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510/520 Table Flex

BigSky

In a different thread I read complaints about table flex.

What is "table flex"? Is "table flex" a defect or a performance characteristic? How do you measure "table flex"? How much is "too much"?

dusty

BigSky wrote In a different thread I read complaints about table flex.

What is "table flex"? Is "table flex" a defect or a performance characteristic? How do you measure "table flex"? How much is "too much"?

I consider table flex to be the unwanted movement of the table when pressure is applied from any direction. The table should not move.

I consider that flex to be the result of insufficient or incorrect setup. Install and properly secure table rails and table flex will diminish.

DLB

I consider table flex to be the table deviating from relatively flat to less flat in response to force. For example the table may bow in response to vertical DP quill pressure or more likely in the case of the square chisel tenoning setup. I consider the other. IMO the newer tables with a flat area between the T-slots are probably the least resistant to flex and the fully ribbed table are probably more resistant. I would guess that 500 tables are the most resistant to flex due to shorter distance between mounting points and they seem relatively beefy.

I call table movement in any direction in response to force 'table instability.' There was a Sawdust Session on this, I would conclude that main table instability in two axes is inherent to the design of 510/520. 520 Main Table instability can be greatly improved upon, most often by anchoring the main table to the auxiliary table with connector tubes. I'm not suggesting 510 can't be, just that I don't have that experience. I don't recall table instability bothering me in my Greenie (aka Model 500) days. I think that's because it was more stable, but it could be because it was much more difficult to do anything about it.

- David

HopefulSSer

FWIW, when my greenie was still a 500 I saw a lot of instability when mortising. I would jam a 2x4 as a leg under the table. I haven't mortised since upgrading to 510

pngeezer

I never gave my 500 table a thought after locking it in place, but when I moved to a 510 it's been a struggle. After locking the table at 90* it continually tilts to the right with the least little pressure, so I bought this 'table support leg' from SS and it works really well to stabilize it.

Jim

https://www.shopsmith.com/product-page/table-support-leg

edma194

pngeezer wrote I never gave my 500 table a thought after locking it in place, but when I moved to a 510 it's been a struggle. After locking the table at 90* it continually tilts to the right with the least little pressure, so I bought this 'table support leg' from SS and it works really well to stabilize it.

Jim

https://www.shopsmith.com/product-page/table-support-leg

With a 510 you can also add support to the table with regular extension legs on table tubes. In the past I used 2 and 4 legs on table tubes to support the table in vertical mode, though it sounds like a single support leg does the job. In horizontal mode connecting the main table to the extension table adds a lot of support to the main table and extension legs can also be used for more bracing.

Also, 500 tables are somewhat stiffer because the legs aren't as far apart. It's also possible to apply the quill further away from the table center in vertical more.

JPG

WHAT? Bigger ain't better? :eek: