Incra LS Router Table fence "Quick Disconnect?"

[3PedalMINI]

I'm designing my workbench/router table combo and have decided to go with the Incra LS system. Is there a way I could quickly disconnect it from the table? I was thinking about doing two small t-tracks directly below the mounting block and using some kind of bolt or something to quickly attach/detach it?

Space is limited in my garage and Im stuck combining the two (as much as I don't want to)

Any Ideas? I really don't want to reach into the table to connect it. I do realize that I would have to ensure square every time I attached it but its something i'll have to live with combining the two!

Thanks!

 

[duc996]

Are you going with 20mm holes on your workbench? If so, the make a mounting plate for the LS positioner to mount using the 20mm holes. I don’t know the part number off hand but, I know that would be one option you can go with. I have an Incra LS router table and love the thing. Post up your finished work table when your done.

Here is the link to the mounting platehttps://precisiondogs.us/products/precision-plate

 

[Corwin]

I'm designing my workbench/router table combo and have decided to go with the Incra LS system. Is there a way I could quickly disconnect it from the table? I was thinking about doing two small t-tracks directly below the mounting block and using some kind of bolt or something to quickly attach/detach it?

Space is limited in my garage and Im stuck combining the two (as much as I don't want to)

Any Ideas? I really don't want to reach into the table to connect it. I do realize that I would have to ensure square every time I attached it but its something i'll have to live with combining the two!

Thanks!

The are a number of ways to mount an Incra LS to your table. A simple method is to just install some T-nuts in your table as illustrated on page 6 of the Incra LS manual as mounting for an "Incra Ready" router. Or, using T-track, as you've mentioned, is also an option. The LS Base has a couple of mounting options. And, you can either mount the LS Base directly to your table, or you can first mount the LS Base to a MDF or plywood base that you then mount to your table.

I don't see that you need to square the Incra LS to anything when using it on a router table, unless you have a miter slot installed and want to square to that. Anyway, if you do elect to install T-track in your table to mount the LS Base, you could place stops within the T-track to locate the position of the LS Base using rectangular nuts and set screws just like the way Festool does their stops on the MFT. Years ago, they used to make nice stops for T-track, but I don't see that offered anymore. Or, you can mount the LS Base to a separate MDF or plywood base that you could make like a bench hook to index off the edge of your table. Lots of possibilities here.

 

[kevinculle]

The key advantage of the Incra fence systems is the dead nuts repeatability of the stops at 1/32" or 1mm increments.  Whatever method you develop for a quick removal/install needs to be precise and repeatable enough to positively locate the base or you'll need to rezero it every time you swap it out.

 

[RKA]

Here is a picture of the profile of the base that comes with the LS positioner. Those slots are for 1/4” T nuts. The top side has 3 slots for the nuts and bolts that secure the positioner to the base.

 

[Corwin]

Often, simplest is best. In my prior post I mentioned the possibility of mounting the LS Base to a bench hook; a piece of MDF or plywood with a cleat on the underside. The cleat then indexes off an edge of your bench top. You could also either mount a stop block along that edge of your bench top, or, if this bench hook can overhang a corner, just mount a second cleat for that edge to locate your LS in a repeatable position. If your bench top will allow, you can then simply clamp the bench-hook-Incra-LS to the bench top and eliminate the need to embed T-track on your bench.

 

[3PedalMINI]

Thanks Guys! My bench will get the 20mm holes so I’m wondering if that adapter is my ticket.

I’m having the top CNCed so it will be accurate. I did think about putting the t track in with the square nuts but I didn’t realize I would have to drill holes in the mounting adapter. My bench top will be a hybrid of Paulks bench, but I really don’t want to reach up in there to try and attach it. Would prefer todo this top side!

Didn’t actually think about clamping it down. Maybe the adapter and clamps are my best bet?

 

[Cincinnati]

The housing of the LS positioner has t-track channels in the bottom.  On the Incra router table, through holes are drilled, and 1/4 - 20 bolts are dropped down through the top and captured with nuts.  You can counterbore the thu holes so that when you remove the LS positioner, the mounting bolt heads recess below the surface of the table.

I replaced the nuts under the table with cam nuts so I could easily remove the positioner without a wrench.

Unless you don’t want the bolts in the table top, The bench dog mounting plate is not needed. IMHO.

 

[simonh]

I have the precision dogs plate and think it is excellent. Very easy and quick to attach and detach on the MFT. So if workspace is an issue you can take it off, hang it up, then later put it back in the same set of dog holes and its ready to go without recalibrating.  Another benefit is that if you want to work wider than your positioner will allow you can just drop it back a set of dog holes and add on 96mm to all your measurements (I setup one of the auxillary rulers to remind me of the offset)

 

[Cincinnati]

Simon, you make an excellent point in that the plate permits you to remove the lead screw and put it back while maintaining calibration, including squareness. Plus you can use a shorter lead screw and just move it by 96mm increments - you essentially have stops built-in at every set of holes. 

That would be a sweet set-up.

 

[AndrewG]

Sorry to reply in an older thread but I’m going through this same dilemma now. I’d like to mount my Incra LS 17” positioner on my table saw extension table and be able to take it on/off.

What I don’t understand, and probably because I’m new to the Incra and haven’t installed it yet, is why is must be put back in the same position each time? I would understand if your positioner is set and your part way through an operation, and for whatever reason you need to remove the positioner and put it back without losing calibration etc. But don’t you need to zero/calibrate the fence each time you change router bits?

Also, what is the advantage of having the positioner square to the table?

Again, I’m new to the system and still getting my head around it. Very excited about the possibilities, especially paired with a router lift.

Cheers

 

[RKA]

Your understanding is correct, however, if your workflow is interrupted and you need the table for cutting (say, if you ruined a part), you can switch to cutting with the incra removed, and resume your routing with it reinstalled, no set up necessary. 

If you have 1 or 2 common bits you work with constantly, you can dedicate one of the scales to that bit.  1/4” and 1/2” plywood bits might be an example if you build a lot of cabinets or rabbeted drawers.

If you’re doing an operating that requires two bits (sliding dovetail or T slot), you can hog out your groove, remove the fence if it’s in the way, swap to your dovetail or T slot bit, put the fence back and just adjust the height.  But usually you have enough room to slide the fence back without needing to remove the whole fence.

It’s just an added convenience that can save some time and give you more consistent results.

As for the positioner being square to the table.  If you use the miter slot on the table or a sliding table on the CMS, you’ll need it square.  With the incra, you set it up square once, and you’re done.  No need to re-square after the fence goes off and on again. Again, a time saving convenience.

 

[AndrewG]

Thanks @RKA I appreciate the reply. I’m now thinking of a way to do this without a PGS. I’ll likely drill four 20mm holes through a small piece of MDF that will hold the positioner, then into my table saw extension table and place four dogs through the holes.

 

[demographic]

Thanks [member=21249]RKA[/member] I appreciate the reply. I’m now thinking of a way to do this without a PGS. I’ll likely drill four 20mm holes through a small piece of MDF that will hold the positioner, then into my table saw extension table and place four dogs through the holes.

Must admit, I'm considering doing something like that with my multifunction slab, its got to be very portable and I'm not convinced I always want brackets and whatnot above the height of the tabletop so I was thinking of just registering it in place with benchdogs.
There's nowhere close where I can take a really good look at the LS positioner but on the face of it, I can't see why not.