New Kapex zero clearance insert?

[morts10n]

I put the Colliflower ZCI thru it's paces today, and my feeling is that when it is uncut, obviously the insert fits tight, but once you plunge the blade into it, now the insert is much looser fitting and becomes a "zero + insert".  Hopefully the kerf doesn't keep growing from the slop. I think that eliminating offcuts from falling thru the original throatplate is the best part of this thing!

 

[bkharman]

I had given this some thought over the long weekend and have an idea...

Full disclosure*** I dont have a Kapex, but Malte ([member=32690]Slartibartfass[/member]) gave me some detailed pics to "test" my theory out on.

What if you use some of these rare earth magnets on the right threaded posts http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=58750&cat=1,42363,42348 you can have the magnet "permanently" mounted in the Kapex throat.  Then attached the steel plates and cups to a piece of wood, ABS, etc. and remove at will.  You could have 3 or them if you wanted for each bevel and 90deg if you wanted to, but one should be fine to keep things out of the throat.

I was going to make a SketchUp of this, but I have a ton going on at work this week so I wont be able to get to it in a timely fashion.

Let me know if anyone tries it out!

cheers.  Bryan.

 

[teocaf]

i guess it could work in theory, but i would be leery about depending on those rare earth magnets considering the forces involved:  the spinning blade going in at an angle, etc.  even though you're pushing down on a piece of material that pushes down on the insert, i'm thinking it might get bound/caught as you're pulling the blade up, relaxing your grip, getting in a hurry, etc.  i could be wrong--i just don't have a good feeling about it.  not to mention keeping the magnet faces clean.

i guess it's kind of cool to think about making the insert go in and out as fast as possible, but to my mind it's more of a non-issue.  it really takes no time to unscrew six screws, keeping a short dedicated bit driver with the machine.  it's not like you're running production and doing this dozens of times a day.

 

[bkharman]

i guess it could work in theory, but i would be leery about depending on those rare earth magnets considering the forces involved:  the spinning blade going in at an angle, etc.  even though you're pushing down on a piece of material that pushes down on the insert, i'm thinking it might get bound/caught as you're pulling the blade up, relaxing your grip, getting in a hurry, etc.  i could be wrong--i just don't have a good feeling about it.  not to mention keeping the magnet faces clean.

i guess it's kind of cool to think about making the insert go in and out as fast as possible, but to my mind it's more of a non-issue.  it really takes no time to unscrew six screws, keeping a short dedicated bit driver with the machine.  it's not like you're running production and doing this dozens of times a day.

I get your points... but...

6 rare earth magnets will have immense holding power, no concern there.  Also, if you follow safety parameters, you are correct that the insert should never had a spinning blade going into it without a board (hopefully clamped) on top.  And of course we all follow safety parameters ALL of the time. 

I also agree that switching in and out inserts doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  I dont do it on my Hitachi and I am sure most folks wouldn't do it on their Kapex.  Again, the role of an insert isn't for tear out on the bottom of a workpiece, it is to keep debris from getting kicked by the blade from falling in the throat.

Was just an idea I had.  No harm, no foul.

Cheers.  Bryan.