I created EvidentTools to develop these innovations (Update 2017 June 22)

[evidenttools]

I have hitherto timidly contributed to the FOG, which I nevertheless read daily.

I am a building ingeneer, senior at the French Ministry of Ecology , Sustainable Development and Energy.

I recently created the company “EvidentTools” to value the innovations stemming from my primary business as a building engineer, crossed with an assiduous and successful practice of woodworking, on worksite and in workshops for almost 30 years.

You can see my wood projects by following this link:
http://www.copaindescopeaux.fr/forum/vos-realisations/12466.html

I designed several tools adapted to conduct certains works , or improving working conditions for operators.

Here is one of this innovations, the “Sys Van”, registered with the French Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) . I would certainly put forward further proposals afterwards.

Sys Van is a specific arrangement of the vehicle for craftmen, which allows optimal access to their tools , also facilitating their transfer from the workshop, and even providing a transport solution on site.

My research has shown that there is no equivalent in the market in Europe, the USA or Asia. Though it would meet the expectation of an extremely broad professional audience.

Of course, I offered this product to our two favorite brands ... but for industrial reasons that I can not express here, Festool and Tanos did not follow through.

I am looking for a company interested in this product, likely to acquire the rights, improve, produce and market it. EvidentTools is reachable (in French or English) at the email address evidenttools@outlook.fr.

The cabinet shown here is only a very limited prototype. We must keep in mind its advantages... but quickly forget its design!!! I can offer a much more sophisticated cabinet configuration, much more practical, with many other functionalities that make it suitable for all the nomadic trades in the diversity of their working situations.

In its final outcome, it will be a new solution particularly suited to moves and interventions in dense urban environments (wether for new construction, repair, maintenance, etc...).

Your comments are of course welcome. I present the Sys Van in the following message.

 

[evidenttools]

“Sys Van” is registered with the French Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).

- All rights reserved -

Please note that here is a highly simplified model of the Sys Van. This is a simple model to present the first features of the tool.

The registred Sys Van model exposes advanced features.

The work situation

The craftsmen have to carry their tools, as well as the various building materials.
Construction materials are transported to the construction site once. Their very different natures and sizes make it difficult to design suitable storage and filing devices (except for specific and repetitive crafts). For materials, the main thing is to have as much space as possible, where they are deposited and organized according to the activity of the day.

For the tools, the situation is different. The craftsman retains his tools, sometimes renews them. It does not use them on a daily basis, but it is important that it has all its panoply "in case of need". Thus, the craftsman's van serves as much for the storage of his tools as for transporting them to the construction site.

Moreover, the handling of the tools from the van to the workstation is tedious because daily, generating back and forth, non productive because annex, but necessary to the activity.

Also, the tools can benefit from permanent storage devices in the vehicle, allowing their classification and easy access. It is generally a system of shelves, allowing to organize boxes of equipment in an organized way, placed on the inner sides of the vehicle.

However, access to tools placed farthest from the openings is difficult, sometimes impossible when the floor is encumbered with materials or other supplies.

Moreover, the handling is carried out by as many as necessary portables units, which is time-consuming.

The solution

The idea proposed here is that in order to be accessible, the tools must be placed in front of the openings of the vehicle, such as the clothes in a cabinet. This option, however, prevents access to the rest of the vehicle volume from the opening thus equipped.

The Sys Van offers the possibility of such a way of storage and accessibility to tools. In order not to condemn access to the vehicle from this opening thus equipped, a technical device called here "chassis" allows an easy and rapid erasure, towards the outside of the vehicle, of all this storage assembly, here called "cabinet". It also makes it possible to dissociate the cabinet from the vehicle despite its weight. The cabinet having a mobility device can then join a workstation or storage.

The cabinet is designed and equipped to allow easy individual access to each tool, thus creating a real storage space that becomes an integral part of the workstation. The Sys Van thus makes it possible to dispose of the tools in the same way in the workshop, on a site even exposed to the weather, or from the transport vehicle.

The Sys Van includes the storage cabinet for the tools and the chassis allowing its attachment to the utility vehicle and its handling from, to, and inside of it.

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The Sys Van has a tool storage cabinet, facing one of the vehicle's openings.

The cabinet has a protective device, possibly against sight, but also and especially against the rain. The curtain here prototyped can provide a structure hanging it above the operator.

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Access to each of the tools is easy and straightforward, without having to enter the vehicle which can be cluttered with materials or supplies for the worksite.

