My MFT Support System

[ART at WORK]

Like many of the stories on FOG it all started out when I bought a MFT/3.

Then as I had it set up in the workshop I was disappointed that it took up a lot of space but without decent storage underneath due to sloping angle of the legs. Every time I wanted to move it a bit to one side I had to move the systainers under it.
So I followed a few threads on in the FOG on improvements to MFT and was so impressed by what I saw I decided to build my own.
I took a lot of inspiration from Black Flag, mparka, and Steve Rowe's designs. I was also looking for somewhere to store my Parallel guides which stand in the corner in their box.
Thanks to Idefixes design I decided to also make space for the compressor and DC and add a saw garage and many thanks to Qwas for his 10 MFT mods. Another important feature for me was I wanted to safely store the Saw rail and Fence guide that come with the table.

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So the length of my MFT Support System was determined by measuring the width of the CTL 36 and the length of the Saw rails, this came to around 150cm . The width was fixed by the MFT  77cm, so I can clamp work vertically on all 3 sides.

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I then spent a lot of time pushing lines around on paper to figure out how I could get as much under the table top as possible. The height was an issue till I let go if the idea to keep it the same hight as the MFT (90cm) with its legs down. This then gave me room to get a Sys 1,2 and 3  plus the draw mechanism under the the top. The distance between the top and the bottom is now 66 cm. For the systainers I thought I would go the whole hog and buy full extension draw runners and found some on e-bay for 3,30 euros a pair for a 30kg load.

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The top and bottom are made of 2 large drawing desks I salvaged from and architects office some weeks before. The sides are made up of anything I could find in the workshop, old ply, chipboard and MDF. Here the top upside down taped up for varnishing, with the cut out for the saw garage.

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I started my drawing with the width of the DC and then added Systainers with draw runners. Then my tiny compressor and some space for draws.
The draws I recycled from old draws I found on the street, re-cut to size and simply screwed together.

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I didn't want any nobs sticking out so thought a hole would be quick and easy but I wanted to keep the dust out. So I made draw fronts with a 35mm hole

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and the backside of which is routered with a 45 degree bit. Leaves good space for a finger tip. The fronts were 16mm.

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In my drawing I could see if I put my systaines back to back on their 35 cm draw shelves I had a 7 cm gap down the middle where I could safely store my rails and guides.

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There was a set back that I couldn't get the fence rail with its big nob in to the 7cm space I needed a minimum of 10cm when the rail was tipped about 20 degrees. I didn't want to have to take it apart every time I want it quickly out of the way.

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So I narrowed part of the space at the front to 30 cm making room for the angle head of the fence rail, this space then became the area for the saw garage and shelf for other tools, drills etc.

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I miss calculated here and forgot the thickness of the wall so I later had to cut a hole to make the rails fit. It now helps to improve the air circulation.

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So on the back side I have the opening for the DC with the hose coming out then 2 stacks of systaines and rest of the length taken up by 5 small draws for little bits and pieces, clamps, spanners etc.

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On the front side I have the back of the DC, which I fixed to stop it rolling back and  here I noticed there was just enough space to put a Sys 1 standing on its edge and still have air flow. More stuff out the way.

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Next to that a stack of systainers and then a  slopping shelf and saw garage and under that an area for my compressor.

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This is as far as my photos go so far. I will make some more pictures and then show how  my MFT Support System is developing. I'm at the painting stage at the mo so I won't bore you with lots of white painted wood laying around. More when I get it all back together.
The paint job was inspired by Jonny round boy, with his tip to use cheep white emulsion paint as an undercoat and then cover that with a water based clear varnish. It's going on easily.

 

[Sparktrician]

BLASPHEMY!!!  [scared]  He's using biscuits, not Dominoes!!! 

[poke]

 

[rookie08]

Art,

Love the step by step pictures with the  thought process as you go!  Looking forward to the rest and the final product!

 

[ART at WORK]

Wishing all the FOG users a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I finished the next stage of my MFT Support System a few weeks ago but with Christmas and everything I just haven't got round to posting it till now.

Here's how I put it together.

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The Base of the construction turned out to be a bit of chipboard and not coreboard like the top. So to stop the board from snapping or sagging I made a steel frame, which I cut up and welded to fit my needs from the original table frame minus the legs, so the wheels now sit nicely 4 cm out of the way.

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I found some 80 kg low casters with breaks at the local DIY shop.

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I started at one end and thought it might help to make photos as I went along putting it all back together.

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First the sides for the small draws, which were also painted with clear Acrylic varnish.

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Then the draws for the Systainers. These are 19 mm white chip board from an old kitchen someone had throwing out. Draw rails just screwed on the side then a thin strip of maple at the front with a 30 degree face for more easy grip to pull out and a block at the back to stop the systainer slipping to far back. I varnished the front grip rail and didn't sand it to get more grip.

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The sides are lamelloed into place and its all just screwed together. Just in case I have to move it in to a smaller space one day. Or make alterations.

