LR32 rail hole spacing

[measuretwice]

Hallo. I have been kindly lent an LR32 system by a friend who has gone away for an extended holiday.
Unfortunately he did not leave me the rails.
I have a festool 1400 router and a set of plain rails. I can competently drill the holes in my own rails, but wondered if anyone can measure and tell me the distance in from the end that the 32mm repeat holes start.

Thank you

 

[peter halle]

I can't accurately give you that measurement, BUT if you are trying to replicate the holes in the LR-32 rails I just wanted to let you know that they aren't a circular hole.  The are more oval.

Peter

 

[Bohdan]

They are oval to allow for the slight variation of the position of the router sled when you tighten the slop in the slide on the rail.

They are also equidistant from each edge but where you start them is not critical as the jig lines up with the first hole and not the rail end.

 

[measuretwice]

Thank  you. Is the oval longer at 90 degrees to the length of the rail?
I get that the starting point is the first hole, but I wold  like to make it so I can        use the end stops.
I guess I just need to divide by 32 and centralise.....?

 

[Bob D.]

The longer diameter of the oval is perpendicular to the length of the rail.

I measured both of my rails and the edge to center distance varies from
12 mm to 11.48 mm between the four of them. Now those are reasonably
accurate measurements taken with a micrometer and not as precise as I
could do if I took a little more time but there is definitely some variation
between them.

I'd be curious to know if others see any variance or are they all exactly the
same.

 

[Bohdan]

like to make it so I can use the end stops.
I guess I just need to divide by 32 and centralise.....?

The end stops locate on the hole in the rail, and when you join rails it is based on the holes so its location from the end is not critical.

 

[Mitchewd]

The rails are not that expensive and the precision is far higher than you can achieve by hand or jig...

I wouldn't do what you are about to do.  Bad idea.

 

[BJM9818]

The rails are not that expensive and the precision is far higher than you can achieve by hand or jig...

I wouldn't do what you are about to do.  Bad idea.

X2. No way you can custom cut holes at home and make everything align properly

 

[Svar]

The rails are not that expensive and the precision is far higher than you can achieve by hand or jig...
I wouldn't do what you are about to do.  Bad idea.

X2. No way you can custom cut holes at home and make everything align properly

Yes, you can depending on the tools you have at home. It can be done with a plunge router and a simple jig and be under 0.2 mm off over 4 ft rail. Not that it's worth the trouble, but it can be done in reasonable time.

 

[ben_r_]

Personally Id just sell the 55" rail(s) I had and rebuy the holey rails. Probably wont lose more than $20 per rail if your rails are in good condition. For $20 to have them done perfectly, I think its worth it.

 

[Bob D.]

Personally Id just sell the 55" rail(s) I had and rebuy the holey rails. Probably wont lose more than $20 per rail if your rails are in good condition. For $20 to have them done perfectly, I think its worth it.

Probably the best solution but I believe it is possible to make your own and be accurate.
I drilled one of my DeWalt rails every 32mm last year. Never did finish the indexing system
to use with the DeWalt plunge router on that track. Kinda lost interest after I bought the
TSC55 with rails, OF1400, and LR32 system.