How to make a MFT Top

[MahalaHomecraft]

you can get the bit from festoolproducts.com.  great customer service over there too.  491072.

 

[Wenyce]

So, to keep this post on track .. has "anyone" tried this method to make a custom size top for their shop?  looking for lessons learned if anyone has done this.  Thanks!

I haven't done exactly that, but I know that most printers (plotters, laser jets, ect.) are not as accurate as u are looking for them to be (for the purpose u stated above). They all stretch there prints, the laser jet is the worst for dimension accuracy, plotters are more accurate, but still over the distance ur talking about, 4ft, I wouldn't recommend it. (15 years experience with printing machines of all types)

I personally like the idea of borrowing an mft top, or the CNC route would be great. Best of luck how ever you go about it and report back with ur conclusion.

 

[Brev]

So, to keep this post on track .. has "anyone" tried this method to make a custom size top for their shop?  looking for lessons learned if anyone has done this.  Thanks!

I personally like the idea of borrowing an mft top, or the CNC route would be great. Best of luck how ever you go about it and report back with ur conclusion.

I am getting an mft style top CNC cut next week from a sheet of 3/4" maple ply. I'll post a picture when I receive it.

 

[Claimdude]

So, to keep this post on track .. has "anyone" tried this method to make a custom size top for their shop?  looking for lessons learned if anyone has done this.  Thanks!

I personally like the idea of borrowing an mft top, or the CNC route would be great. Best of luck how ever you go about it and report back with ur conclusion.

I am getting an mft style top CNC cut next week from a sheet of 3/4" maple ply. I'll post a picture when I receive it.

I had mine cut with a cnc several months back. Over all dimensions are app 71" x 41". Holes are 20mm and 96mm on center. Current dogs (Parf, etc) fit like a glove. Here's a pic.

Jack

 

[leer]

If you have a top CNC-routed, take a bench dog with you to verify the fit is what you want.  Below is the link to my post on making my own "MFT-XL"  about two weeks ago.  I took a Qwas dog to verify the correct hole size, since I had bought a 1/2" spiral upcut bit and knew there are some minute variances from bit to bit.  We nailed it on the 3rd sample milling of a set of test holes.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/member-projects/home-built-%27mft-xl%27-workbench/

 

[CarolinaNomad]

OP's original question, I don't think a print out is beneficial.  Laying out the pattern in autocad would help see how it would be situated on the table, but not for cutting the holes.  I would be afraid the paper would move during drilling.  Secondly, aligning the paper to the mdf top would be tough.  You would have to glue the paper to the top and placing it would be tedious.

As for the LR 32, you can align the LR 32 to the sides of the table.  Basically, create the parallel and perpendicular reference from the sides.  Once you have clamped the LR 32 down, you don't have to worry about movement or trying to align the bit to the hole for every hole.

Just my two cents worth.

Jeff

 

[Wuffles]

If you're paying for CNC, get them to knock up a template for the future too. I had a full sheet machined with 20mm holes and a half sheet cut with 30mm holes instead of 20mm. Guide bush on the router drops straight into the hole, plunge with a 20mm bit on anything I like and bingo, MFT.

This has all been covered on other threads before of course, I'm doing nothing new. Each to their own.