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After I had all the uprights in place on the one side, I put the top on to check positioning square it all up before screwing the backboard on to the shelves. This was to give sideways strength and create the closed space in the middle.

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To put together the front side I removed the top and put in the uprights, then the 6mm MDF backboard and the systainer shelves.

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Then I screwed the slopping shelf in the next space, and fixed the backboard in this space which is 19mm chipboard to give a stable fixing point for the shelf in the middle and stop any sideways movement when pushing the thing around the workshop.

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I fixing old foam camping mats and foam to the bottom and sides to reduce the sounding box effect of the compressor.

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I think it has made a small difference.

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I then had to cut a corner out of the shelf to make space for the plug for the compressor, so I can easily remove the whole machine if need arises.

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Put in another multi socket for good measure. The hole I covered with a piece of foam to stop any dust from dropping through in to the air intake.

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While I was at it I put a bit of foam in the saw garage as well.

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This is not only good for reducing the clunk when putting the saw down, it also lifts the base up so the weight is not on the splinter guard any more.

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The gap in the middle now houses my Parallel guides and the saw rail and fence rail.
It all fit in easily which was the plan.

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Our company colours are black,white, silver and mostly orange so I was very happy to find a deal on ebay for orange clips for my old systainers. I will keep searching for some orange T Loc nobs.

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I like the BTI orange systaines but they really are pricey for the same box. The Protool boxes are often cheaper than the Festool ones. Supply and demand I guess. So I am looking to get more Protool systainers for the future.

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[ART at WORK]

My original idea was to make cut outs for the feet of the MFT to fix it on the top and stop it slidding around.

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So I cut the positions for the little rubber feet in to the top with the router.
Then when I put the top on I remembered that the legs on one side sit down below the level of the cast aluminium corners.

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This should have been the point where I filled the holes in and designed something else.
But I started, so I will finish it, - the way I planed it, at what ever cost.

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So I routered the top to accommodate the legs. I thought it would only needed a little grove down the middle. Well it ended up me removing a lot more material and costing a lot more time than I planned.

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I'm happy with the result and would do a few things differently if I ever made such a thing again. Especially the time consuming fitting of the MFT.

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Now I am trying out which systainer should be where for ease of working. It is also really nice to be able to work from all sides.
The total height is 97,5 cm which is the same as my work bench so I can support work on  that when necessary. Length 150cm  x Width 77cm.

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The boom arm is in the design process, the 36 x 7 m  AS hose is waiting and now I just needs to work out how much length of tube I really need, depending on the height I make the boom and how long the arm is. I will post this part when its finished.

 

[nclemmons]

Art

Very nicely done.  A lot of thought went into the design and it shows. 

Did you consider putting a front on the compressor space to further reduce the noise?

Thanks for sharing -

neil

 

[ART at WORK]

Art

Very nicely done.  A lot of thought went into the design and it shows. 

Did you consider putting a front on the compressor space to further reduce the noise?

Thanks for sharing -

neil

No hadn't thought that far, Its a good idea. I was trying to keep the access for quick removal of the compressor the priority and hadn't thought of a front.
Will see how the idea develops. I was also planning a retractable air hose real next to the compressor. So will have to think about air flow and temperature and where the hose comes out a bit more.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[ART at WORK]

So here is my long promised up date on my MFT Support System.

The boom arm.
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I was having one of those designer problems of trying to make it to complicated.
Then one day I just grabbed what was at hand in the workshop and started building.
The result is a bit of 25 x 25 mm steel box which is just about 2m from floor to ceiling.
Then a curved bit of tube which was once the legs of an old ironing board. they dont make em like that any more. Then for the straight arm a 1m bit of 30mm Ali tube.

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The curved pipe fits in the box section a treat and is tight to turn but it moves with a tug. The 30mm pipe needed a bit of packing and then a bolt through to hold it in place.
The upright was then bolted on to the side wall with a spacer because I built the base smaller than the top.

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Then I extended the 3,5m x 27mm hose with a bit of old vac tube I had lying around.

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The best bit though is the lose Cable Tie. This is great because I can adjust how much hose I have on the table so to speak. For the saw on the MFT track I like it short and out of the way and for sanding I like a bit more length to get around the edges. Just slide the lope along the pipe to increase length, its that easy.

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I bolted the up right on to the end of my Supporter with coach bolts. Then tested it for a few months. It annoyed me that I couldn't get the Ali Guide back as far as it goes to use the full depth of the table or that I couldn't get the plastic fixing unit in and out of the corner. The annoyance got to the point of doing something about it.

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So the improved version is a chunk of Multiplex which aint gonna bend and re bolted the upright to it a little further out to make room for the Ali Guide rail and the plastic thingy.

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Here the guide is pushed back as far as it goes.

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Or here with the Plastic thingy on the back rail.

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I also took the time one evening to make a saw holder for the track.

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I also noticed its a pain to keep lifting the saw off. So I remembered seeing a great video on here for the most minimal construction to hold the saw.

