Spec for the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw (PCS) models:
Table flatness measured diagonally: 0.010" Maximum gap
Source: https://www.sawstop.com/product/profess ... a30/#specs
Their Industrial Cabinet Saw is the same. Their lesser saws are: 0.016" for Contractor's, 0.033" for job site, and unspecified for Compact.
- David
Table flatness
Moderators: HopefulSSer, admin
Re: Table flatness
Tabletop: The tabletop is the most important part of the table saw and needs to be absolutely flat in order to provide the most accurate cut. Most saws have a cast-iron table that has been milled to within 1/1000th of an inch for flatness.
Be aware that this figure can be deceiving and that you need to check the saw for flatness before you decide to keep it. Some tables are so far from flat that a decent cut is impossible to make. Choosing a saw from a major manufacturer reduces your chances of getting one that doesn't have a flat table (though it doesn't eliminate them).
About the book author: Jeff Strong is a professional furniture designer and craftsman whose designs blend Arts and Crafts, Southwestern, and Asian styles. He is the author of Drums For Dummies and Home Recording For Dummies.
https://www.dummies.com/article/home-au ... ns-199125/
Be aware that this figure can be deceiving and that you need to check the saw for flatness before you decide to keep it. Some tables are so far from flat that a decent cut is impossible to make. Choosing a saw from a major manufacturer reduces your chances of getting one that doesn't have a flat table (though it doesn't eliminate them).
About the book author: Jeff Strong is a professional furniture designer and craftsman whose designs blend Arts and Crafts, Southwestern, and Asian styles. He is the author of Drums For Dummies and Home Recording For Dummies.
https://www.dummies.com/article/home-au ... ns-199125/
Hobbyman2 Favorite Quote: "If a man does his best, what else is there?"
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
Re: Table flatness
David,DLB wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 4:08 pm Spec for the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw (PCS) models:
Table flatness measured diagonally: 0.010" Maximum gap
Source: https://www.sawstop.com/product/profess ... a30/#specs
Their Industrial Cabinet Saw is the same. Their lesser saws are: 0.016" for Contractor's, 0.033" for job site, and unspecified for Compact.
- David
Thanks. I tried looking this up for Powermatic, but can't seem to find it published in their TS manuals, but in lots of places online I see forum members quote that Powermatic has a spec of less than 0.010" for table flatness. Honestly that is good enough for me, i.e. if both Sawstop and Powermatic (two major industry leaders) both have the same spec of 0.010" flatness across the TS table then I have to believe it is for a reason. Granted this may be overkill for many users, but you have to understand that some woodworkers do more precision work. Model & pattern makers come to mind, but also anyone doing segmented pieces for woodturning or similar type work. Try doing an 8 sided (or larger) segmented woodturning with greater than a 0.010" dip and see how that turns out...sure you might be able to calibrate it all out with a perfect square depending on the dip location, but such a significant dip will likely confound both your alignment endeavors as well as getting accurate enough miters for that segmented turning. I still stand by my prior assertion that when you discovered 0.030" of flatness deviation that you did the right thing in trying to reduce it. JMO.
RF Guy
Mark V 520 (Bought New '98) | 4" jointer | 6" beltsander | 12" planer | bandsaw | router table | speed reducer | univ. tool rest
Porter Cable 12" Compound Miter Saw | Rikon 8" Low Speed Bench Grinder w/CBN wheels | Jessem Clear-Cut TS™ Stock Guides
Festool (Emerald): DF 500 Q | RO 150 FEQ | OF 1400 EQ | TS 55 REQ | CT 26 E
DC3300 | Shopvac w/ClearVue CV06 Mini Cyclone | JDS AirTech 2000 | Sundstrom PAPR | Dylos DC1100 Pro particulate monitor
Mark V 520 (Bought New '98) | 4" jointer | 6" beltsander | 12" planer | bandsaw | router table | speed reducer | univ. tool rest
Porter Cable 12" Compound Miter Saw | Rikon 8" Low Speed Bench Grinder w/CBN wheels | Jessem Clear-Cut TS™ Stock Guides
Festool (Emerald): DF 500 Q | RO 150 FEQ | OF 1400 EQ | TS 55 REQ | CT 26 E
DC3300 | Shopvac w/ClearVue CV06 Mini Cyclone | JDS AirTech 2000 | Sundstrom PAPR | Dylos DC1100 Pro particulate monitor
Re: Table flatness
very simple solution
If one needs extreme precision -
buy the right equipment
an axe won't do the trick
right tool for the task is a must
If one needs extreme precision -
buy the right equipment
an axe won't do the trick
right tool for the task is a must
- SteveMaryland
- Gold Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2021 3:41 pm
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Re: Table flatness
Some relevant pages from Krulikowski, Fundamentals of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing. Explains how flatness is defined and inspected.
My table is also out-of-flat by a small amount. I have considered tapping the table to attach some steel plate or angle underneath the table.
My table is also out-of-flat by a small amount. I have considered tapping the table to attach some steel plate or angle underneath the table.
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Mark V, Model 555510, Serial No. 102689, purchased November 1989. Upgraded to 520