Rip fence and floating table

wingman2010 · Post by **wingman2010** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:21 pm

I will post pics this weekend. I'm using a 510. The mis alignment I have experienced is big enough to see without any measuring device. The floating table sits lower than the main table. Also, the floating table is not parallel to the main table no matter how I turn the support tubes or what order I tighten the knobs ( I've tried a lot of different ways).

Question 1: is the Shopsmith 510 designed to allow the rip fence to straddle the main table and the floating table?

Question 2: is there a way to align the floating table other than trial and error? I haven't found any documentation. I have seen nick's video on finding the seam of the support tube but that didn't help much.

Question 3: when you rip a piece that makes the fence fall just off the edge of the main table, what setup do you use?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:38 pm

wingman2010 wrote:I will post pics this weekend. I'm using a 510. The mis alignment I have experienced is big enough to see without any measuring device. The floating table sits lower than the main table. Also, the floating table is not parallel to the main table no matter how I turn the support tubes or what order I tighten the knobs ( I've tried a lot of different ways).

Question 1: is the Shopsmith 510 designed to allow the rip fence to straddle the main table and the floating table?

Question 2: is there a way to align the floating table other than trial and error? I haven't found any documentation. I have seen nick's video on finding the seam of the support tube but that didn't help much.

Question 3: when you rip a piece that makes the fence fall just off the edge of the main table, what setup do you use?

My half century habit is to either use the 'second' slot or use a spacer board between the fence(mounted to the extension table) and the workpiece with a M5. The spacer board should work with a 510.

It is reasonable to think the fence should bridge the gap with 510(allegedly it does with a 520), but it really doesn't with a Mark 5/V500 with the narrow extension table.

A previous thread explored this parallelism. Truth be told, the alignment of the fence registering rail is what really matters. However IIRC once the spacer variations were resolved, the fence aligned with the floating table grooves. The table edges(sides) are not precision surfaces, so perfectly parallel sides is unlikely.

The height thing is another matter. We need pix to understand what may be causing that. Did all your tables arrive at the same time?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:26 am

Speaking now of ONLY the floating tables (505/510/520), does it really matter if the grooves and the left and right edges of the tables are parallel to the blade?

If it does, what I have said about easy alignment is a gross exageration and possibly false.

I don't think that matters. What is important (at least to me) is that the edges of the front rails (all that are being used) are perpendicular to the plane of the blade. Let the table go where it will. The rip fence aligns itself to the rail (not the table).

davebodner · Post by **davebodner** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 6:43 am

Is this an issue of floating table versus extension table? (assuming I'm using the terms right)

On my 510 I've never put the fence on a floating table. I often put it on the extension table (the one that mounts in the holes on the end of the Shopsmith). Of course, in order to make that work the headstock may have to slide over.

algale · Post by **algale** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 6:46 am

dusty wrote:Speaking now of ONLY the floating tables (505/510/520), does it really matter if the grooves and the left and right edges of the tables are parallel to the blade?

If it does, what I have said about easy alignment is a gross exageration and possibly false.

I don't think that matters. What is important (at least to me) is that the edges of the front rail are perpendicular to the plane of the blade. Let the table go where it will. The rip fence aligns itself to the rail (not the table).

Having been through this with the 520, it does not matter if the grooves/sides of the floating tables are parallel to the blade BUT if they are visibly out of parallel there's a chance that this is an indication that the pads/bosses that support the front and rear rails are not properly ground and that the rails cannot be aligned absent shimming.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:43 am

davebodner wrote:Is this an issue of floating table versus extension table? (assuming I'm using the terms right)

On my 510 I've never put the fence on a floating table. I often put it on the extension table (the one that mounts in the holes on the end of the Shopsmith). Of course, in order to make that work the headstock may have to slide over.

The original issue was the need to bridge two tables with the rip fence. I do not think it matters whether the 'second table' is a floating table or the extension table. The original issue referenced the floating table.

I do hope the connecting 'tube' was also inserted into the extention table in addition to the main table. If not, there is our answer!!!

reddog5362 · Post by **reddog5362** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:39 am

I was suffering this not to long ago and posted in one of the alignment threads. I find on my 510 it's normally not perfect but not a major misalignment. All of a sudden it was way off and I was getting rather frustrated. With these guys help I finally figured out that one of the tubes had worked itself slightly loose from the table. Check to make sure all the tubes are still tight.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:46 am

[quote="JPG40504"]The original issue was the need to bridge two tables with the rip fence. I do not think it matters whether the 'second table' is a floating table or the extension table. The original issue referenced the floating table.

I do hope the connecting 'tube' was also inserted into the extention table in addition to the main table. If not, there is our answer!!! ]

I don't think that I agree with that presumption yet. I believe you should be able to use a 510 floating table in conjunction with the 510 main table without utilizing an extension table.

We may come back to this discussion later.

Yes, we have departed from the discussing regarding bridging the gap between two tables with the rip fence. Again later.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:54 am

I must spend my day today going to a doctor's office so I am momentarily restricted from real shop activity. In the mean time, I have been toying with my 510 tables and tubes.

I cannot carry this discussion to its conclusion right now but let me say that the tubes currently installed in my 510 main table are straight (tested against a known straight edge) but are not parallel to one another when secured in the 510 table rails.

This is a curious observation for me. I would not have expected this.

Conclusions later. She is yelling at me to come to breakfast or else.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:28 pm

Oh my!!!! Don't opt for the "or else". I did that once, and will never do it again:eek: