MFT/3 guide rail guide to small for 1400-rail

[sgryd]

Hi.
I was about to calibrate another guide rail to my MFT/3 so I can make longer cuts. I fitted a 1400 rail to the hinge an started my calibration with Qwas dogs. I couldn't get a tight fit and discovered that the guide rails differs. This dissapoints me. Is it just my 1400 rail or do you have the same problem?

The 1400 rail has an 8.51 mm kerf for the centering guide on the MFT/3 to "lock on":
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The 1080 rail has an 8.27 mm kerf:
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The smaller kerf on the 1080 makes for a snug fit if I cut off some of the rubber on the rail so the steering pin bottoms out in the kerf. But the wider kerf on the 1400 rail makes a snug fit impossible. Maybe hard to se on the image, but the slop is more than I'm happy with.
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Any suggestions?

 

[sgryd]

Hmm.
It seems that this error will give a maximum of 0,01 degrees off. Maybe I'll let it pass and concentrate on building things instead of calibrating.

 

[rmwarren]

This will fix your problem:

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Available in the US on eBay and I believe @ www.toolnut.com, or directly from John (who is a member here - John2532) if you contact him thru www.toolimprovements.com.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tune-your-Festool-MFT-rail-with-Slop-Stop-/280871756407?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416542e277#ht_500wt_1414

You should be able to find more info on the FOG if you search for "slop stop".

RMW

 

[sgryd]

That's great news, thank you!
I'm sorry for not searching for this before posting  [embarassed]

 

[rmwarren]

That's great news, thank you!
I'm sorry for not searching for this before posting  [embarassed]

No problem, it probably would not have been easy to find. Enjoy.

RMW

 

[sheeschen]

And just so you don't think you're going crazy, I noticed a difference in the slot widths between some of my rails when I installed my slop-stop.  It was an extremely tight fit on my 1080 rail - lots of grunting and effort to move the thing just an inch (I had to check to make sure I had backed off the set screws).  It would slide with no resistance on my 1400 rail.  I'm not sure if it's due to the rails being built at different times or if Festool purposely makes the 1080 tighter to try to eliminate crosscut slop on the MFTs.

 

[greg mann]

The extrusion dies that make the rails will wear over time and change some of these dimensions. If you set up the rail with a bias so that the finger is tight against the side closest to the splinterguard when engaged the extra clearance becomes irrelevant. I know there are many here who disagree with this approach but it works and is very simple.