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I had some old emperial ring spanners which I dont use  so I cut one up for the holding bar. Thats not going to bend.

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Then a bit of hard wood chiselled out to fit the TS55 Base plate. Bolt it all together and it works a treat.

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A big thank you to Valcan from Spain and I recommend the building of one of these improvements to anyone with the MFT saw set up.
Could someone please put a link in to Valcan's Video. Thanks

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One small problem I have is that when the fixing bracket that holds the rail is set high the nuts on the back of the rail scrape or jam on the release leaver. So if you make your own you might want to make a new hole a little bit away from this leaver.

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I am really happy with the whole Mobile base MFT Supportsystem and the way it keeps everything close at hand where I need it. The table is a pleasure to work on I'm glad I made the construction higher than the original table and now the vacuum pipe is on a boom it is just so sweet to work on stuff. The wheels are great I haven't needed the breaks yet as the weight keeps it still for most stuff. No more having to move boxes just to move the table 10 cm to get the workpiece where I want it. A Time saver in many ways.

The next idea is the extension table for the Festool router kit and maybe a jigsaw plate like the CMS. I had an afternoon playing with one at a Festool shop the other day. I found it to be flimsy and to small and way to expensive. Im not taking it on site so light and portable are not my first needs. The extension pieces for the side and back way toooo over priced.
The band sander is also a lot of cash for a very small area to sand on. Plus it is heavy and not so portable.

So the plans are forming in my head and I hope to find some time in the coming year to make it. I will be scanning the FOG for some ideas as usual, so if anyone has some tips or links, please post them here. Thanks.

Pip

 

[vulcan]

(translation made ​​with google):
Enorabuena nice and well thought out work table, I did a similar one some time ago adapted to my needs and not so nice, with your permission will copy some ideas from yours, but what I most like is to see that you liked idea of ​​putting the TS55 vertically, I never thought that someone copied, I have always been gathering ideas of "FOG" and the cast to make a small idea and over like me very happy. I said good job.

 

[ART at WORK]

(translation made ​​with google):
Enorabuena nice and well thought out work table, I did a similar one some time ago adapted to my needs and not so nice, with your permission will copy some ideas from yours, but what I most like is to see that you liked idea of ​​putting the TS55 vertically, I never thought that someone copied, I have always been gathering ideas of "FOG" and the cast to make a small idea and over like me very happy. I said good job.

Hi Valcan, thanks again for the idea, I really like the fact that people share their ideas here in the FOG. What I really liked about your idea was its small and simple.
I think Less is more is one of my basic rules of design. I hate waste and love filigran structures which hold huge stresses.
Please feel free to adapt my MFT Supportsystem idea. Thats why i posted it here. Its a combination of other peoples ideas anyway.
There are no new ideas just very cleaver combinations of old ideas.
I really enjoy working at my table even more than before and that was great.

Pip

 

[mparka]

Your table support is so well done! I am thankful that I could even be considered as a source of information for your build. Compared to your version, mine is a rushed hack.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[GhostFist]

This project is well thought out and the results show. Recently L banged together a rough and dirty mobile cart while on set, fabricating my own MFT style top. My question is, why bother with an actual MFT if you're going to the trouble of fabricating a rolling base unit such as this?

 

[ART at WORK]

This project is well thought out and the results show. Recently L banged together a rough and dirty mobile cart while on set, fabricating my own MFT style top. My question is, why bother with an actual MFT if you're going to the trouble of fabricating a rolling base unit such as this?

Hi Ghostfist,
When I stated I just wanted more mobility for the MFT. and somewhere to put the systaines that where collecting underneath. The systainers were making the moveing of the MFT a pain. Usually I just needed 20 or 30 cm more to get something in to cut.
I guess the design just went on to incorporate as much as possible. Rails, parallel guides etc.
I like your  suggestion of a work table with a holed top for clamping. Then  I wouldn't need the MFT!

It would take me quite a while to make a construction for the Rail to set up a cross cut saw station though.
So I guess it was "cheaper" to just put the MFT on to and when I need it on site just take it with me.

Pip

 

[Wes.C]

Maybe you could incorporate a crosscut system based on Ron paulk's crosscut plans:

 

[fastbike]

Does your cart include the extrusions and guides? From my perspective the mobile base is just that; easier to move the MFT and sores a number of systainers. By the time you buy the extrusions and various  brackets and bits, you're better off buying the whole MFT. The drilled top is only a part of the magic.

This project is well thought out and the results show. Recently L banged together a rough and dirty mobile cart while on set, fabricating my own MFT style top. My question is, why bother with an actual MFT if you're going to the trouble of fabricating a rolling base unit such as this?

 

[GarryMartin]

I'm trying to get around to starting my MFT and KAPEX workstations and have been reviewing my old notes. I've found quite a few images I'd saved at the time, so where I can, I'm trying to add them back in to the threads where the photos were previously lost.

Hope someone finds this useful and that it's OK with the original authors.