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I am currently working on an Open University degree, and part of this years course involves a small design project. I am looking at a fixture that could be used for cutting sheet material with a router or jig saw. The fixture would self align when clamped in position. Attached is a small questionnaire, that will asset in my market research.
I would be gratful if you would complete and return the questionnaire.
Rds Dave Kenny
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Bradbury Industries in Canada makes a product call an Exact-T-Guide which sounds a good bit like what you are attempting to design. Their phone number is 416-461-9148. I assume that you want to avoid the accidental copy of an existing design, so you ought to take a look at their literature first.
*This is kind of related; someone may find this useful. I am a solid surface fabricator as well as a cabinetmaker, and I recently bought some tools for that side of the business that work well for the cabinet work as well (go to http://www.pinske-edge.com if you are interested). The heart of the system is a series of extremely accurate straight edges machined out of aluminum. You use a pair of indexing arms to set the straight edge back a certain distance from an edge; when you take a trim cut with a 5/8 router bit and a template guide, you remove a precise 1/16". This is great for straightening edges or cleaning up edges that are slightly ragged (and you can do up to 12' if you buy the longest straightedge). They also sell a very accurate square which works on the same principle, and they have them available in 90, 45, and 22 1/2 deg. I am using this in cutting sheet goods in my shop: rip a 4 x 8 in two, for example, use the square and a router to square one end of the rip, and then crosscut with the square edge against the fence. I am getting perfectly square panels without having to lift crosscut sleds on and off the saw.Another element in the system is a router bit with carbide inserts: they have them for straight bits and rebate cutters. When an insert gets dull, you switch it around to get a new sharp edge. When that one gets dull, you put in a new insert.No sharpening, and your tolerances always remain precise. The bit will more than pay for itself over the life of a few traditional bits. Not cheap (the router bit, a set of inserts, a 48" straightedge, a square, and a set of indexing arms cost me 1100$ Can.), but the degree of precision you can achieve is pretty impressive, and well worth it. Even with state of the art machinery, this system works well for some of those goofy cuts you have to make.
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