MFT / 3 Precision Saw & Router Fence with INCRA Incremental Positioning System

[festoller]

First of all I would like to thank all the members who helped build this system! The complete "evolution" can be found in this post:

Development of the MFT Precision Saw & Router Fence

but since the post got pretty long here's the result and a short summary.

I decided to get the 25" INCRA LS Positioner Incremental Positioning System (INCRA #LS25SYS), because with my setup you have almost 80 mm of workpiece lenght. With slight adjustments (putting the Festool Rail on the other side you could gain the width of the Guide Rail). If you have two MFTs connected the width increases acordingly! You don't need to even think about the INCRA Saw Fence, the LS25SYS is 100% square and rigid, even at full lenght

Here's the final setup with the Kapex Crown Molding Extension as support and two bench dogs.If you spend a little effort on squaring the base with the Positioner it's dead on square to the MFT grid and can easily be switched from one side to the other!

Saw Fence with almost 80 mm cut width:

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Kapex Crown Molding as support (bolted with the LS base)

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Adjustable bench dog (from Ebay US)

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I've already built a router table to fit the MFT hight as an extension, but now it's the perfect match for the LS. The feet are adjustable and if your floor isn't 100 % I'd recommend to do the same. Takes only a minute to level with the MFT Surface. It's pretty rigid that way, but I am still working on a simple solution for connecting the router table and the MFT other than using a clamp.

Here it's connected to the left side:

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And here to the front, but the beauty is you can put it on all 4 sides:

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When not in use and since there's no fence in the way the router table can be used for the Kapex and the KA-UG extension can rest on the MFT and be 100% level.

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I don't know if the Festool MFT Extension and the CMS Module would top this setup, but if I would exchange my top to the INCRA router table top with lift, it would probaly be pretty precise. Of course the Festool routers don't fit the Woodpecker or INCRA lifts, but maybe it's even better to use a different model for under the table anyway. For now I'am fine with adjusting the router hight by hand and the price for both the Festool Lift or INCRA/Woodpecker seems to high.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask and thanks again to all the helpfull posts!

 

[Corwin]

You setup looks great!

How about posting a reply on the Solution (fence & stop) for cutting small pieces with the Kapex thread and include the last photo from you post above.  You could certainly answer a few questions there.

... and, did I mention that your setup looks great?  [thumbs up]

 

[SeamusGotJ]

Hi Festoller

Do you think your setup would also work with the MFT/3-VL and the CMS Modules for the tablesaw and router module?

Best regards from Switzerland, Seamus

P.S. Feel freee to send me a PM in german on this topic ;-) (my english isn't very good...)

 

[Alan m]

hi there.
welcomr to the fog.
i dont see any reason why it wouldnt work on the vl.
im not sure about the cms.
if you got the crown stops and attached the ls position to that i would probably fit on the cms extrusion

 

[festoller]

Hi Seamus,

yes it works perfectly! I have recently changed to the CMS OF Module and it works perfect, although you just can use the original CMS OF fence for most of the projects. The VL is also a perfect extension for cutting larger pieces!

If you have questions let me know.

 

[SeamusGotJ]

Hi Festoller

Great to hear from you! And yes, I have some questions 

- Do you use the same setup across the MFT/3 together with the VL?
- Do you use the CMS TS module together with the LS?
- Can you tell me the Artikelnr. form the Kapex - MFT/3 connector?
- What are the sizes of the board below the Incra LS Positioner Base that you use?
- Would it be possible if you could share some photographs here in this thread?

It's great to know, that the MFT/3-VL and the positioner work well together!

Best regards, Seamus

 

[festoller]

Hi Festoller

Great to hear from you! And yes, I have some questions 

- Do you use the same setup across the MFT/3 together with the VL?

Yes, I use both the Kapex extension and the VL, but as mentioned before, the original CMS OF Module fence will do most of your projects.

- Do you use the CMS TS module together with the LS?

I don't have the CMS TS module, but I would assume it works great with the LS.

- Can you tell me the Artikelnr. form the Kapex - MFT/3 connector?

# 494369

- What are the sizes of the board below the Incra LS Positioner Base that you use?

Just a random piece of Multiplex no specific size, it should fit the grid for clamping. Here's another version that might be even better:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/enhanced-may-mft3/

- Would it be possible if you could share some photographs here in this thread?

Let me know what detail you would like to see and I'll post some photos.

