Festool OF 1400 gradually falling down in a CMS-VL MFT/3 router table while cutt

[arso_bg]

Festool OF 1400 gradually falling down in a CMS-VL MFT/3 router table while cutting box joints
I own the router table for some 6 year or even more. This is for the first time that I experience such a result.  For cutting the joints this time I use an Incra I-box
Here are two pictures illustrating the story. The reason for what you see is that after I set the proper dept of cut and start cutting the joint the router is falling down and when I finish to cut the router bit is almost 8 mm down!  There is no lock feature with this router table
Did someone else have similar experience?
Any ideas how to handle the problem?

 

[GarryMartin]

Are you saying you don't lock the router height once you have adjusted it? If you don't, there is no way to guarantee that the height will not change during use.

Having said that, I don't understand why it would be going *down*. Did you remove the springs on the router before putting it into the CMS OF module?

 

[arso_bg]

I did not remove any springs and did not change anything!

The Festool router table just does not provide an option to lock the router bit height above the table
You can only change the height of the router bit above the table. (See pic.3 )
And until now I never needed to lock the router bit height – I just set the height and go. There was never a problem with that ....

Facing the new situation … the only possible solution that I see is to lock the router height with the looking knob of the router under the table. This is very inconvenient, because you have to reach deep under the table in order to do that … but this is the only solution that I see for the time being…

I will have to make a couple of tests  and will write again about the result…

 

[Gregor]

Havn't had the depth adjustment spindle move on it's own... it would need interesting vibrations in the table to make it spin.

Are you sure it's the lift spindle turning, not something like the bit settling deeper into the collet (from that's not being as tightened as you thought it was)?

 

[Cheese]

Are you sure the collet isn't becoming loose? Several times now when routing aluminum, the collet on the 1010 loosened up and the router bit started to recess itself into the collet.

 

[jeffinsgf]

With the exception of hand-held plunge cuts (and usually even then) I wouldn't think of starting a router with out locking the plunge action. I'm amazed that a little downward drift is the only negative effect you've seen.

Inconvenient or not...you need to lock the router before you use it...in my opinion.

 

[Vondawg]

I always reach under and lock (tighten the knob) of the router after adjustment..like mentioned

 

[arso_bg]

I made some new tests today. At the end the reason for this strange result appeared to be a loose collar!!!
I have no explanation how it got loose, but after tightening of the collar I finally have a good result.

I think for the future I will also lock the router bit height with the router knob under the table. It is not very convenient, but it might prevent some drifting of the router bit height.

 

[Gregor]

I made some new tests today. At the end the reason for this strange result appeared to be a loose collar!!!
I have no explanation how it got loose, but after tightening of the collar I finally have a good result.

It happens.

I think for the future I will also lock the router bit height with the router knob under the table. It is not very convenient, but it might prevent some drifting of the router bit height.

Havn't had any issues with hight changing on its own (except through the collar), so I never saw any need to lock the router itself.

Did someone experience this? If yes: what was the cause?

 

[Birdhunter]

Do you mean a loose collet or loose collar. I’m not familiar with the CMS.

 

[RKA]

I think he's talking about the collet being loose. 

In answer to Gregor's question, I seem to recall the height moving ever so slightly (like 0.1-0.2mm) on me when I was cutting some dovetail joints.  I think it left some uneven gaps across the joint.  So for joinery, I would take that extra precaution and lock the height so it doesn't create problems that I won't see until I've already changed my router settings.  But for most other operations I haven't locked the height and it's been fine. 

 

[Alanbach]

If you have the problem again you might need to thoroughly clean your collet as well as the collet seat in the router.

 

[arso_bg]

I’m sorry for my mistake!

I meant collet … not collar  …. )

I hope you understand that English is not my native language  …

 

[Birdhunter]

I was not being critical. I don't have a CMS so thought the "collar" might be part of the CMS.

 

[Gregor]

I’m sorry for my mistake!

I meant collet … not collar  …. )

I hope you understand that English is not my native language  …

This.

Also ment collet, English is not my native language, sorry.
Have a nice sunday.