My take on a large MFT with under table sysports, CT and boom arm

[Cam70]

I though I would share my take on an over sized MFT.

TO make it i used the following:
MFT top:
1. MFT/3 Table (complete)
2. 2x MFT/3 table tops
3. 2x 2M MFT/3 profiles
4. 2x MFT/3 profile joining bars
5. 6M 50mm x 50mm 3mm Aluminium L profile (from local hardware store)
6. 6M 50mm x 30mm 2mm Aluminium  square profile (from local hardware store)
7. M8 threaded bar with nuts and washers (from local hardware store)
8. CT36 boom arm
9. 27mm dust hose with integrated plug it

Supporting cabinet / sysport / draws
1. Melamine chipboard for case
2. Blum 'Standard' full extension slides for systainers
3. Blum Tandem for Wood with Tip on for drawers
4. 6x 100mm heavy duty locking casters

The 'Features' are:
1. Supporting case is undersized compared to table so the side clamping profiles can still be used to vertically mount work piece
2. System 32 holes drilled every 32 to allow different size systainers and drawers to be mixed and matched and changed as requirements change
3. Tandem with Tip on (push to open) used so no draw handles interfere with side clamping profiles
4. Dust extractor fits in middle under the bench and connects to boom arm

I would be interested to hear any comments other FOGgers have...both the positive and the negative.

 

[roblg3]

Very nice project! [thumbs up].  I'm looking do something similar.  Have you found any pitfalls?

 

[Cam70]

Ive only just finished it (in fact, still have finishing touches to add)...

The only negative so far is that Ive bumped a drawer a few times and they have popped open.

I suspect that Ill learn not to soon enough...but i have the option to mount them a little deeper if it becomes an issue.

 

[gstuartw]

Very interesting and now adds one more option into the confusing mix of ideas in my head!!! Can you show some detail as to how you joined the aluminum angle and square tube to the MFT profiles? BTW I didn't realize you can order the profile is such long lengths.

 

[elfick]

The only negative I see is that the 2M profiles are NAINA.  [crying]

 

[gstuartw]

The only negative I see is that the 2M profiles are NAINA.  [crying]

Crap

 

[Slartibartfass]

I don't think he used the 2m profile but 2 of the standard long ones connected with a connector...

 

[Cam70]

I did use the 2M profiles, but to get the length required to span 3 MFTs on their short side I needed to join the 2M profiles (cut shorter) to the existing short profiles off the MFT3 table.

The MFT3 is 720mm on its short side, so 3 of them together is just over the 2000mm of the longer profiles.

Ive also attached some extra photos of the supports i created from the over the counter aluminium profiles

 

[dltflt]

That is an MFT on steroids!  Very nice.

 

[adrian130980]

Looks really good, well thought out and produced

i made a ron paulk workbench and my only mistake is the holes below aren't large enough to store ts55 etc when in use.

i bet it comes in handy

adrian

 

[Kev]

You could have got a bed in downstairs on that one! [eek] [big grin]

How did you go with aligning the 3x tops so they still but with perfect 96mm space? Also curious why you went the pocket hole route.

Looks like a great workspace ... sadly to be for my current space limits [sad]

 

[Cam70]

I went with the pocket holes partially because I just got the new Kreg K5 and wanted to put it to use.

I have also used dominos in the case.

Also, I used Melamine chipboard and pocket holes to make it fast and cheap....i half expect to rebuild a version 2 of this in a few years once I've lived with it for a while...version 2 will be made with some nice veneered plywood and no pocket holes to be seen!

 

[Cam70]

As for the alignment...they holes are in perfect straight lines...this was done my clamping a straight edge to the dogs you can see in the photos.

However there is not a consistent 96mm across table boundaries... but for me as long as they are square the actual gaps doesn't matter.

I might consider replacing the top with a single sheet of MDF and drilling my own holes with the LR32 down the track.

 

[Kev]

As for the alignment...they holes are in perfect straight lines...this was done my clamping a straight edge to the dogs you can see in the photos.

However there is not a consistent 96mm across table boundaries... but for me as long as they are square the actual gaps doesn't matter.

I might consider replacing the top with a single sheet of MDF and drilling my own holes with the LR32 down the track.

Ah - I see. I was imagining some sort of 45 and 90 degree alignment exercises with loads of dogs! I suppose you've got so much space on there that you'd never need to use dogs at 45 degrees across two of the MFT tops anyway .. [wink]

 

[bkharman]

It looks tight in the CT portion of the cabinet.  Did you cut any holes or squares out to allow for proper airflow?  If not, that would be my only suggestion.

Great job and very ingenuous use of space and materials.

cheers.  Bryan.

 

[Sparktrician]

I really like that configuration!!!  Too bad that Festool doesn't supply the 2m profiles in NA.  Might have to find a friend in Europe soon.  My only issue right now is where to put it in a very small shop. 

[smile]

 

[Cam70]

Here is the CT in place...there is a gap all the way around ...does it look too cramped from an overheating point of view....i wouldn't think so.

 

[#Tee]

awesome setup with the table saw and kapex! shops ready to rock n roll.

 

[fritter63]

So my comment, as I'm on my 4th house ownership... does it break down easy for moving?

I've found the movers really hate woodworkers....

 

[dltflt]

So my comment, as I'm on my 4th house ownership... does it break down easy for moving?

I've found the movers really hate woodworkers....

Yes they do, last time I moved it took a 26 foot trailer to get all my tools, workbenches.  The whole house took 2 of those trailers.