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A handling device, equipped with "deadman" type safety devices, allows the cabinet to be released from its fasteners, pulled out of the vehicle and positioned against the front passenger's door.

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The cabinet is said to be in the "erase" position, because it is effectively effaced from the volume of the vehicle, as well as from the lateral opening.

The craftsman thus regains an integral access to the volume of storage, and the initial functionality of his vehicle.

In this configuration, the Sys Van is a functional workstation for the building trades with the possibility of working close to the vehicle: fitting out shops, renovating commercial facades, insulation and cladding of pavilions, installation of carpentry, fittings urban areas, etc.

The cabinet can easily find its initial position in the vehicle, making it possible to quickly secure the entire tooling.

Note :

The axis of the "chassis" was conceived here according to the interior trim of this van made up in family monospace.

If the external overhang of the cabinet induces a relatively large mechanical force, she is limited, because she is a static and non-dynamic force, the cabinet having only been got out in the parking position of the vehicle.

The fixture of the axis is relatively easy to implement in any van, by installing two orthogonal bracing planes, one being longitudinal and the other being transverse to the vehicle.

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The Sys Van includes a device for hoisting the cabinet in the vehicle and lowering it to the ground.

The craftsman can thus transport all his tooling and his current supplies in one go.

Without any intervention, the cabinet thus constitutes a work station in workshop, on worksite or from the van in the erase position. The craftsman easily finds each of his tools, which retains the same location in each of these configurations.

The cabinet presented here is only a prototype that has to be developed to be adapted to the different trades. For example, the prototype shown here allows the transport of a vacuum cleaner or a compressor.

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The Sys Van is equipped with inflatable wheels of large diameter, to allow easy movement on difficult building sites, for example when the roads finishing works are not completed.

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It can also be equipped with slings, allowing its displacement by air by mobilizing the machines of the worksite: tower crane, telescopic, etc ...

The operator is very quickly working on his site, having devoted very little time and effort to bring his material.

The gain will be the same at the end of the day, when it is necessary to store the material in the van.

This is especially appreciable for urban yards, when the craftsman has to park long distance from his worksite.

About the Sys Van cabinet

The cabinet presented here can be compared to metallic equivalent products marketed by others companies. It differs, however, in different aspects.

Its structure is made of aluminum profiles and canvas panels that contribute to its rigidity. The result is a significant weight gain: the cabinet shown here, fully equipped with drawers, weighs 15 kg. Against more than 30 kg for others products with a capacity of half.

Systainers used here are not presented frontally, but longitudinally, without losing accessibility.

It is thus possible to place 2 columns of systainers in the opening of a medium-sized van (the cabinet has a width of the order of 70 cm).

The cabinet has a depth of 40 cm, the same as others products (who have to incorporate the extra length of drawers required for the rear clearance of the systainer lid in the open position). This results in better compactness: with a additional volume of only 40%, the capacity of the Sys Van is doubled.

In the end, the  Sys Van cabinet, compared to others products:

- Is twice as light

- Is 30% more compact

- For a double capacity.

 

[evidenttools]

Hello.

I thought, through the FOG, to have a global audience ...

The forum is usually quick to react to the 427th version of a MFTC workbench, or the 324th clamp adaptation for a FS rail. All proposals that in any case are not without interest. I will soon realize my own MFTC, in a 428th version ...

I was hoping at least to have a reaction like "wonderful," or "too bad to dare to show it."

Okay, I'll see if I would post other proposals.

 

[UncleJoe]

Looks interesting, I am a little confused on the loading and unloading of the kit into and out of the van. Perhaps a simple video of it in action would help clarify it for me and others. Is there a lift that brings this up and down?

Is the "outside" cloth? if so could it be printed with a carpenters logo? That might be an interesting thing.

 

[antss]

I find your invention clever , but let me offer some reasons why you haven't received any feedback.

Your solution is for what we call a minivan in the U.S. - where a majority of FOGers are based.

Few tradesmen use that type of vehicle here.  And those that do will be put off having the rear view blocked by the rack.  The ability to transport sheet goods flat has also been lost.

The sling just isn't needed by most Festool guys. If a job requires flying in tools - then it's not ready for work requiring Festool quality tools.  It's still in rough construction stage.  Those guys won't /can't buy Festools.

That's a big mass of gear to move around.  I don't care how good the wheels are- it's still going to be heavy to push or pull around. Forget about going up a flight of stairs.