It's great to know, that the MFT/3-VL and the positioner work well together!

Best regards, Seamus

 

[SeamusGotJ]

Hi Festoller

Thanks for your answers!

The version with the Qwas Rails ist very nice, but I think I want as much space as possible between the Incra LS Positioner and the, well whatever   So I think I prefer your version of connecting the LS base...

Thanks again!

Best regards, Seamus

 

[plouf]

Hi Festoller,

I came up to this old but very interesting post and got a question. Did you experience the mft/3-VL with the CMS support and lift without the fence? Or did you stick to the router table shown in the pics you posted here?

I'm still evaluating different kind of setup's and wonder how the VL (the way you described it)  could fit as a router table used with the Incra fence. What I would certainly miss in this setup would be a track for a miter gauge (if I don't use the sliding table as an option for the VL).

Another option would be to make my own additionnal router table and connect it to the MFT/3, like in the examples posted by Peter Halle and Stonemessage before, and use some ideas of Guido Henn's jack lift. But I'm not quite sure I can make the connexion to the mft/3 precise and levelled enough. Hence pondering a system based on the VL.

regards,

- plouf -

[quote author=Festoller]
Yes, I use both the Kapex extension and the VL
[/quote]

 

[Papajoe]

Thank You for this post. I have been researching which (first) router table to purchase. I like the cmd vl, and would have choose it, if it had the capability to do box joints and dovetails efficiently. although I have ordered an Incra joinery package, I think this system would work very well. everything day to day on the cmd vl setup, just add the incra positioned to do joints. It seems to easy, what am I missing?????

any updates of a cmd vl / incra positioned?
thanks
papajoe

 

[rljatl]

Festoller,

Did you ever figure out a simple solution for connecting the router table to the MFT other than using a clamp?

Great idea.  Thanks for posting this.

 

[mattbyington]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread. The Incra positioned looks AWESOME for the MFT! However the pictures on [member=6297]Festoller[/member] original post dont' show up for me probably too old.

Does anyone have a YouTube video or link to pictures of his setup?

Thanks!

Matt

 

[mattbyington]

Nvm, figured it out. Just ordered the plate from precision dogs and will order the positioner. which online dealer do people like best for Incra?

 

[RKA]

I've ordered from them direct during their annual holiday sale (Dec/Jan).  The discount mostly offsets the expense of shipping.  Obviously their website has the full assortment of products/options available.  Alternatively, Carbide Processors typically offers free shipping over $150, but sometimes their selection of incra products isn't as extensive. 

 

[rljatl]

I've ordered from them direct during their annual holiday sale (Dec/Jan).  The discount mostly offsets the expense of shipping.  Obviously their website has the full assortment of products/options available.  Alternatively, Carbide Processors typically offers free shipping over $150, but sometimes their selection of incra products isn't as extensive.

Here's Incra's website where you can buy direct.
Incra

 

[mattbyington]

Thanks all

 

[mattbyington]

[member=18283]RobBob[/member] and [member=9111]RK4345[/member] I just ordered it.

I was trying to figure this out - so yesterday I ordered the MFT attachment plate from Precision dogs *with* the TS plate (as I understood it you can't use the router plate that comes w/ the positioner).

So really I just needed the positioner with a fence. Incra does sell the positioner only but doesn't look like it comes with a fence.

Their site was a little confusing for me to navigate so I just got the "basic system"... don't really need the 90 degree fence I don't think that it comes with (probably more for routing, I'm going to use it on my MFT for cutting). Hopefully I got the right thing?

Matt

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[RKA]

That’s the right product code.  If you decide to use this for routing, get the wonder fence which adds behind the fence dust collection.  The basic fence doesn’t have it and you get a small discount bundling it in now.  But you can always get that a la carte later.

 

[duc996]

[member=67555]mattbyington[/member], you will probably want the right angle fence if you plan on making any dovetails. The Incra system shines when it comes to dovetails. You should also think about getting the complete bundle as well because you will end up buying it later. The wonder fence is a great addition for swinging large raised panel bits and the fence moves independently from one another if you ever wanted to use it for jointing tasks. I have photos of my setup if you want to get some ideas.

 

[mattbyington]

Thanks [member=21249]RKA[/member] and [member=31814]duc996[/member] ! Photos would be awesome. Glad I got at least the simple setup then. I was going to just get a fence and the positioner but said **** it.

Okay - will get the wonder fence when I get a router. The budget does have its limits...