant version of the CS-70's approach, which features a tool-less retractable riving knife) all without removing the TS module from the CMS?
Since I realize that the chances that the CS-70 riving knife components can be retrofitted into, say, the TS-75's blade shroud are (beyond) remote, maybe a simple shop-built adaption could be undertaken?
Here's what the CS-70's riving knife (Festool Part #: 10023771) looks like:
And here's a video cued to the portion that shows an external view of the CS-70's riving knife assembly:
=48
I'm intrigued by its reliance on a captured slot (instead of one or more open-ended slots).
Just some food for thought.
In closing, I'm not interested in hearing arguments for why operating the TS module without its blade guard is unsafe or why I should just accept using the machine all the time without the benefits afforded by the overhead blade-guard/dust hood. I'm after thoughtful solutions that enhance not detract from the safe and real-world operation of the machine.
Two quick thoughts.
Here's what a stock TS-75 riving knife looks like sitting next to its stock CMS-TS 75 riving knife brother:
Is any advantage achieved by modifying the CMS riving knife so that its mounting points mimic that of the stock TS riving knife (as mocked up below)?
View attachment 1
Since most of the hassle inherent in this demonic gymnastic routine is experienced during the portions that involve the CMS-TS riving knife, if those segments could be improved upon (by making the CMS-TS riving knife easier to install and remove) than that, I guess, would be considered a "win". But, I don't want to perform the mod only to learn that it results in the riving knife failing to work properly.
Alternatively, what about the notion of fabricating an entirely new stock riving knife and a new CMS-TS 75 riving knife both of which mimic the (far more) intelligent design of the two-part TS-55/CMS-TS 55 riving knife, as shown below?
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
I particularly like the idea of employing a thumbscrew in place of the hex fastener (the latter of which requires a tool). Plus, I suspect that this two part design can be disassembled while the TS module is still installed in the CMS. If so, this would be a huge improvement for those of us who own a CMS-TS 75 module. That said, I'm also aware that the existing mounting hole on the TS-75 is situated in a different position (higher up the blade shroud) so this difference and its potential implications will need to be explored.
EDIT: Wait, how does this work? The bolt must lock the riving knife (and thus the blade?) in place(?). That doesn't make any sense. I guess the design of the CMS-TS 55 must be an entirely different animal from the CMS-TS 75.
A more involved approach would involve fabricating a new "all-in-one" riving knife and a new mounting assembly (or maybe by modifying the existing one) that could somehow permit the user to loosen a captured thumbscrew (or two) in order to then move said riving knife up and down (along the lines of a less elegant version of the CS-70's approach, which features a tool-less retractable riving knife) all without removing the TS module from the CMS?
Since I realize that the chances that the CS-70 riving knife components can be retrofitted into, say, the TS-75's blade shroud are (beyond) remote, maybe a simple shop-built adaption could be undertaken?
Here's what the CS-70's riving knife (Festool Part #: 10023771) looks like:
And here's a video cued to the portion that shows an external view of the CS-70's riving knife assembly:
=48
I'm intrigued by its reliance on a captured slot (instead of one or more open-ended slots).
Just some food for thought.
In closing, I'm not interested in hearing arguments for why operating the TS module without its blade guard is unsafe or why I should just accept using the machine all the time without the benefits afforded by the overhead blade-guard/dust hood. I'm after thoughtful solutions that enhance not detract from the safe and real-world operation of the machine.