I'm sure it works for you and the types of jobs you go to, but I think you won't find many other guys willing to pay for one. Especially in the USA.

 

[morts10n]

I like the method of storage and the ability to pull it completely out of the van for other access, but the idea of lifting it down to the ground and wheeling it into a jobsite /client home would not work for me about 90% of the time. I'd like to see pics of the pivoting mechanism, and I'd like to see how easy it would be to remove the entire assembly in the event that an empty van is needed to transport something large.
Thank you and good luck!

 

[evidenttools]

Hello.

Thank you for your contributions. I wanted at least to open a debate.

I answer a few points. I would complete in a few weeks on the subjects of which I wish to retain the exclusivity to a possible industrial partner.

This is really a prototype, made with the means at my fingertips: Ikea aluminium profiles, recycled advertising tarpaulins ... this is the functionalities that I wanted to expose, all industrial and technical design remains to be developed.

Yes, it is rather suited for a minivan, I have measured that it is little used in the USA. But the FOG is international! It is the common working vehicle in Europe.

I do not retain the fault of obstructing the rear view: the Sys van in position is narrower than the width of the passenger seat, inserting more in the lateral roundness of the body.

Yes, it eliminates the possibility of transporting flat elements ... as in every van carrying tools!

The prototype of the structure shown here is very limited: I have provided provisions to adapt it to each vehicle simply (the buyer could do it himself): the distance between the back of the sliding door and the face of the passenger door is the main parameter. In order to reduce the bulk, it can be easily removed in the same way as TanosMobil elements. Or, better, simply folded.

There is a lift ... manual or electric, or something else ... for the time being, I do not expose my ideas about it!

The tarpaulin can of course receive any advertising graphics.

Antss: "The sling just is not needed by most Festool guys. If a job requires flying in tools - then it's not ready for work requiring Festool quality tools. It's still in rough construction stage. Those guys will not / can not buy Festools". I did not understand what you wanted to say. “Google translate” either ... I'm a little Frenchie who does not master English perfectly ...

Of course, the subject is the cabinet. But I had taken the precaution of specifying: "The cabinet shown here is only a very limited prototype. We must keep in mind its advantages... but quickly forget its design!!! "

I can not imagine taking him up the stairs. Even if the configuration shown in the pictures would be perfectly suitable for a carpenter who will use the crane of the site.

If you work on sites, you know the diversity of situations and equipment needs. The cabinet must meet this modularity. Look at what exists: SysRoll, WorkMo, Walt Touch System ... imagine a product with the same advantages, but without their disadvantages (because they have, SysRoll in particular): I would present it to you in some time.

As soon as I have a little time, I would expose you another proposal: we will debating sawing ...

Hoping to inspire you for your DIY devices.

Thank you.

 

[evidenttools]

Second proposition: « Sys Cut » Device

- “Sys Cut” is registered with the French Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) -

- All rights reserved -

Please note that this document provides a highly simplified model of the Sys Cut device. This is a simple plywood model to present the first features of the tool.

The registred SysCut model exposes advanced mechanical, electronic and computing features.

Some woodworking activities require the cuts of relatively long and heavy pieces of wood (of the order of 4 m / 4.50 m), sometimes with millimeter accuracy.

These include for example the wood frame construction activities, or wood siding on insulation. This latter activity has also vocation to grow, according to mondial public action in favor of energy rehabilitation of existing buildings.

Today, there is no dedicated device for and specifically designed for the task. The craftsman now uses a circular saw to cut the wood previously measured and plotted, resting on trestles.

In the best case, he uses a radial saw mounted on a support allowing the maintenance of large length pieces. This tool, however, only allows the cutting of a single piece of wood, so that some sections can be repeated according to the same length. In addition, the size of the high position saw may appear awkward and uncomfortable when you have to cut a large amount of heavy parts, which must be handled taking care not to hit the engine block.

In any case, the part must be measured and plotted before being cut to length.

To adapt the piece of wood to length, you have to operate currently as follows:

- A) take the measurement, with a tape rule

- B) choose the piece of wood, and deposit it on the cutting support

- C) postpone the measure on the piece of wood from the end of the piece of wood

- D) mark the cut line with a pencil

- E) reposition precisely the wood in place under the cutting tool

- F) perform cutting

With Sys Cut, the operator simply does the following:

- A) he takes the measurement using a special tape rule

- B) he choose the piece of wood, deposit it on the special support, abutted on an automatically positioned cleat

- C) he perform cutting

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Sys Cut consists of easily transportable parts.

