OPR Stand Question [Archive] - Shopsmith Forums

Pages : [1] 2

fjimp

10-24-2009, 08:16 PM

JPG40504

10-24-2009, 08:29 PM

Today I assembled a base and table for a Mark V 520 upon which the overall length has been shortened 18" and does not have a headstock. The OPR has also been installed. Many thanks to Bill Mayo for his guidance and helping me find affordable parts.:):)

Now that I have assembled my latest dream I realize the Way Tubes need to be shorter yet. I have two concerns. First one I have centers on how short dare I make them without being concerned with the Table, OPR, Router and projects flipping the stand over in my lap. Secondly I really need to minimize the overall length as I am running out of space in the shop. I am wondering if anyone here has faced this issue and if so what works? What doesn't work? Your thoughts will be welcomed. FJIMP

Since you will probably NOT need to put it in 'normal' horizontal position, the way tubes CAN be shortened with NO regard to the acquired inability to clamp it down in horizontal position(it will always be 'vertical'). How come you think they need to be shorter??

The bench tubes may be further shortened, but as you have pointed out, tipping MAY be a problem. The addition of 'ballast' to act as a counter weight to the leg opposite the 'opr'(tailstock) end could reduce that possibility. BTW which way does the opr face? It can be mounted 'reversed' since it IS a dedicated single purpose tool.

iclark

10-24-2009, 10:42 PM

Since you will probably NOT need to put it in 'normal' horizontal position, the way tubes CAN be shortened with NO regard to the acquired inability to clamp it down in horizontal position(it will always be 'vertical').
JPG: the session with Nick using the OPR in horizontal mode was very impressive.

MLCS is running a sale on their Flatbed Horizontal Router Table for "only" $169.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/ec091020.html

Jim: if you have to take this capability away from the SS OPR because of floor space until you move, then you might want to consider Bill Mayo's trick of losing the legs and bench tubes altogether. he attached the base to a heavy platform and put the carriage on upside down (as jpg suggested above). I'm not sure, but I suspect that he used the bolt holes in the base that normally secure the tube lock bar as the attachment point between the base and platform. this way, you still have the headless bench intact for later.

fjimp

10-25-2009, 03:20 PM

JPG: the session with Nick using the OPR in horizontal mode was very impressive.

MLCS is running a sale on their Flatbed Horizontal Router Table for "only" $169.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/ec091020.html

Jim: if you have to take this capability away from the SS OPR because of floor space until you move, then you might want to consider Bill Mayo's trick of losing the legs and bench tubes altogether. he attached the base to a heavy platform and put the carriage on upside down (as jpg suggested above). I'm not sure, but I suspect that he used the bolt holes in the base that normally secure the tube lock bar as the attachment point between the base and platform. this way, you still have the headless bench intact for later.

Many thanks for the input. I have no intention of losing the ability for horizontal operation. The reference to Nicks sawdust session being the reason. Today I spent a great deal of time further exploring my current configuration. I discovered with all components installed I am already close to "Tilting." I also determined that I could lose another 15" of tube length and still set up and operate in either mode. Clearly tilting would be a reality. I installed one of my two telescoping support table legs Item # 555627. Wow this creates a very stable situation. I would think this also poses a potential solution to "Tilting" should I remove the additional 13 or 14 inches of tube. Thus I continue to ponder and wait just in case someone offers a better option. Jim

nuhobby

10-25-2009, 04:35 PM

Jim,

My shorty-500-OPR setup (with 19" cut from all tubes) definitely utilizes a 500-style telescoping leg. I could imagine a weighty 520 table would need it even more, so you've got a good thing going there.

Just by free association I think you've posted at least one welding job in the past. If that's the case, you could think about fixing up a jackscrew support system to (a.) prevent the tilt-over and (b.) prevent the 520 table/carriage from sliding down the way tubes under weight. Recently I read in one of the home-machinist magazines of a guy who found a suitable inexpensive jackscrew at Harbor Freight. I mention this even though I do little business there, since I harbor fright at most of their inventory's quality.

Enjoy,

reible

10-25-2009, 05:31 PM

Hi,

Storage space aside I guess I would come from the point of user interface. I don't have the newer style of these but I can tell you what I have found with the model I have.

Table height is comfortable at 40 to 44" for me. It allows for good vision of the cutter and I don't have to bend over very much. I'm 5'8" but everyone has there own feelings about what they would like to see. When pattern routing you can end up working for hours cutting parts so plan accordingly.

The arm allows a travel of 3-1/2" if I recall correctly. For me I find having the collet end to table distance of about 3" works well. This is what I might call the minimum distance. Then add say 8" of head room so you can do taller items and deal with additional fixtures. (Again this would depend on what you might expect to be doing on the machine). This might be called adjustment space and lets make that 11" in this example.

Now if you measure from where the collet is to the highest piece on the tube mounting hardware plus the adjustment space (11") plus the table height (44") this would be the height needed for operations with the table in drill press mode. This would be mounting height so don't forget to deal with the actual length of the tubes which will be needed to do this.

I have no idea how the requirements might vary when the table is tilted but that should be evaluated and then the higher of the two should me picked.

If I had to guess this will come very close to removing the length of the headstock or about 13".

Just another way to think about this.

Ed

fjimp

10-25-2009, 06:17 PM

Chris and Ed,

Thank you gentlemen. Your insights are excellent. I am about 5' 7" I have reached that point in life where I seem to be shrinking. Working in the vertical position my table is at the bottom of the tubes. My work height is 34" which is ideal as my foot problem makes sitting down to work in the shop advantageous where I can. Routing being one of those activities. Chris your memory is excellent I do a bit of welding. I had not considered your idea but will be doing something similar to your suggestion, thank you. We have a tractor supply store near us. Their quality may not be high end but is usually decent. I need to think thru the bottle jack idea. Actually I have a couple of them and am considering a third, one never seems to have the correct height.:D

Ed your measurements are very similar to mine. In that I don't need that extra height and realistically don't expect my height to increase I don't see losing those inches of tube length as an issue. I sincerely appreciate each of you taking time to assist me in thinking through all options. For everyone may I wish you a blessed evening. Jim

fjimp

10-26-2009, 06:03 PM

Wow my buddy showed up about 4 PM today. He had a steel tube cutter with him. As he was an hour early I didn’t even have the stand torn down yet. 40 minutes later we had it torn down all four tubes shortened an additional 12" and reassembled. I wanted to post a picture and decided to await a bit of cleaning and polishing yet to be completed.

I am very pleased. I expected the tilt question to be worsened yet find it identical to before. I do believe the Shopsmith Telescoping leg will be sufficient support. Jim:D:)