Just to get the disclaimer up front, this only applies to MFT 1080 tables.
This continues my last topic in a way. When I finished with it, I had two MFT's connected but had precious little space for any my off cuts. So this post is looking at the other side, and it turned out, a little more.
To start, I added two more 80/20 40 series extrusions to the other side. I made them 4 feet long as the other two are. I could have made them any length but had another use in mind as well. I had noticed when I was doing the last topic that the outside dimension of the two extrusions was around 49 inches and as I also needed a space to breakdown my sheet goods in my tiny shop, I wanted to see if I could kill that bird at the same time.
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I attached them the same as the other side and found some 48" aluminum angle iron at Home Depot the would just work for braces if you drill your holes very carefully. I will eventually add proper legs at the ends for support but use the adjustable outfeed table for now.
In looking for what to use to extend the table surface, I got very lucky. It turned out that half inch MDF is as near a perfect match from the edge of the MFT to the table top as one could hope for.
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Now I have an outfeed area as large as I have any need for.
It also turns out that the 80/20 extrusions extend almost exactly one inch above the perforated table top. Also, the guide rail is a little less than a half inch high. So simply by adding two half sheets of MDF on either side of the guide rail and then staggering the second layer of MDF so it protects the guide rail I can quickly convert to a 4 foot by nearly 9 foot sheet goods table.
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So far all the MDF is just press fit and is working great thus far.
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If I want to have a clean surface for layout, assembly or such it just takes a few seconds to flip the top layer.
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And finally a shot showing it in use.
While I have a few more things to do like adding tape measures on each side and working on a lift for the sheet goods, I have a working solution for getting on with finishing my shop and starting the long list of projects I have been assigned.
Dick
This continues my last topic in a way. When I finished with it, I had two MFT's connected but had precious little space for any my off cuts. So this post is looking at the other side, and it turned out, a little more.
To start, I added two more 80/20 40 series extrusions to the other side. I made them 4 feet long as the other two are. I could have made them any length but had another use in mind as well. I had noticed when I was doing the last topic that the outside dimension of the two extrusions was around 49 inches and as I also needed a space to breakdown my sheet goods in my tiny shop, I wanted to see if I could kill that bird at the same time.
[attachthumb=#][attachthumb=#][attachthumb=#]
I attached them the same as the other side and found some 48" aluminum angle iron at Home Depot the would just work for braces if you drill your holes very carefully. I will eventually add proper legs at the ends for support but use the adjustable outfeed table for now.
In looking for what to use to extend the table surface, I got very lucky. It turned out that half inch MDF is as near a perfect match from the edge of the MFT to the table top as one could hope for.
[attachthumb=#][attachthumb=#]
Now I have an outfeed area as large as I have any need for.
It also turns out that the 80/20 extrusions extend almost exactly one inch above the perforated table top. Also, the guide rail is a little less than a half inch high. So simply by adding two half sheets of MDF on either side of the guide rail and then staggering the second layer of MDF so it protects the guide rail I can quickly convert to a 4 foot by nearly 9 foot sheet goods table.
[attachthumb=#][attachthumb=#]
So far all the MDF is just press fit and is working great thus far.
[attachthumb=#]
If I want to have a clean surface for layout, assembly or such it just takes a few seconds to flip the top layer.
[attachthumb=#]
And finally a shot showing it in use.
While I have a few more things to do like adding tape measures on each side and working on a lift for the sheet goods, I have a working solution for getting on with finishing my shop and starting the long list of projects I have been assigned.
Dick
