Would it be too much to have the plug-it connections to face the same way?

[Crazyraceguy]

As a user who works with multiple tools and swaps the Plug-it and CT hose between them, this gets frustrating. I preferred the older ribbed style hose ends and have gotten past that, but the power connection ports of the tools can be clocked in nearly any position. Some are vertical, some horizontal, no apparent rhyme or reason? This should be more intuitive, all the same way.
It also seems odd to me that the distance between the dust fitting and the power connection is farther apart on the RO90 than it is on the RO125? There is so little space on the RO125, that I twist the Plug-it on first, to give me more hand space, then shove the hose on after.

 

[rvieceli]

That’s the way I have to do it on everything. Plug it first then the hose.

Ron

 

[mino]

Seconded.

A simple rule would be ideal - the power socket to be co-linear with (the default position of) the dust port. Plus a minimum distance between, say 1/2" or so. I have several tools converted to PlugIt, so it is even worse there.

Would love a "PlugIt with dust extraction" - a hose end that would include power delivery in the hose connector. One can dream. Right ?

 

[Bob D.]

"There is so little space on the RO125, that I twist the Plug-it on first, to give me more hand space, then shove the hose on after."

I have noticed the same on my RO125. I thought it was just me but now I see it's not.

 

[festal]

I plug in the cord without twisting it to lock, then put a white dot on the tool end and have a white dot on the plugit end.  then all i need to do is allign the dots

 

[Cheese]

Would love a "PlugIt with dust extraction" - a hose end that would include power delivery in the hose connector. One can dream. Right ?

That's essentially what you have on a Miele canister vacuum. When you plug the hose into the canister intake port the plug is also completing the electrical connections that are needed at the same time. And there is NO quarter turn of the plug.  [smile]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Seconded

Would love a "PlugIt with dust extraction" - a hose end that would include power delivery in the hose connector. One can dream. Right ?

I figured that would be too much to ask ^^^
But I really don't get it that they aren't all the same? Somewhere in the engineering department has to be at least one person with some level of OCD?

I plug in the cord without twisting it to lock, then put a white dot on the tool end and have a white dot on the plugit end.  then all i need to do is allign the dots

My point is that the white dots would have to be in different places anyway.

 

[squall_line]

I'd be curious to check the plug-it attachments on the same model of tool to see how consistent they are on the same model (a sample of 20-ish TS75's or OF2200's, for example)

At the very least, it may point to whether the variance is caused by the designer(s) of an individual tool, or if it's a QC issue in the factory across the board?

 

[Cheese]

I'd be curious to check the plug-it attachments on the same model of tool to see how consistent they are on the same model (a sample of 20-ish TS75's or OF2200's, for example)

At the very least, it may point to whether the variance is caused by the designer(s) of an individual tool, or if it's a QC issue in the factory across the board?

I expect the the positioning of the Plug-It to be consistent within the same tool, the variation in position is I believe between the various tools.

 

[Bob D.]

Is the shape of the Plug-it such that it can not be rotated in the tool body?

I wouldn't want to break open all my tools to do that just curious.

I can see the efficiency for having them all orientated the same way. Makes for easier changes from one tool to the next and I'm all for it. But I would not crack open a tool just to spin the connector around to have it aligned with the rest.

Is that part of assembly done by machine or hand?

 

[festal]

Seconded

Would love a "PlugIt with dust extraction" - a hose end that would include power delivery in the hose connector. One can dream. Right ?

I figured that would be too much to ask ^^^
But I really don't get it that they aren't all the same? Somewhere in the engineering department has to be at least one person with some level of OCD?

I plug in the cord without twisting it to lock, then put a white dot on the tool end and have a white dot on the plugit end.  then all i need to do is allign the dots

My point is that the white dots would have to be in different places anyway.

Thats true.  Each tool end would be different.  but I keep the same dot on the plug it cord and then put a dot on the tool end where its suppose to be on each tool keeping same dot on the plug it cord

 

[afish]

I was going to suggest the paint pen mark too.  It at least gives you a quick visual reference without looking up the tools butt each time. Now festool just needs to come out with a festool green paint marker...

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Is the shape of the Plug-it such that it can not be rotated in the tool body?

I wouldn't want to break open all my tools to do that just curious.

I can see the efficiency for having them all orientated the same way. Makes for easier changes from one tool to the next and I'm all for it. But I would not crack open a tool just to spin the connector around to have it aligned with the rest.

Is that part of assembly done by machine or hand?

I just assumed it wasn't "user adjustable", meaning that they are all made that way, with no way to change it. I figured it was keyed in some way, because it is intended to be twisted.

 

[tsmi243]

I just assumed it wasn't "user adjustable", meaning that they are all made that way, with no way to change it. I figured it was keyed in some way, because it is intended to be twisted.

Yeah, they have screw flanges on each side.  You can do a 180, but that's it. 

 

[Bob D.]

On all my tools I believe the orientation is vertical, so a 180 might work to get them all in alignment.
But as I said in my previous post is it worth tearing into the tool just for that? To me no.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Mine definitely are not. I'll check tomorrow to be sure, but I think some of them are horizontal? The sanders? I am sure that the most wacky one is the TS55. It "may" be horizontal when the saw is fully plunged, not that you would ever connect it at that point, but in it's resting position, it's at some weird angle.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I checked them all today, most are vertical with the alignment bump pointing to the right.
both the OF1010 and OF1010F
PS420
MFK700
OF1400

Vertical/bumps left
DF500

Horizontal/bumps down
RO90

Horizontal/bumps up
ETS EC 125
RO125

Angled to the right (from horizontal) bumps up
TS55
TS75

I just realized that I missed the ETS 125?

 

[Spandex]

I suspect it mainly comes down to how the parts of the tool come together. There will generally be a clam shell design with two plastic pieces. The plug-it connector, as shown above, has mounting tabs either side oriented 180 degrees from each other, so these will screw into one half of the clam shell.

They would either have to design the plastics specifically to change the alignment of the connector, or make multiple connector components to cope with different designs.

 

[mino]

I suspect it mainly comes down to how the parts of the tool come together. There will generally be a clam shell design with two plastic pieces. The plug-it connector, as shown above, has mounting tabs either side oriented 180 degrees from each other, so these will screw into one half of the clam shell.

They would either have to design the plastics specifically to change the alignment of the connector, or make multiple connector components to cope with different designs.

Good point.

It is clear that "same orientation" was never a design target as the connector - by design - effectively prevents that. They would have to go to a different connector, likely one with 4 "wings" instead of two so it can be flipped around.

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member]
IMO this is a good thread, but possibly you can try to put it in a summary - including what benefit/why Festool should change the approach - and then pass it on to Festool for consideration.

I see two obvious improvements:
- clear mark on the tool an connector on what the connector position is to be when pushing in (and, optionally, when locked)
- design the next gen connector parts in tools such a way that consistent rotation angle is achievable, this should be possible at least for tools which operate on sheet goods as there is a "plane of reference" one can use

There is nothing preventing cross-compatibility, so is something what can be introduced gradually as the tools/cables are refreshed.

 

[fraz]

I just assumed it wasn't "user adjustable", meaning that they are all made that way, with no way to change it. I figured it was keyed in some way, because it is intended to be twisted.

Yeah, they have screw flanges on each side.  You can do a 180, but that's it. 

Seems like you could add shims/washers to one side until you achieve the desired angle inside 0 or 180 degrees.  Within reason of course and might have to get longer screw(s).