Cutting large circles with festool router and guide rail

[pmac101]

I'm a flooring contractor and occasionally have jobs where we have to install floors in a circle, cut curved borders or install medallions
Right now for large circular floors we install the floor and let it run over the cut line. We make a plywood arm 6" wide, attach the router to the end and screw the arm to the center of the circle and make 3 or 4 passes to cut the circle.
Is there a simple way of doing this with the router and track?
Medallions usually come with their own template.
For curves I make a template from 1/4" plywood, cut with a jig sawn and sand the edges smooth.
Any tips for making these cuts easier?[attachthumb=1][attachurl=1][attachthumb=1][attachimg=1][attachthumb=1][attachimg=1]

 

[tjbnwi]

I do use the guide rail as a trammel. I think I went over how I do somewhere on FOG.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tbadernwi/Arch

Tom

 

[tbellemare]

The MFS is a handy system for cutting arcs and circles.

You don't have to bolt down the router, just use a 30mm diameter copy ring.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

As you know I have the MFS also, it does work extremely well. I believe it is his best choice for what he wants to do.

I don't bolt down the router. I use 2 anti kickback stops that come with the TS saws to keep the router from traveling down the rail. I can lift it off the rail and place exactly where it was on the rail between the stops.

pmac, make sure you get the 30 mm copy ring for your router if you go with the MFS.

Tom

 

[fritter63]

If you use the MFS for this, be sure to setup the 30 mm capture block at the END of the template, not somewhere in the middle (i.e., butting up against the rail).

Otherwise, it has a tendency to wander from it's setting while you're cutting... that single allen-screw is not enough to hold on it's own.

Don't ask how I know this....

[attachimg=2]

 

[wow]

If you use the MFS for this, be sure to setup the 30 mm capture block at the END of the template, not somewhere in the middle (i.e., butting up against the rail).

Otherwise, it has a tendency to wander from it's setting while you're cutting... that single allen-screw is not enough to hold on it's own.

Don't ask how I know this....

Ouch! Thanks for the words of wisdom.

As regards the MFS, can I go with the larger one and do everything the smaller one does, or this a case of picking one or the other (at least to start with)? As you can tell, I have ZERO experience with or even exposure to the MFS, but I like it in theory and it seems like it would be great for routing one-off rectangular shapes.

 

[fritter63]

If you use the MFS for this, be sure to setup the 30 mm capture block at the END of the template, not somewhere in the middle (i.e., butting up against the rail).

Otherwise, it has a tendency to wander from it's setting while you're cutting... that single allen-screw is not enough to hold on it's own.

Don't ask how I know this....

Ouch! Thanks for the words of wisdom.

As regards the MFS, can I go with the larger one and do everything the smaller one does, or this a case of picking one or the other (at least to start with)?

Well, it might get your way!