Improve TSO stops for parallel guides?

[MacBoy]

Y’all probably seen the announcement of TSO’s new generation of Parallel Guides.

It’s great they eliminated the parallax error that happened with the cursor blade on their stops.

Each. new. stop. is. $60 It’s nicely backwards compatible to the existing rails that are already in our shops.

Has someone improved the cursor blade with a 3D printed add-on

Perhaps with a clip-on bevel edge that tapers down to the scale markings.

I don’t have a printer. I’m willing to buy a printed accessory.

 

[usernumber1]

i just added self adhesive measuring tape which removed the gap and any parallax. i had other plans to add a small polycarbonate window with a cursor but it's been working great as is

bonus i have just metric now with clearer and finer lines, larger font and yellow/black is much easier to read

 

[MacBoy]

i just added self adhesive measuring tape which removed the gap and any parallax. i had other plans to add a small polycarbonate window with a cursor but it's been working great as is

bonus i have just metric now with clearer and finer lines, larger font and yellow/black is much easier to read

Oh cool — a simple method!

When you have a moment, share a photo please.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I use my TSO parallel guides all the time but yes setting up the cursor has been a challenge especially with my eyes getting older. I struggle with do I center it on the mark or at the edge - as long as you are consistent with your method you will be fine. Many for years say they had no issues with this (including the manufacturer) but glad they nailed it with the new cursor design. I'm like you though that I'm not willing to part with $120+tax+shipping for the new ones. I'm going to try this, but, was wondering with the old stops if you just made the cursor a dull color instead of shiny stainless if this would help.

 

[4nthony]

….was wondering with the old stops if you just made the cursor a dull color instead of shiny stainless if this would help.

Maybe spray them with a matte black paint? Less reflective would probably help.

 

[Michael Kellough]

If you just want to knock down the reflectiveness, add a little Scotch Magic transparent tape. Only adds a few thousands of an inch.

Doesn’t solve the problem of the wide increments on the rail. You just have to get used to consistently aligning with whichever part of the mark works for you.

 

[MacBoy]

An idea with a buddy is to make a wood wedge that bolts into the hole for the cursor blade.

The wedge bevels down to the scale markings.

Kinda like a door stop.

 

[TRG]

Heya folks,

Haven't posted here in a while, but as I was doing some late night shopping for new tools, and saw the price of the new stops, I decided to draft something up to replace the metal stop with a 3D printed one.

Have a few refinements to make, but will have the files up online after its done.

Here is one of the prototypes I printed this morning.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Heya folks,

Haven't posted here in a while, but as I was doing some late night shopping for new tools, and saw the price of the new stops, I decided to draft something up to replace the metal stop with a 3D printed one.

Have a few refinements to make, but will have the files up online after its done.

Here is one of the prototypes I printed this morning.

Nice - following this for sure!

 

[MacBoy]

Have a few refinements to make, but will have the files up online after its done.

This is fabulous news

Thanks for being a problem solver.

 

[mino]

Heya folks,

Haven't posted here in a while, but as I was doing some late night shopping for new tools, and saw the price of the new stops, I decided to draft something up to replace the metal stop with a 3D printed one.

Have a few refinements to make, but will have the files up online after its done.

Here is one of the prototypes I printed this morning.

You may want to go with black filament .. ideally a matte one. Better contrast with the white marks.

 

[TRG]

You may want to go with black filament .. ideally a matte one. Better contrast with the white marks.

I'm trying with a few different ones, but I'm leaning towards matte Orange as its the best contrasting colour with blue.

Stay tuned!

 

[mino]

I'm trying with a few different ones, but I'm leaning towards matte Orange as its the best contrasting colour with blue.

Stay tuned!

Prusa Orange it is then. Oh how do things converge!

 

[TRG]

Prusa Orange it is then. Oh how do things converge!

Haha, pretty much, I grabbed some cheapo stuff from Amazon that I'm waiting to arrive for the final revision print... then I'll post pics and links to Printables and MakerWorld.

 

[Packard]

I'm trying with a few different ones, but I'm leaning towards matte Orange as its the best contrasting colour with blue.

Stay tuned!

I bought my sister a very expensive slide rule (“Post” brand) in 1968 or 1969. They claimed that they used a Black Widow Spider web filament for the cross hair. It pre-dated lasers, and I believe the claim was true.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I bought my sister a very expensive slide rule (“Post” brand) in 1968 or 1969. They claimed that they used a Black Widow Spider web filament for the cross hair. It pre-dated lasers, and I believe the claim was true.

Back when cross hairs truly made a difference, when slide rules made the calculations that took men to the moon and back, cross hairs were even finer than hair. The big fat hash marks that that populate rules today (like those above) are my pet peeve.

 

[TRG]

Just started a new thread with links to the 3D printed files

T

Thread 'UPDATE: TSO Prallel Guide Prallax-Free Cursor/Indicator - 3D Print File Links Included :)'

Jan 8, 2026

Copy & pasted my post from the Festool groups on FB.

UPDATE: TSO Prallel Guide Prallax-Free Cursor/Indicator



Good evening ladies and gentlemen, after a little bit more time spent fine-tuning the design, I have it uploaded to Printables and to MakerWorld for those of you with fancy BambuLab printers.



I've made the sloped foot extend to pretty much the very tip, if you don't like it sticking out that far (does not affect any functionality or catch on anything), feel free to sand it down or let me know and I can upload a modified version of it (you can see some of the variations in the...

• TRG
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Other Tools & Accessories

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Enjoy folks!