Magnetic Tape on 520 Front Rails

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dusty
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Re: Magnetic Tape on 520 Front Rails

Post by dusty »

RFGuy wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 7:31 pm
chapmanruss wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 7:15 pm The best part of the discussions here are seeing different perspectives on how things are accomplished.
Thanks Russ. Yeah, I never took the time to see if I could use my 520 rulers because I noticed how easily they were bumped or knocked off on mine. Dusty has indicated he has had some success using his, so I think I will try to order some stronger magnet tape and give it a go again. I know it has to be re-calibrated whenever a changeover is performed, quill moved, etc., etc. Maybe I am oversimplifying it, but I figured calibration could be easy with a 1-2-3 block placed between the fence and the sawblade then move the ruler to the appropriate width to match. Maybe insufficient for very precise work, but perhaps okay for most rips? Who knows...once I get it working, I still may not like it as others have alluded to here on this thread.

I have been noodling on a DRO solution for the 520 table for some time now...mainly bouncing ideas around in my head but not really coming up with a solution previously. A lot of DRO's won't easily work on the 520 table because of the front rail extrusion and how the encoder, display and scale have to mount on many brands. I think I have a solution now that might work and be practical in mounting, etc. to the Shopsmith table. Just debating whether I want to modify my existing table or try to find a used one somewhere to experiment on. IF I can make it work, I will post it on the forum sometime in the future.
When I use the steel ruler on the Shopsmith the fence is hardly ever at either end of the front rail. This means that there is room at the ends of the ruler where magnets can be installed. I have installed magnets as a test. My mag tapes still have to be replaced.
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