Digital Fence Readout

[jrspringer]

I am interested in improving the accuracy of cuts using the table saw fence. I found a new digital readout from a company called Wixey. They claim their device can give you .002" per foot accuracy. The company claims the device will work on many of the major table saws and named several of them; however, Shopsmith was not mentioned. I contacted Wixey about their device being used with Shopsmith's Mark V 520, which I have. They said they just were not that familiar with the Shopsmith and could not say for sure.

Is anyone familiar with this device and if it will work on a Shopsmith?
You can see the device at wixey.com.

Thanks

Jim

[scottss]

Check out www.onlineshopclass.com
They have used wixey products and could tell you more. Also if you join there site you can view videos of set ups with it and much more.






ps if you do join mention me thanks:D

[flashbacpt]

I have seen the advertizement for the product that you mentioned, and like you, was interested. So far, as far as it working on the SS, I have not found a "Yes" answer.
I use the Wixey Digital Angle gauge, and I am very, very much satified with it. It is simple, and fast to use for that reassuring feeling when changing operations, or setups.
I use it on the Table Saw, Jointer, Bandsaw (bandsaw blade too!) and on extended fence setups.
Lets keep our fingers crossed for a positive answer!:)

[dusty]

What do you guys build that makes you feel like you need fence accuarcy to .001/.002"?

When you change blades, do you plan to recalibrate everything?

Remembering that 1/32" = .03125"

[jrspringer]

Thanks for the feedback fellows. I will do some further checking with the references you suggested.

Yes, I do recalibrate when I change blades, it only takes a few minutes and it gives me piece of mind that everything is still ok.
Why do I need that kind of accuracy? Well, it's true you can't measure that accuracy on the finished product, but it definitely provides you with a system of repeatability on cuts that is hard to beat. It also provides one with the assurance that if the cut is off, it is probably the idiot using the equipment rather than the equipment.
Asking why that accuracy is needed is like asking the person who is always late or stipulates time as +/- 5 minutes why he needs a digital watch with a one millisecond resolution and an accuracy of +/- 2 seconds every month. Or why should we buy equipment that can handle 32 bit color when the most we can resolve is 12 to 16 bits, or why do we want 200 Gigabytes of storage when everything we have can fit into 2 gigabytes. And finally why does a man want and buys a car with 450 horsepower that can go 0-60 in less than 10 seconds when he lives in the city and has a hard time averaging 30MPH.
These are probably not very good reasons, but there the best I can come up with. Sometimes you just want the best that is available.
Jim

[dusty]

:) You win. I surrender but I already knew that most of my errors are caused by the idiot in my shop. I learned that lesson a long time ago.

I don't wear a wrist watch or carry a pocket watch. I'm retired. I'll be there when I get there. My truck will make 0 to 60 in about 60 (minutes that is). I try hard not to be in a hurry going anywhere.

I have a high resolution monitor (actually dual monitors) and at least 200 gig of storage but I deem that necessary for CAD work.

I have a Wixey because I was curious about how much better it might be. I still use my engineers square and miter gauge to do Shopsmith alignments.
;)

Sometimes you just want the best that is available.
Jim

Therefore:;) http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/Tips.htm

Note: Left click on the pictures

[flashbacpt]

Dusty,

You are looking at things from the wrong angle! It is not about .012 or 0001! It is all about 90 degrees, 45 degrees or 22 1/2 degrees! What we are really talking about is THE PURSUIT OF ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS! The squareness, the width or lenght that we cut a piece of wood!

Reasons Why??
Here are a few:

One day, you realized that your trusty handsaw was somewhat slow in knocking out wood projects and that it could not be counted on to make all those pieces of wood come together, and fit properly.

You purchased a SS to improve your ability to produce projects, and greatly appreciated the ShopSmith ability to make those cuts!

You spent time setting up your ShopSmith to produce accurate and square cuts!

You may have attended one or more of ShopSmith's classes to achieve those accurate measurements.

You may have used ShopSmith's Forum to find answers in making those measurements right on the money!

OR...................

You have made cuts on a project only to find out that your measurements were off!

You spent a lot of money on wood, and it upsets you when your project does not come together, nor fit properly!

OR.........

You have read articles on tape measures, squares, and engineering squares, being off!

You may have dropped your square, and wondered if it got knocked out of alignment!

During the course of working around your ShopSmith, you have accidently bumped, knocked, or dropped something on it, causing you to wonder if you have lost the accuracy!

You purchased a brand new saw blade only to find out the hard way that the blade was warped!

You take the time to use story boards, fence stops, miter gauge stops, etc. to produce those accurate measurements!

You have learned the "hard way" that it is better to "Measure twice, and cut Once!"

AND.......after all that.................

You continue to search for a way, or means of achieving more accurate measurements.

So................You continue in your pursuit of "MEASUREMENTS". After all, you are only asking for your cuts to be square (90 degrees), and that all your cuts produce the same lenght or width!

Is that asking too Much???? It is PROGRESS that we are talking about! Starting from when things were "measured" by the size of one's hand or finger! The use of digital devices is only the next step!

By the way.............when I change blades, I, too, check for squareness, etc.

[dusty]

You are correct in all accounts but one. I am fortunate in that I have never purchased a warped blade.

There is no arguement. I have simply decided that I can get the accuracy that I need by doing it all the old fashioned way.

I check and recheck my work. Then I make the cut and find out I'm wrong. I do it over again . Hopefully, I haven't used up all the wood that I bought.

But hardly ever do I find out that the SS is out of alignment and that is the reason for my discards.

Digitizing the equipment will not change this; therefore, I see no need to digitize my shop.