Rip Fence for CS 70/MFT 3-VL

[mjbro8]

Long time reader, first time poster.

I have the MFT/3 with the CMS/VL extension.
I'm using the TS55 mounting plate along with the rip fence that fits the MFT/3-VL (http://www.festool.com.au/rip-fence-for-cs-70-mft-3-vl)

The issue I've been having is repeatability setting the fence square without a lot of fiddling and measuring. 

The fence clamps hold the fence square once set, however, it's far too easy to setup a fence that isn't square with the table/parallel with the blade.  I assume this is partly the design as there is play/movement on the rear clamp before you lock it into position and therefore when moving the front of the rip fence, either by hand or using the micro adjuster, the back of the fence does not move at the same rate.

Any ideas?  ???
Thanks for any help

 

[RC]

Get an Incra LS-positioner fence and the Precision Dogs Precision adapter plate to attach it to your MFT/3 like I and some other Foggers have done. 100% repeatable cuts with always parallel fence. Search for MFT + Incra LS here and you will find at least a couple of threads with pics in them.

 

[mjbro8]

Yep, that's what I was looking at doing but thought I'd check to see if there was anything that could be done with the existing rip fence before I did that. I'm sure I'd be much happier with the Incra fence though ;p

It's the Incra LS 25 I need yeah?
i.e.
http://www.incra.com/product_rtf_lsstandard.htm
or http://www.incra.com/product_rtf_lssuper.htm

 

[AlexThePalex]

I always have the same problem when I use it with my CS70.

I have two ways to get it straight:
1 -  there are straight lines on the surface of the CS70 and I judge by eye to see if the fence lines up. This generally works well for me.
2 - I hold a tape measure to the front and the back side of the blade to see if they have the same distance. The straight lines also work good as reference.

I don't use this fence that often, when possible I prefer to use the angle unit CS 70 WA which also works as a straight fence. I also found the fine tuning mechanism a real PITA so I took it out.

If you want something that is really reliable without fuzz, I do suggest you take Reiska's advice. The Festool fence CS 70 LA does leave something to desire. 

 

[RC]

I got the LS25 metric Super System due to having both CMS-TS55 and CMS-OF1400 modules for my CMS system. If you only plan on using it as a table saw you can get by with the basic system. Note that the metric version has a bagful of different parts than the imperial one so think first which system you prefer working in.

There is some debate that one can get by with the LS17 but I prefer the longer LS25. Someone, I think, had even bought the longer Incra TS-LS32 model (which is supported by the v2 of the precision plate directly), but I haven't found a need to cut more than 635mm from the blade on one side yet and in a pinch its trivial to move the attachment plate a few holes further if that occasion ever rises and measure the difference with a tape measure.

Also some of the advance joinery books available from Incremental Tools are imperial only, but I don't think I'll outgrow the template book that came with the super system anytime soon (which is adapted to metric if you buy the metric version).

If you have the router insert and plan on doing joinery with the Incra you will also have to acquire the router bit sets for dovetail and straight bits (4 each) of certain sizes to work with the templates in the book. In Europe at least Fine-tools.com sells metric router bit sets that work with the Incra metric positioner.

 

[mjbro8]

Appreciate the advice