It is assembled on demand according to the required length of the job (one bench section for hardwood floors, 3 sections for wood cladding ...).

The abutting bench sections require mechanical and electrical connections, which can draw on the Planex extensions for example.

The main bench section (closer to the cut) carries the motor, electronic controler, screen and digital control panel.

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Sys Cut uses the HK55 or HK85 saw with his FSK guide. FSK guide is against two fixed cleats, to retain the same cutting reference line.

The workstation is equipped for ergonomic manipulation and placement of the unused saw.

Note: A TS55REBQ saw and a FS rail are used here for demonstration, instead of a HK saw.

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The operator takes the measure of cutting required, as with a conventional tape rule.

But he did not need to read and memorize the measurement. He simply activates a specific button on the measuring tape, which records the data and transmits it to the Sys Cut bench.

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Sys Cut prepares good cutting length, from the constant HK saw cutting line.

Length is defined by the movement of the sliding guide and the choice of one of the regularly spaced cleats. This cleat is electrically activated.

This provision limits the longitudinal movement of the sliding guide: technical simplification, and time savings for the sliding, allowing Sys Cut to be ready to cut when the operator approaches it.

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The operator position the workpiece abutted on the cleat activated by the processor and against the sliding guide.

He performs cutting.

No measuring or marking were required.

In particular when cutting long pieces of wood, he saves movements up to the extremity of the workpiece to position the hook of the tape rule.

It is calculated that Sys Cut save around 15% of time for a team of 3 people posing wood siding.

With additional features not shown here, a operator posing woodfloor can save around 30% of time.

Sys Cut permanently deletes metering and marking of wood workpieces, that are repetitive, systematic and sometimes complicated manipulations (on top of a ladder under a roof overhang, for example).

The required technologies already exist :

- Physical length acquisition, numeric transcription and remote transmission :
https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/2523846/video-679477-webm.webm
http://www.bagel-labs.com/

(Note that the Sys Cut was registred before the Bagel tape public promotion)

- Accurate length positionning for the cut :

Simple « 1D » positionning technology of any 2D CNC table

 

[Bob D.]

"And those that do will be put off having the rear view blocked by the rack."

I believe that the driver is not on the same side of the vehicle as here in
the States, so I would say most likely the rack does not block his view if
that is the case, but from the photos there is no clear view which shows
the drivers position in the vehicle.

 

[ear3]

French drive on right, as in the States.  I think it's only the Brits and former Commonwealth countries (with exceptions, though, like Canada for instance) who drive on the left.

"And those that do will be put off having the rear view blocked by the rack."

I believe that the driver is not on the same side of the vehicle as here in
the States, so I would say most likely the rack does not block his view if
that is the case, but from the photos there is no clear view which shows
the drivers position in the vehicle.

 

[Bob D.]

OK, wasn't aware of that they had the driver on the left as we do.

 

[antss]

First pic shows steering wheel on the left side.  France has always been this way.

Regardless of whether the wheel is left of right, at least half of your rearward view is obstructed.  For left hand drive it's worse.  Because the obstruction is in your "blind spot" 

It is a nice set up that will appeal to a few tradesmen.  It does not have any mass appeal , especially as a commercial venture.  Sorry.

 

[semenza]

[member=53859]evidenttools[/member]  Is the idea for the cutting system to be able to cut wider than 12" ?  Because other wise I think a miter saw with a Tigerstop or similar is what you are up against.

Seth

 

[nickao]

Just forcing a track saw to do what other saws do better. I would call it a jig as its for a very dedicated purpose.

 

[evidenttools]

Hello.

Thank you for your contributions.

I do not invent new tools. But I center my reflection on ergonomics: this is the case for the Sys Van, but also the Sys Cut.

Sys Cut invests the field of communication between tools.

It is not, here, about connecting the saw bench with a mobile phone, even it is very modern. Todays' proposals are reaching their limits from my point of view. Checking the temperature of the Milwaukee drill motor, or adjusting its torque levels using your phone is fine. But what greater value in terms of profitability ?
 
I do not intend to show you simple improvements of paths already borrowed by others ... it is in any case my pretension ...
 
I believe that the next step, which brings a real functionality, and that will borrow all the trademarks, is the communication between tools.
 
