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Automated table saw fence and router table

6K views 25 replies 11 participants last post by  DocWithManyHats 
#1 ·
Finished most of the mechanical construction and control software



 
#2 ·
it's pretty damn cool but not something id ever find useful.what is the accuracy? one problem is the screen,hopefully you have an alternate way to mount it because where it's at would be right in the way.id mount it right on the fence itself so it would just ride with it.
 
#3 ·
I'm working on another app to make customized box joints and dovetails on the fly using this system. That was the main inspiration to make it. That, and I like making my own tools.

The tablet is connected by bluetooth, so it can be mounted anywhere. I can also just use my phone instead of the tablet, or not use the electronics if I don't want to.

I haven't done real world accuracy tests yet, but theoretically less than a thousandth of an inch.
 
#7 ·
I think it needs to be refined as the one below.
I like the ability to punch in the measurement and the fence goes there.
Kind of like the Tiger Stop system, which you can program for multiple cuts as well.

- LeeRoyMan
Needs to be refined for what purpose?

Mine has the same functionality, along with offsets, and router table. I also wanted the ability not to have to use electronics and just use it like a regular fence, which I have.
 
#9 ·
As an automation engineer and a woodworker I can appreciate this on multiple levels. This is pretty cool! A couple of questions, are you using stepper motors or servos? I assume you can zero or home the router lift to any position? An absolute encoder on the router lift would eliminate the need for the distance sensor and likely provide better resolution. Or, if money isn't an obstacle, you could use a linear actuator.
Good job!
 
#10 ·
As an automation engineer and a woodworker I can appreciate this on multiple levels. This is pretty cool! A couple of questions, are you using stepper motors or servos? I assume you can zero or home the router lift to any position? An absolute encoder on the router lift would eliminate the need for the distance sensor and likely provide better resolution. Or, if money isn t an obstacle, you could use a linear actuator.
Good job!

- cokernutt
Thank you. That is high praise coming from a professional.

I'm using steppers and may incorporate a linear scale on the fence in the future, so I can move seamlessly between manual and automatic positioning of the fence. That isn't a priority right now though.

I'm not sure I follow you about the absolute encoder. I would still need to re-zero as I change bits since they would stick out different amounts, wouldn't I?
 
#11 ·
Is that Rip-It fence actually commercially produced? It looked like a failed Kickstarter campaign, although it did look pretty cool. Nothing on their Kickstarter page for the last 3 years.

The price of the TigerFence is - OMG!!!

So there may be a market for what you are building.

The next thing you need to integrate is a pusher to push wood through the blade. The combo would be amazing.
 
#12 ·
Being a software engineer focused on automation and workflow efficiency I think this has serious potential. What I'd really like to see is the ability to send a cut diagram to the table saw and it determines the most efficient way to break down sheet goods. Or let me pull up the cut diagram on the screen and just tap a shape and the fence auto sets for that piece. Of course none of that is remotely necessary in a hobby shop but I still think it would be really freaking cool.
 
#13 ·
Is that Rip-It fence actually commercially produced? It looked like a failed Kickstarter campaign, although it did look pretty cool. Nothing on their Kickstarter page for the last 3 years.

The price of the TigerFence is - OMG!!!

So there may be a market for what you are building.

The next thing you need to integrate is a pusher to push wood through the blade. The combo would be amazing.

- zzzzdoc
I haven't followed the Rip-it product. It seems like a nice design, but I wanted the ability to use my saw without electronics too.

How much are the tigerfences? I never looked into it as I'm just a hobbyist.

Can you elaborate bit about what you mean by pushing the wood through the saw? Do you mean in an automated fashion with a motor or manually? I'm almost done designing a removeable sliding miter fence that attaches to the main fence and could be used for both the table saw and router table portions. I was considering motorizing it in the future, but that is way down on the list of things I still have to design, make and code.

Output device Electronic device Machine Metal Rectangle
 

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#14 ·
Being a software engineer focused on automation and workflow efficiency I think this has serious potential. What I d really like to see is the ability to send a cut diagram to the table saw and it determines the most efficient way to break down sheet goods. Or let me pull up the cut diagram on the screen and just tap a shape and the fence auto sets for that piece. Of course none of that is remotely necessary in a hobby shop but I still think it would be really freaking cool.

- sansoo22
Both of those scenarios would be pretty cool. The latter I think I could manage - clicking on a cut diagram and having the saw automatically take care of it. Determining the most efficient way to break down sheet goods feels like it would be challenging to program, but doable. I think I would learn a lot doing it.

I want to finish my joinery software before I seriously contemplate other features.
 
#15 ·
...the ability to send a cut diagram to the table saw and it determines the most efficient way to break down sheet goods.
The process you describe is called 'nesting' and it's typically done before tool path generation prior to sending data to the CNC machine. Think encapsulation or separation of concerns.
Or let me pull up the cut diagram on the screen and just tap a shape and the fence auto sets for that piece.
Overall, it sounds like you want a CNC router which can also cut shapes a table saw can't.
 
#16 ·
...
Overall, it sounds like you want a CNC router which can also cut shapes a table saw can t.

- mawilsonWCR
I designed and built a muliaxis cnc (take a look at my projects for an idea of the 3d milling I do). I used the cnc to cut the aluminum for my fence and router system. This system and the cnc both have their place in my workshop and serve some overlapping functions.
 
#25 ·
Updating the Control App with a saw blade library

I updated my control app a little while ago to include a saw blade library. This way it can automatically figure out kerf and distance to the blade when cutting on either side of the blade. I just have to set it up once when getting a new blade and it does the rest.

I updated how to tune offset positions and home positions depending on left/right side of table saw blade or router. The checkbox changes the fence coordinate system ( positive or negative when moving left or right) and takes the appropriate offsets into account.

 
#26 ·
Joinery app working (?)




I started this project a long time ago. I had some confidence I could design the hardware side of things, as I made my own cnc and had been using CAD and CAM on my own for some time. I did not know how to code though, and before I started too far down the hardware side of things, I wanted to be sure I could manage the software side.

So, I started teaching myself to code and used this long term project as an inspiration. It is mostly written in Java and c++. I've since moved over to learning python, as that seems to align better with my long term goals. For this project, though, I use android tablets/phones and arduinos/esp32, so Java and c++ are the native languages.

I got my joinery software around halfway done before shifting focus to the control software and hardware design. In recent weeks, I circled back to the joinery software and think it is almost in a testable state. I need to do some more wiring, make some depth stops and clamps, then I'll be ready to test. The video didn't show it, but the software checks to make sure the bits being used, number of joints being made etc are all physically possible, and will throw a red warning and not let you continue if they aren't

We're closing on a house, so progress might be a bit delayed - but it does mean the possibility of a larger/cleaner shop.
 
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