CHJ
Established Member
Objectives:
1. To make an Router Table height adjuster for heavy ½” router.
2. To make it from ‘scrap box’ material where possible without compromising on effectiveness.
Design criteria:
1. To give easy fine height adjustment over expected working range of cutters.
2. To provide means of rapid disengagement for rapid lowering of router if needed.
Observations:
1. The budget router being used suffers from a limited guide rod/bush system that jambs if attempts are made to produce a fine height adjustment from one side of machine (in inverted mode) .
2. The fitted springs exert far to much pressure for comfort when inverted and compound problem1. .
3. The fitted guide rod clamp is fitted with automatic locking spring which means two hands are required to enable height adjustment.
Solutions to the above have to date been the removal of the biggest (most powerful) of the two springs fitted, and the disengagement of the pressure spring from the clamp lever.
This later does of course mean that the clamp will have to be ‘remembered’
Materials used:
1. 35 X 17mm Beech stock. salvaged from old furniture.
2. Aluminium strip salvaged from old computer hardware.
3. 8 mm threaded rod from DIY store.
4. Coach bolts, screws, some nuts, wing nut and washers from stock bins.
5. 8mm Rod from existing Router Fence assembly.
Component parts of Lifter.
Top fixing for 8mm adjuster rod would ideally be a suitable barrel nut, as none were to hand for prototype a nylock nut and a ‘bent’ washer for location serves the purpose for now. The hole for the 8mm rod in top anchor bracket is drilled oversize to allow enough ‘swing’ of rod for disengagement etc.
The Nuts for the 6mm pivot bolts in front stringer could once again be barrel nuts for improved aesthetics. Current solution is to use standard nuts Force Fitted into suitable sized holes. Locking of the Bolts is achieved by drilling the pilot/clearance holes undersize causing the end of the bolts to cut their own threads and provide locking.
The wing Nut assembly is held in situ under load by a 22 mm flat bottomed recess for the washer and disengagement for rapid lowering of router is achieved by lifting the front stringer and swinging threaded rod forward through slot.
The finished design will allow for a Top Adjustment alternative threaded rod assembly to be fitted if needed for new Router table, although thoughts to date do not see any advantage to this as underside access is currently needed for guide clamp and Collet shaft locking anyway. This router has a long shaft extension so access to Collet nut should be available from above table.
I have not given any dimensions as these will be determined by individual router handle dimensions. Just to give some idea for a starting point the overall lengths of the components are: Aluminium Strips 120 mm, Fore-Aft members 270 mm. Width across Front stringer assembly 220 mm. Threaded rod 220 mm.
The assembled components.
The finished Lifter assembly fitted to mock-up Stand used to determine dimensions and operational effectiveness.
A rough check of Fine Height Adjustment capabilities indicates something in the order of 0.1 mm per 360 turn of the Wing nut. This of course is determined by the length of the Fore-Aft members and will be well within the parameters of the router itself or the stability of the finished table.
EDIT: See also Mailee's variation on the system
1. To make an Router Table height adjuster for heavy ½” router.
2. To make it from ‘scrap box’ material where possible without compromising on effectiveness.
Design criteria:
1. To give easy fine height adjustment over expected working range of cutters.
2. To provide means of rapid disengagement for rapid lowering of router if needed.
Observations:
1. The budget router being used suffers from a limited guide rod/bush system that jambs if attempts are made to produce a fine height adjustment from one side of machine (in inverted mode) .
2. The fitted springs exert far to much pressure for comfort when inverted and compound problem1. .
3. The fitted guide rod clamp is fitted with automatic locking spring which means two hands are required to enable height adjustment.
Solutions to the above have to date been the removal of the biggest (most powerful) of the two springs fitted, and the disengagement of the pressure spring from the clamp lever.
This later does of course mean that the clamp will have to be ‘remembered’
Materials used:
1. 35 X 17mm Beech stock. salvaged from old furniture.
2. Aluminium strip salvaged from old computer hardware.
3. 8 mm threaded rod from DIY store.
4. Coach bolts, screws, some nuts, wing nut and washers from stock bins.
5. 8mm Rod from existing Router Fence assembly.
Component parts of Lifter.
Top fixing for 8mm adjuster rod would ideally be a suitable barrel nut, as none were to hand for prototype a nylock nut and a ‘bent’ washer for location serves the purpose for now. The hole for the 8mm rod in top anchor bracket is drilled oversize to allow enough ‘swing’ of rod for disengagement etc.
The Nuts for the 6mm pivot bolts in front stringer could once again be barrel nuts for improved aesthetics. Current solution is to use standard nuts Force Fitted into suitable sized holes. Locking of the Bolts is achieved by drilling the pilot/clearance holes undersize causing the end of the bolts to cut their own threads and provide locking.
The wing Nut assembly is held in situ under load by a 22 mm flat bottomed recess for the washer and disengagement for rapid lowering of router is achieved by lifting the front stringer and swinging threaded rod forward through slot.
The finished design will allow for a Top Adjustment alternative threaded rod assembly to be fitted if needed for new Router table, although thoughts to date do not see any advantage to this as underside access is currently needed for guide clamp and Collet shaft locking anyway. This router has a long shaft extension so access to Collet nut should be available from above table.
I have not given any dimensions as these will be determined by individual router handle dimensions. Just to give some idea for a starting point the overall lengths of the components are: Aluminium Strips 120 mm, Fore-Aft members 270 mm. Width across Front stringer assembly 220 mm. Threaded rod 220 mm.
The assembled components.
The finished Lifter assembly fitted to mock-up Stand used to determine dimensions and operational effectiveness.
A rough check of Fine Height Adjustment capabilities indicates something in the order of 0.1 mm per 360 turn of the Wing nut. This of course is determined by the length of the Fore-Aft members and will be well within the parameters of the router itself or the stability of the finished table.
EDIT: See also Mailee's variation on the system
