Shopsmith Forums

dusty wrote:Please correct me if I am wrong.

I have always thought that the tables on the 505/510/520 were the same (interchangeable) with the "major mounting differences" brought about by the rails used. Am I wrong?

As I understand it you ARE correct. The 505 and 510 are identical as far as the tables are concerned. The tube location (due to the rail differences) is different on the 520.

dusty wrote:Please correct me if I am wrong.

I have always thought that the tables on the 505/510/520 were the same (interchangeable) with the "major mounting differences" brought about by the rails used. Am I wrong?

round about '86, the way that the rails attach to the tables changed. that is why there are 2 different models of 510 to 520 upgrade kits. the telling difference is whether there are holes in the sidewall of the 505/510 rails. the holes give access to the heads of the rail mounting bolts.

my upgrade kit is still on backorder so I haven't taken the 510 rails off the '86 yet. I believe that the older tables are tapped for the rail mounting bolts but I haven't verified that.

iclark wrote:round about '86, the way that the rails attach to the tables changed. that is why there are 2 different models of 510 to 520 upgrade kits. the telling difference is whether there are holes in the sidewall of the 505/510 rails. the holes give access to the heads of the rail mounting bolts.

my upgrade kit is still on backorder so I haven't taken the 510 rails off the '86 yet. I believe that the older tables are tapped for the rail mounting bolts but I haven't verified that.

Which 'version' has the 'holes in the sidewall'? If no holes, how were/are the rails attached? My 86 has holes to access bolts which are screwed into the tapped holes in the edge of the table(s) after passing through a standoff spacer.

I have three sets of 510 rails. These rails have studs onto which you apply spacers then insert the studs into holes on the table's edge with lock washers and nuts on the inside of the table edge.

I believe I have seen rails without the studs. Instead a bolt is inserted through the rail and then the spacer is applied. An access hole in the leading edge of the rail allows access to the bolt head for tightening into a threaded hole in the tables edge..

My 520 rails attach to the tables edge, through those same holes, using hex head bolts, lock washers and nuts. The spacers are just that. Spacers that are properly sized and flat on bolt ends.

The spacers used on my 510 rails are flat on one end and contoured to fit the rail on the other.

Most of what I have written here is intuitive so if it appears to be a lot of useless rambling, I apologize.

dusty wrote:I have three sets of 510 rails. These rails have studs onto which you apply spacers then insert the studs into holes on the table's edge with lock washers and nuts on the inside of the table edge.

I believe I have seen rails without the studs. Instead a bolt is inserted through the rail and then the spacer is applied. An access hole in the leading edge of the rail allows access to the bolt head for tightening into a threaded hole in the tables edge..

My 520 rails attach to the tables edge, through those same holes, using hex head bolts, lock washers and nuts. The spacers are just that. Spacers that are properly sized and flat on bolt ends.

The spacers used on my 510 rails are flat on one end and contoured to fit the rail on the other.

Most of what I have written here is intuitive so if it appears to be a lot of useless rambling, I apologize.

Rambling???? Maybe, but it was all necessary to convey the answer(s).

Any body Know which 510 version is the 'latest/current' version. The 'bolt' version has got to be 'cheaper' to manufacture than the 'stud' version. I am thinking holey/bolts are 'current'.

JPG40504 wrote:Which 'version' has the 'holes in the sidewall'? If no holes, how were/are the rails attached? My 86 has holes to access bolts which are screwed into the tapped holes in the edge of the table(s) after passing through a standoff spacer.

my '86 510 has the holes, my '89 510 does not.
the parts breakdown for the 505/510 main table
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/part ... ew_510.htm
shows the rails with the mounting studs welded on for the current version.

my guess is that it is easier and cheaper to do 3 precision spaced welds than it is to drill and tap 2 sets of 3 holes in the table while also having to drill the rails with a a big hole on one side aligned with a small hole on the other side and have all of the small holes precisely spaced lengthwise and aligned axially along the length. of course, that part is just my guess.

when I ordered the 510 to 520 upgrade for the '86, they had me order the pre-86 version 555983 because of the holes.

FWIW, the original owner of the '86 was very emphatic that he was selling me a Mark V/5 with the pro-table system. I haven't thought to go back and check his invoice, but it sure sounded like there was a pro-table terminology for SS prior to the 520.

Ivan

Yep! I noticed the studs on current ss parts drawings after my incorrect guess above.

The original invoice for the510 that I recently acquired was referred to as a "Mark V Pro".

gutterman wrote: The tubes are the same for both table systems, but I believe that the location of them is different, due to the different rails.

Different rails indeed! There are 510 tables that actually have different size rails.
Example: my 510 main table has different rails than the Extension (Aux) tables, making setting up a "long" solid table a super pain if possible at all.

But I agree that shouldn't effect using them as an extra Ext on a 520 as long as you don't want to use the 520 fence on 'em or tie 'em together (long table). (floaters no good, judging by the picture)

Hm, but if you had a set of 510 Aux tables and a 510 fence, you could have a 2 fence system setup on yo 520...

gregf wrote:To clarify why the 520 & 510 rails don't go together.
The main and aux table are the same height in the picture below.

THANKS! First time I've seen a side by side, and it essplanes a LOT!

(And I see you have the later version of the 510 table.)

dusty wrote: I have always thought that the tables on the 505/510/520 were the same (interchangeable) with the "major mounting differences" brought about by the rails used. ?

One "little" indiscrapancy-- (well two, 510 rails are not all the same size) -- but the 510 Aux tables are not all the same either. They are not all tapped for use as Extension tables.