Cnc file for mft top?

[Kevcoleman]

Wondering if anyone has a cnc file that is set up to make a mft table. I have access to rent usage of a shop bot and was thinking of making a few mft replacement tables and maybe a larger one to use as my extension table on my tablesaw.  I don't have much experience with cnc or cad programs.  Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks

 

[Oldwood]

Hi Kev,

I don't have a file yet. I have a CNC router & have been thinking about making some tables but I want to get some Qwas dogs first so I can use them to confirm the hole size. Keep us posted on the project when you get it done.

Gerry

 

[agehall]

Why wait for the Qwas dogs? The holes are 20mm.

When I finally ruin my top, I'm going to have someone CNC a new one for me with a few tweaks. First of all, I want a premade groove where I can run the TS55 without further damaging the table. Secondly, I want have two corners without holes, so that I can fit my vac sys clamps right on the table.

 

[semenza]

Why wait for the Qwas dogs? The holes are 20mm.

When I finally ruin my top, I'm going to have someone CNC a new one for me with a few tweaks. First of all, I want a premade groove where I can run the TS55 without further damaging the table. Secondly, I want have two corners without holes, so that I can fit my vac sys clamps right on the table.

Do the Vac Sys clamps need to suction to the table? Or would this be for  some type of regular clamps that don't go through the holes?  I don't know the Vac Sys except through pics, but I am just curious.

Seth

 

[agehall]

The clamps can suck to the surface they are placed on, so leaving part of the top without holes makes them more convenient to use. I could of course get the adapter, but that seems like a waste as I wouldn't use the folding function.

Right now I just clamp a scrap piece of MDF to my table and attach the clamps to that.

 

[Jay Knoll]

The clamps can suck to the surface they are placed on, so leaving part of the top without holes makes them more convenient to use. I could of course get the adapter, but that seems like a waste as I wouldn't use the folding function.

Right now I just clamp a scrap piece of MDF to my table and attach the clamps to that.

Couldn't you just fill some holes with a dowel or body putty to get a surface on the MFT to place the clamp on, then you  wouldn't need the MDF

Jay

 

[Alan m]

mdf isnt a great thing to be vac clamping to . its too porus. it would be ok when doing hand work or sanding etc but routing a decent profile with a big powerfull router . i wouldnt to be around when it lets go

 

[agehall]

Trust me, the clamps stick more than enough to MDF. I used a hand planer last summer and the only thing that wouldn't move, was the clamp. I did however manage to yank the work piece off the clamp and had to tie down the table to prevent it from moving too much.

I guess I could fill the holes, but I can't be bothered to mess with it on my current top. They are, after all, not intended to last forever so I'll just wait until mine is worn out...

 

[Oldwood]

Why wait for the Qwas dogs? The holes are 20mm.

I like to trial fit that sort of thing the first time out. I know the Qwas dogs have a + or - tolerance of .001" so if I fit to them I know I'll be all right.
I don't have a 20mm bit so I interpolate the holes with a 1/2" cutter.

On the MDF as a vac table debate, our router has a 3/4" & 1/4" sheet of MDF on the vac table that we lay the sheet stock on that we want to mill with the router the vac pulls through both sheets of MDF & holds down the work sheet. We do mill the ext faces off the MDF to make it more porous. You can hold MDF with vacuum but it does bleed through more.

Gerry