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Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 10:56 pm
by macgyver
While I was cutting 24" panels on my SS 520 for a project.
The rip fence (secured to a floating extension) would shift out of alignment ever so slightly that my panels weren't square.
So I took some measurements of the main table and extension tables and discovered that the extension tables were 0.020 inch shorter than the main table.
I added 0.020 inch shims between the extension tables and the rear extension rails.
Since adding the shims I have not experience any further fence shift.
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 11:01 pm
by JPG
I think the rear clamp needs 'tweaking'.

Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 11:16 pm
by macgyver
Tried the tweaking. To have it hold on the extension tables with it not moving made it extremely tight to secure it to the main table.
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 11:21 pm
by JPG
0.020 seems paltry.
Curious how you measured the table depth.
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 11:39 pm
by macgyver
I know what you are saying.
I measured from the top of the front rail to the top of the rear rail with a metric tape measure at multiple points.
The extension table were consistently short by the 0.020.
By adding the 0.020 inch, I have maintained consistent clamping pressure on the fence clamps throughout.
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 1:17 am
by reible
Tape measure and .020" boy you still have good eye sight. That would be in the order of a half a mm on a metric tape measure......
So do you have a 505/510 or a 520?
Ed
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 2:48 pm
by JPG
reible wrote:Tape measure and .020" boy you still have good eye sight. That would be in the order of a half a mm on a metric tape measure......
So do you have a 505/510 or a 520?
Ed
Table ain't got sharp corners either.(?) Besides it is the mounting pad boss spacing that matters
Says 520 in the initial post.
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 3:04 pm
by dusty
macgyver wrote:I know what you are saying.
I measured from the top of the front rail to the top of the rear rail with a metric tape measure at multiple points.
The extension table were consistently short by the 0.020.
By adding the 0.020 inch, I have maintained consistent clamping pressure on the fence clamps throughout.
What is your measured distance from from rail to rear rail? Both of my setups measure 26" at both ends. I took measurements on the main tables as well as the floating/extension tables.

- Main Table Rail Separation.png (29.05 KiB) Viewed 7164 times
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 4:28 pm
by JPG
I wonder if the rail extrusion(s) is(are) are bent on the 'floating' table.
Are the connecting tubes ALSO connected to the Aux table rails, or is the floating table flapping in the breeze?
Re: Rip Fence not maintaining alignment
Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:33 am
by wa2crk
Mix and Match extension tables and or extrusions? Do variations in manufacturing still account for variances? Just guessing.
Bill V