Between the tape measure and the bench for Sys Cut. Or between the ETS EC sander and the vacuum cleaner that is a first response from Festool. We can look at other things. I'll tell you about eventually...
 
Today, your car is connected to your mobile phone. Tomorrow she will communicate with the car that follows her.
 
You know now the basics of Sys Cut. It remains for me to expose functional, mechanical, ergonomic or software developments. I've built a multi-user approach for teamworking, for example. The Sys Cut can be used with a kapex, or other radial saws. But it is especially relevant with HK saws by offering additional features that I will not have yet exposed.

I have also developed softwarel algorithms to save time, to work ... without measuring! Time is money ... save time, work faster, more ergonomically and with less fatigue, are my only goals.

I know what Tigerstop offers. But my proposal is more for artisans than for industries. Compared to the "Sawgear" model of Tigerstop, the Sys Cut is:

- modular and adaptable to different configurations of work, and to different trades,

- much more efficient, and a much wider field of use if used with a HK type saw,

- and above all ... connected! For what benefit? Win time !

 

[antss]

You cannot have it both ways.

If your product is for "artisans"  then they are by definition not as concerned with speed, time, efficiency , and usually profitability.

If you are marketing to the production owner who IS concerned with those things , then you are competing with established products.  What makes your mousetrap better ?

And while Milwaukee's Bluetooth gizmo is neat, it only comes on a few of their tools , and only in the 18v lines up. So ,few sales, and even less users.  I have a few and have never even opened the app. I suspect there are other buyers like me. Meaning : small market. 

Same with the car features. How many people actually use any of those gee wiz features besides the hands free phone connectivity ?  People aren't buying the cars because they have this connectivity, they are buying them because they have no choice. The auto makers are forcing this stuff down our throats.  Most of the features go unused.

Plus the biggest drawback is what happens when the electronics go tits up ?  Will my saw or drill still work ?  Will I have to rely on my old tape measure anyway?

If you're charging by the hour, the xtra time these things might save will not add to your bottom line. You simply don't have enough scale as a one man crew.

 

[cpw]

Same with the car features. How many people actually use any of those gee wiz features besides the hands free phone connectivity ?  People aren't buying the cars because they have this connectivity, they are buying them because they have no choice. The auto makers are forcing this stuff down our throats.  Most of the features go unused.

I disagree with you on the car features, people are definitely buying cars with bluetooth and hands-free in mind.  It's not safe/legal to use your phone otherwise (not that hands free is necessarily safer, but it is at least legal); and plenty of people want to use their phone.

I'm not convinced of the product, just because it seems like that I want my tape measures to be cheap and plentiful.  If they become expensive and bound to a particular tool, that seems like it reduces the utility.

 

[antss]

Really,

off the top of your head can you name three new cars that don't have that feature ?

My point was , people don't really have a choice any more when buying new.  AND , I asked are they buying based on the features  "besides the hands free connectivity "

 

[cpw]

Really,

off the top of your head can you name three new cars that don't have that feature ?

My point was , people don't really have a choice any more when buying new.  AND , I asked are they buying based on the features  "besides the hands free connectivity "

I definitely want to have my music stream to the car - and if I was buying a new car that didn't have I would pick another one.  I do agree that most cars have that, but I don't think it is being shoved down anyone's throat, I think that people want it - just like they want an AM/FM radio or AC.  For something that is trivially cheap in the context of a new car (average of more than $30K), why wouldn't a manufacturer include it when it probably costs them no more than $10 and can be something that would turn someone off from the car.

GPS systems are still an up-charge, but I think they are also losing out to phones with connectivity because Waze and others have better routing/real time traffic.

 

[southrider]

This seems to me an interesting concept. Don't get all caught up in which tool it's attached to. He is obviously a thinker and inventor, not a parts builder.

To have a bluetooth tape measure that will take and retain a dozen or so measurements, and then transmit them to the tool of your choice is a very neat innovation to me. Especially if the tool has a self moving fence or stop.

I can think of many applications for this, baseboards for one. No more scribbling a dozen measurements on a scrap of board and then measuring & marking each one. You know if your miter saw station has a good stop with built in tape that you'd use it, why not the same setup where the stop moves for you every time you tap a button on the tape?

This could work for aftermarket table saw fences as well, where you are ripping say wood shingles all day.

The tape measure wouldn't have to be that much more expensive, a couple buttons, led readout, $5 worth of memory, and a software program.

Just saying - this idea has merit.