Multi T-slot clamping device
With the right clamping device, a Circular bench saws is suitable for special operations such as the production of slots and tenons, shift cuts, grooves, rebates and much more in addition to the usual cutting work. And it is also very practical to be able to use a versatile clamping device at the Router tables or at the workbench and planer. DICTUM course instructor Roland Heilmann has developed the Multi T-slot clamping device, or MTS for short, for this purpose. This is used in the online course Side table in stud construction.
What can I do with the Multi T-slot clamping device?
With the MTS, you can, for example, clamp and process long workpieces vertically on the machine table on the circular bench saws, for example to produce mortise-and-tenon joints or to cut acute angles in the case of shift cuts. Depending on the diameter of the saw blade, long tenons and slots can also be produced. The maximum length of the workpieces is only limited by the distance to the ceiling. The workpiece is fixed to or in the Multi T-slot clamping device using lever clamps or horizontal clamps. The MTS is then guided along the rip fence like a sliding carriage. Two sturdy round timbers serve as handles for safe guidance. If you are using an underfloor rip saw such as the MAFELL Erika 85, you can also clamp the MTS to the rip fence.
Workpieces can be processed on edge with the MTS.
Material for the Multi T-slot clamping device
The MTS essentially consists of two T-slot plates.
Our multi T-slot clamping device consists of multiplex boards with a thickness of 21 mm. These can be uncoated or coated. The MTS has two plates with T-slots at right angles to each other. DICTUM all-steel screw clamps for guide rails, the hold-down device for DICTUM T-slot rails and T-slot blocks for other stops and star knob screws fit into these.
Material list | Dimensions in mm | |
1 x multiplex birch | 620 x 305 x 21 | (part 1) |
1 x multiplex birch | 620 x 225 x 21 | (part 2) |
2 x multiplex birch | 620 x 70 x 21 | (part 3 and 4) |
2 x round rods, screws, dowels Diameter 30, Length 200, screws, dowels
Build your own multi T-slot clamping device
For Production of the MTS, you should be familiar with the correct and safe way of working on the Routers. Observe the correct routing direction in the opposite direction. Use eye and ear protection and an extraction system. Download cutting list and drawings.
1. milling the T-slot cutters
You will need an M8 T-slot cutter, a router with at least 1000 W Performance (e.g. Festool router OF 1010 REBQ), the rip fence and an additional fence for routing parallel grooves.
For the first T-slots close to the edge, the router is guided with the rip fence. Set the routing depth to 12 mm. Lengthy fence jaws are helpful. The Festool OF 1010 we used has a rip fence with short, non-adjustable fence jaws. We have therefore replaced the plastic jaws with a bar approx. 300 mm in length so that safe freehand guidance is possible without tilting. With the rip fence modified in this way, the first T-slot cutters are milled parallel to the workpiece edges all the way round.
A continuous bar as a stop prevents unintentional tilting.
To mill the following grooves at a constant distance from each other, you need a guide aid with a guide rail. The CRB 7 multifunctional base plate is perfect for this. The guide rail has a cross-section of 8 x 11 mm, Length approx. 340 mm. It is screwed directly onto the CRB 7. We have drilled two additional holes in the plastic plate of the CRB 7 to prevent the thin strip from bending. When screwing on, make sure that the moulding is mounted at right angles to the base plate to ensure that the grooves are parallel. The Routers now sits on the CRB 7 plate and the previously set milling depth is no longer correct. You must reset the milling depth before milling the Others grooves! Others 21 mm thick plates have been used to fix the workpieces in a kind of guide frame. This prevents tilting when approaching and at the end of the groove. Mill all remaining T-slot cutters with these settings.
Milling parallel grooves with the CRB 7 and a suitable stop bar.
Tip: With uncoated boards, always mill against the grain first and then mill in the direction of the grain. This prevents unsightly tears at the intersections.
2. connecting the individual parts
A dowel joint ensures that the corners of the workpieces are precisely aligned. We have used the for this. Alternatively, you can also use other joining systems (e.g. MAFELL DuoDübler or Lamello). The dowels ensure that the parts do not move during subsequent screwing.
Additional dowels hold the boards in position when screwing them together.
Parts 1, 2 and 3 are screwed together with pocket holes. We used the UJK pocket hole drilling template for this. Then drill the blind holes to hold the round timbers on the upright drill or freehand. First screw the two T-slot plates (parts 1 and 2) together. Make sure that the two T-slot plates are at right angles to each other. Then place the round timbers in the blind holes and screw parts 3 and 4 in place (part 4 is simply screwed against part 1). Sharpen all edges with a sanding block (including those on the T-slots!). This protects against unpleasant cuts and injuries.
All screws are well concealed in the pocket holes.
Others application examples
ATTENTION: This work involves special operations in which the top guard of the saw blade is removed. Special care must be taken here. Re-install the top guard immediately after completing the work! Never work without this guard under normal circumstances.
Angles steeper than 45° can only be sawn on the Circular bench saws if the workpiece is positioned vertically on the machine table. The multi T-slot clamping device takes over the machine table function. You can slide lever clamps or hold-down clamps into the T-slots of the fence plate to secure the workpiece. Self-made stop blocks, on which horizontal clamps sit, are also helpful and serve to clamp the workpiece securely. Be careful, the wedge-shaped section falls downwards and can get jammed in the gap of the saw table and fly away. Always stand in such a way that you cannot be hit by flying parts. There must also be no other persons in the danger zone.
This allows you to cut very sharp Angles on the circular saw.
Processing small and narrow workpieces on a planing bench with a Routers, but also with hand tools, often fails due to the lack of clamping options. This is where the MTS is a real problem solver. Its right-angled design allows it to be placed on a bench top. The workpieces are held in the MTS using clamping clamps, hold-down clamps or quick-release clamps. In our video tutorial, you can watch all the work steps again in detail and also experience the application examples in practice. You can certainly think of many more possibilities for using the Multi T-slot clamping device.
The MTS can also be used in a variety of ways on a workbench.
You can find out how to mill clean grooves with the router in our basic router course.
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