"Pocket MFT" AKA "NEFNT" AKA "Top Dogs"

[Darkhorse]

Hey folks,

I have pulled a lot of information off this site over the years but haven't taken the time to contribute, until now. I hope this is the right section to post this in?

I was set to build an MFT Top recently and could not, for the life of me, settle on a design. After some messing around with an idea, I came up with this little invention and have decided not to build an MFT Top because it works so well. I like that I can just pull the jig out of my Systainer and set it up on any scrap sheet goods that I have laying around the site or shop. It takes minutes to set up and you are not restricted by the size of an MFT. Works great for the type of work I do.


Anyway, have fun with it and post any improvements you might have.

Kris

 

[blaszcsj]

That is pretty slick. Maybe put them on an adjustable slide with a screw so you can dial it in if needed. Add a cheat sheet for common material sizes.

 

[Darkhorse]

Once the hypotonus is "dialed in" you can adjust your third dog freely, as long as you have it clamped to a straight edge on the sheet. Because you have it dialed at 90 deg from the straight edge, the third dog is free to move and be wherever it needs to be to support your piece. You could write a cheat on the top of the jig if you wanted to figure it out for a specific sheet size. I just downloaded a scientific calculator app and do the math... it's pretty quick and surprising how accurate it is. You can also find Pythagorean calculators on the web. The metric tape is key though for this operation. I just keep one in my systainer with the jig.

This is also good for squaring off full sheets since there are no guarantees that the factory edges are going to be square.

Glad you like it.

 

[Darkhorse]

Note: The larger the triangle the more accurate you can be. 0.5 mm out of square over 4' is not as bad as it is over 1'. Because you are measuring it at an angle, any inaccuracy is divided roughly by 2 depending on the angle of your triangle.

 

[ghhsolutions]

What a great idea. So simple and yet so clever.

 

[wjyoung]

This is really cool, thanks for sharing! I'm in the process of deciding whether to build an MFT style work top, and this is an awesome alternative.

 

[Darkhorse]

I have been working with the NEFNT set up for a couple weeks now and here are a few take aways.

1) First square off the sheet using the NEFNT and Pythagorean formula. This way you can measure off the squared edge to place the dogs anywhere on your table. This gives added flexibility.

2) There could be a case to make the NEFNT double sided, so that you can place your guide rail on either side. This will make the jig larger and not fit into the systainer w/ your track saw but it would add yet more flexibility.

3) My sister is a physics major and pointed out a bunch more math that works with this set up to achieve specific angles... I will make a more refined video with these calculations as time permits.

4) If a person likes a particular position they can use the NEFNT as a guide to drill proper dog holes and use regular parf style dogs. Though the NEFNT holes might get sloppy if this task is performed too often. There could be a case for a machined version with a drill guide sleeve for this process.

 

[Bertotti]

Brilliant, you should work with TSO and actually market it. I'm off to my shop now to make one. hmm three.

 

[mudgeek]

Adding another dog hole to each of the rail guides would make it reversible without increasing the size, non?

 

[Darkhorse]

Adding another dog hole to each of the rail guides would make it reversible without increasing the size, non?

Yes! I can't believe I didn't think of this. Good observation!

 

[Darkhorse]

Time to make a new set. I also have a use for a 4th dog. I will post my new set up once I get it together. Thanks for all the input.

 

[Darkhorse]

Brilliant, you should work with TSO and actually market it. I'm off to my shop now to make one. hmm three.

I think anyone who might want a set could make them easy enough. If someone thinks they can make them and sell em I'm cool with that... Don't be greedy though and cut me a little royalty! Haha.

 

[jroth33139]

I like it! Great innovation that give some real flexibility. I use something very similar, but I use 3/8 wooden dowels in the underside of the track. Zero chance of it moving off a dog.https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/no-mft-no-problem!/msg609254/

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Andrius]

Hello,
It was quite interesting to find such a simple, yet precise squaring of the cut. However, there is one unclear poit in the setup:how the guide rail was fixed to the benchdogs at 01:17 of the film? Guiderail was pushed towards the benchdogs and hold there by hands? How do you ensure that guiderail does not move while you cut? The questioned moment of positioning the guiderail without fixing it(?) is there=77

Hey folks,

I have pulled a lot of information off this site over the years but haven't taken the time to contribute, until now. I hope this is the right section to post this in?

I was set to build an MFT Top recently and could not, for the life of me, settle on a design. After some messing around with an idea, I came up with this little invention and have decided not to build an MFT Top because it works so well. I like that I can just pull the jig out of my Systainer and set it up on any scrap sheet goods that I have laying around the site or shop. It takes minutes to set up and you are not restricted by the size of an MFT. Works great for the type of work I do.


Anyway, have fun with it and post any improvements you might have.

Kris