DOMINO XL DF 700. tenon not perfect

[ghalib1399]

I’ve been dealing with a problem for a long time.
Every time I use DOMINO XL DF 700
, the tenon come not perfect, and this causes an issue when I try to assemble the pieces together, as they don’t align properly.
Is the problem with the machine?

 

[Steve1]

I don't have a Domino, but it sure looks like the fence is not parallel to the cutter.

It's off by quite a bit. Should be not difficult to see which one is out of wack.
When you put the machine down on a flat table, is the fence parallel to the table top ?

 

[ghalib1399]

I chkeed it , its look OK

 

[ChuckS]

If the fence is not the source of the problem, could you check:

a) check the cutter is straight, and
b) check if the cutter is rotating and oscillating in a parallel motion by sight?

 

[Vtshopdog]

Is Domino a new tool to you or do you have experience using one in the past with better results?

In first photo I see an area at top right corner where the cutter has created a scalloped divot consistent with the machine or stock moving during plunge motion.

You could make a test cut on some scrap with the fence firmly clamped to the stock. If cut is similar to your others then machine is issue. If cut is parallel to stock face then some more practice using the machine is in order.

Also make sure your fence is firmly clamped at your selected height.

 

[onocoffee]

Could this happen if the cutter is not tightened onto the Domino?

 

[luvmytoolz]

Could this happen if the cutter is not tightened onto the Domino?

It's possible but I would think very unlikely as it would be self tightening in use due to the rotation and forces generated.

 

[Ultimate Tools Marketing]

I’ve been dealing with a problem for a long time.
Every time I use DOMINO XL DF 700
, the tenon come not perfect, and this causes an issue when I try to assemble the pieces together, as they don’t align properly.
Is the problem with the machine?

This is definitely not normal. I suspect that the fence is not locked square. You could start by checking the height of the fence from the base at the left and right and see if they are the same. Try sliding the fence up and down with the fence perpendicular to the cutter, then lock it at any height. Then fold down the fence so it's parallel with the cutter and try another cut and let us know what you get.

Do you have a local dealer who can help?

 

[Cheese]

You have a couple of issues...the most serious one being the shape of the Domino mortise itself. Something is causing the "blips" indicated by the red arrows. This could be caused by movement of the tool, movement of the workpiece, a dull Domino cutter or poor operators technique. Are you fairly new in using the Domino? Do you feed the DF 700 at a steady rate without letting it "bite" into the material?

The 2nd issue is the lack of parallelism between the mortise and the top & bottom surfaces of the material. You'll never achieve perfect parallelism but it should be close. Here's a typical example of when the fence is used vs when the base is used as a reference surface. Parallel to within .004".

 

[ghalib1399]

If the fence is not the source of the problem, could you check:

a) check the cutter is straight, and
b) check if the cutter is rotating and oscillating in a parallel motion by sight?

a)from what I see it straight
b) i try to check but it's difficult to see

 

[onocoffee]

Maybe you could upload a video of you making the mortise (don't know if they allow that here but you can always put it on YouTube) that way the guys here can see you in action and help troubleshoot your issue better.

 

[luvmytoolz]

a)from what I see it straight
b) i try to check but it's difficult to see

Seeing if it's moving straight should be easy enough if you can retract the frame so the cutter sticks out of the hole, maybe try clamping a board behind the Domino to push against so when you turn it on you can push on the far left or right side of the fence a bit to check the cutter maintains the same distance sideways and up/down. To make it safer you could also clamp another thin board in front to keep the frame pushed back, so long as the cutter can clear it.

Have you also checked the cutter isn't damaged?

 

[Neil Lickfold]

Is there any discernible wobble of the cutter? With the cutter fully extended. Check to see if there is any change in the cutter vertical movement from centre position , compared to the extremities. Then when the cutter is full LH position, measure from the cutter to the table height. Do the same at the centre, and again at the RH side. It should be very close to all the same dimensions. A dial indicator or a universal micrometer, is a handy tool for measuring this.
It appears to me, that the main pivot block of the machine is misaligned to the base. Having not taken one apart, can not advise any further, other than return it for a repair with the information that you have about the error it is making.

 

[mkasdin]

Here’s my thought? Does it do this with all the bits and or have you tried it with a variant size? Do you have a df500 you could try making the same loose tenon? It looks like oak have you experimented with a softer wood? Is the material clamped down and affixed to the surface. I would try to use a pice of material that sits right under the bit and then plunge above the material while recording a video on your iPhone.. then there’s no pressure against the bit and you can visually see what the df700 is doing.
2. Call Festool and get some advice and possibly send the machine in. Has the tool fallen of a benchtop and conceivable got misaligned?

 

[semenza]

To me it looks like something is wrong with the entire motion of the cutter. Something consistently off.

A loose cutter would make all kinds of varying trouble.

Just not being parallel to the fence would not create the scallops.

A damaged cutter should still "cut the damage" all the way around the mortise, not a consistent up scallop at one end and down scallop at the other.

It is clearly not cutting parallel, but something more is going on. I think something is wrong with the entire motion. And it looks to me like it needs a trip to Festool.

Seth