Nick wrote:"...perhaps I'm a dreamer here, but having worked with the Shopsmith for over 20 years I still can not see any reason why the machine can not be brought into such alignment to permit the swapping of the Aux table from one side to the other and remain aligned."
No, Ed, you're not a dreamer. It is possible and it's a whole lot simpler than any of us have guessed here, all our long and learned treatises on the subject not withstanding. This afternoon, Jim McCann showed me a simple procedure for aligning the auxiliary table that results in an aux table that can be used on both sides of the machine. I came back back to the Academy, tried it on three different machines, and it worked as advertised.
There is a stack-up of tolerances, as Ed (Reible) pointed out, but we maintain sufficient precision in our manufacturing procedures that this should not be a problem. And the Mark V design includes the ability to adjust the frame alignment to compensate for small differences. Furthermore, the frame is rigid enough to hold it's alignment -- or this particular alignment -- even on uneven floors. After aligning the auxiliary tables on the three machines I mentioned, I propped up the various corners on scraps of wood to simulate wildy uneven floors and tables remained aligned.
The procedure is short and simple enough that I can show it to you on a Sawdust Session, so I've scheduled one on February 9. In the meantime, here are the bare bones:
1. Make sure your table is properly aligned to the saw blade. When the miter slots are perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the main table rails will be parallel to the way tubes.
2. Make sure the rails on both the main table and the auxiliary table are set to the proper height, using the aluminum gauge we supplied with the machine.
3. Make sure the main table surface is square to the saw blade.
Note: While all of these alignments are critical, none of them need be so precise that they cannot be accomplished with ordinary measuring equipment. The closer they are, the better this will work. But on the three machines I worked on, the miter slots were between .002" and .005" of parallel to the saw blade -- good alignment, but not quite up to military specs. This did not seem to adversely affect the results.
4. Place the auxiliary table in the base (right side) and loosen all the nuts that hold the table to the dogbone. Slide the table all the way to the right so it contacts the auxilary table.
5. Slide the connector tubes through the rails on both tables and tighten the locking knobs. Both tables should be at the same height if the rails (see #2) are set properly.
6. Adjust the nuts with your fingers so both the top and bottom nuts just touch the dogbone, then tighten them. Loosen the locking knobs. The connector tubes should slide back and forth through the rails in both tables easily.
7. Move the auxiliary table to the headrest (left side) and slide the table as close as possible. Adjust both tables to the same height and slide the connector tubes through the rails of the main table and into the rails of the auxilary table.
8. If the tubes bind or will not align with the auxiliary table rails, raise or lower the allen set screw in the headrest (under the way tube tie bar, toward the rear) until they do.
That's it, folks. Worked for me three times out of three. If it doesn't work for you, see me on February 9 and we'll talk.
With all good wishes,
Nick
Again your the super hero!!!!!!!!!
I did exactly what you said and my Aux table now works perfectly in either side of my Shopsmith.
I have been trying for a year now and everytime I asked I was told it simply could not be done. Well you proved them wrong because it worked exactly as you described.
THANKS!!!!!!!
I completely removed my main table from the machine taking it completely off the trunions. I cleaned everything. Then using your procedure on aligning the table I began my adjustments. The only difference was I used a Fifty dollar bill instead of 20. I figured if a 20 was good a fifty would be that much better.
After I got my main table into what I consider to be perfect adjustment I then slide it far right and adjusted my aux table as you detailed. I then moved it to the left position and using the set screw so the tubes matched up, again as you described.
I then put my SS into different setups and moved it around in my garage and checked the alignment. With every change everything check out perfectly.
I knew I my model 500 setup this way and I could not figure out why my 510/520 wouldn't be the same.
The secret was the set screw. My new maintaince manual (updated with the install of the 510) does not mention the set screw. But I believe my model 500 did. Because the instant you mentioned it I believe it remembered adjusting it to align the aux table on the 500.
Incidentally I think all my messing around with the bench and way tubes was useless since nothing ever changed. although it seemed to be logical.
Thanks again. You deserve a big star for that one!
Ed
