I have one Mafell Erika 85 Ec at my disposal at work. The device is not my personal property, however I was the one who made the purchase.
I use it mainly to prepare rectangular blankos for materials testing specimens. Usually polymers and composites, but sometimes metals like aluminum and copper alloys. I have yet to find a proper blade geometry for harder alloys, however I see this possible due to adjustable range of rpm and the exclusive service relationship with Malmin Terä Oy.
Pros (case sensitive):
The saw has maintained it's level of precision very well, regardless of the blade type (custom or by Mafell).
For example: With a specially arranged self-made zero-tolerance tabletop surface for Erika 85Ec (not original but self-made), I have been able to cut consistent 0,15mm slices out of rather fragile thermoset material (specimens for DMA testing). In such demand, regardless of the self-made tabletop, it is indeed asked that nothing essentially vibrates.
This means that: blade body is straight, blade body is balanced, blade teeth are consistently sharpened, blade can be fixed with a simple yet consistent manner, the machining of blade seating is extremely precise, the drive axle is straight, the seating of the motor and transmission is extremely parallel to push-pull action, the railing for push-pull action is straight, the saw aluminum tabletop is straight and not twisted... The user interface is simple and repeatable at least per user. Erika has been incredible in these issues.
I admit I have used the Erika 85 Ec for my own good, to make me a couple of wooden handplane beddings (James Krenov/Ron Hock style), and for a couple of custom picture frames. The others at work have used the 85Ec for precision cutting of aluminum profiles, sometimes using almost the full (430mm) travel of push-pull action. The results for joint quality have been praised without exceptions.
Cons:
What Mafell made out of this line of portable table saws, was to compete with The Quality itself. Not joking. (the business people members of FOG probably could point out some practical issues on what this kind of ideology could cause, in real life).
The main aim was to develop a worksite saw that would answer to the demands of finishing carpenters as well. I have understood that there were an amount of people who indeed wanted to make all of it on a single saw platform and just with by adjusting the single fence as easily as possible.
I simply feel, that due to previous reasons, despite how precise and useful the Mafell Erika line is at the moment, it is still not fully matured yet. Just a gut feeling.
There are stories how Erikas have replaced a compound miter saw. Ok, maybe some of those stories are true, however I would not necessarily do so on my behalf. Erika's guide system is indeed quick and versatile, moreover, the blade tilt is probably the quickest yet incredibly consistent I have seen in any purely hand-operated circular table saw. I do not necessarily need to check the angles everytime. Yet, it (in my mind) does not replace a proper compound miter saw just because a miter saw does it as quickly both right- and left-handed. Then again, the compound miter saw needs to be very good quality to do so without hassle. I have a reason to think that Erika would not replace Kapex in my use, however it starts to become a matter of taste at this level of expenses (usually).
Yes, Erika 85Ec is extremely portable and robust, equipped with a 2,6 kW CUprex motor that eats up all of the woodstuff within rational thickness range (and with a proper blade style). However, Mafell Erika line is to date based on the idea of a maximum quality worksite circular table saw and nothing else. It is not an Altendorf. Yes it will beat the crap out of badly punished tablesaws. Then what is a badly punished tablesaw, you need an expert friend to point it out.
Summary:
With Erikas, you do not need to worry about basic issues (truly made in Germany... Heckler&Koch is btw the next door factory), you only remember that they are worksite gear by nature. You Can easily achieve up to furniture precision levels though, especially with the 70 or 85Ec, limited by your material width and thickness. They are not precision table panel saws. The fame emerges for a reason though.
Erikas weigh around 30-40 kilograms. Table saws weigh something like from 100kg to 500 kg, or more. This alone should tell about the comparison as well.
Cheers,
Ikisumu
Edit: Sorry for my bad non-native english. I'm still learning.
