Using a TS55 Profitably

[fshanno]

When it comes to processing sheet goods with a track saw we've only scratched the surface.  When you're talking CNC panel processing you're talking high initial cost and ongoing overhead.  You're talking numbers that dwarf the most elaborate Festool setup.

People talk about second and third shifts, 24/6 and 24/7.  Well, there's no law that says you can't cut plywood with a TS55 at 2:30AM is there?  And we need to divorce ourselves from the notion of portability in this debate.  Portability is of no concern at all in shop based high performance panel processing.  These TS55's  will be put into service and will never go back in their systainer, never again even go through a door unless it's to go for service.

You could dedicate long guides for ripping and lock them in for specific standard rip widths.  You could have an 8' long A-frame rack on casters for holding the several 106" guides with preset standard rip widths.  And of course you'd have guides of various lengths with parallel guides attached not dedicated to specific rip widths.  And you'd have guides without parallel guides attached ready to go as well.

For crosscuting you have a really long MFT setup.  Three or even four MFT's in tandem so that you can rapidly crosscut even parts for tall pantries.

CNC machines and big sliders and vertical panel saws are what they are, the technology is mature.  Modern plunge type track saws have been around almost as long but the technology and workflow process is far from mature.  There's a long way to go and a lot yet to discover.

 

[gkaiseril]

People talk about second and third shifts, 24/6 and 24/7.  Well, there's no law that says you can't cut plywood with a TS55 at 2:30AM is there?  And we need to divorce ourselves from the notion of portability in this debate.  Portability is of no concern at all in shop based high performance panel processing.  These TS55's  will be put into service and will never go back in their systainer, never again even go through a door unless it's to go for service.

Some municipalities do have noise ordinances as well as ordinances dealing with home offices or shops. Chicago had ordinances banning home offices and businesses in residential areas. The city has now joined the 20th century and residents can now have a home office if they apply for a business license and home office permit for a total of $300.00 per year. Most tradesmen are restricted to working between 7:00am and 7:00pm when working in residential areas. This also applies to tradesmen home based shops. But much of this depends upon the tradesman's relationship with his/her neighbors and the amount of noise and the time of day. Home hobbyist can work past 7:00pm but should not go beyond 10::00pm and again this will depend upon how well the hobbyist gets along with his/her neighbors and the specific facts.

For tradesmen working in the commercial districts, there are building were their work might need to be performed after business hours because of tenant leases in a building, especially if there are recording or broadcasting studios within the building or above or below a given tenant or the tenant's needs. Also many large deliveries could be restricted to certain hours. I have seen long sections of train rails being delivered for renovation of elevated train tracks to be done during the night when downtown traffic is minimal to cause the least possible disruption. This also appears to apply to large deliveries of sheet goods and structural products.

 

[Jalvis]

There are so many things to respond to I don't have the energy.  My best response is to re-read this thread as most of the responses are already mention.

When it comes to processing sheet goods with a track saw we've only scratched the surface.  When you're talking CNC panel processing you're talking high initial cost and ongoing overhead.  You're talking numbers that dwarf the most elaborate Festool setup.

People talk about second and third shifts, 24/6 and 24/7.  Well, there's no law that says you can't cut plywood with a TS55 at 2:30AM is there?  And we need to divorce ourselves from the notion of portability in this debate.  Portability is of no concern at all in shop based high performance panel processing.  These TS55's  will be put into service and will never go back in their systainer, never again even go through a door unless it's to go for service.

You could dedicate long guides for ripping and lock them in for specific standard rip widths.  You could have an 8' long A-frame rack on casters for holding the several 106" guides with preset standard rip widths.  And of course you'd have guides of various lengths with parallel guides attached not dedicated to specific rip widths.  And you'd have guides without parallel guides attached ready to go as well.

For crosscuting you have a really long MFT setup.  Three or even four MFT's in tandem so that you can rapidly crosscut even parts for tall pantries.

CNC machines and big sliders and vertical panel saws are what they are, the technology is mature.  Modern plunge type track saws have been around almost as long but the technology and workflow process is far from mature.  There's a long way to go and a lot yet to discover.

There were several shops in my area who did exactly what you described.  There was even a well known Granite fabricator who used the festool system in the manner described.

None of them are in business anymore so I can't really ask them how successful the setup worked.
 

 

[Paul G]

There were several shops in my area who did exactly what you described.  There was even a well known Granite fabricator who used the festool system in the manner described.

None of them are in business anymore so I can't really ask them how successful the setup worked.
 

I don't know their circumstances but you may have answered your own question