Sliding Table Saw

From CoMakingSpace Wiki

A sliding table saw (Formatkreissäge) is a (much) bigger, professional version of a table saw.

It can be used for a variety of cuts. Most of these can also be made on other saws, but are much easier on the sliding table saw:

Ripping

This cut allows you to cut your workpiece to a specified width

Straight line ripping (German: Besäumen)

This cut allows you to create a straight edge e.g. on solid lumber. Always use the edging shoes when performing this cut on thick and/or warped boards that Fritz & Franz can not hold securely!

Crosscutting

This cut allows you to cut your workpiece to a specified length

Miter Cut

This cut allows you to cut into your workpiece with a specific angle

Hidden Cut

This cut allows you to not cut through your entire workpiece by setting the sawblade to a height lower than the thickness of your workpiece


Altendorf F 45

MachineInfoBox

Altendorf F 45 (1985)

Altendorf F45.jpeg
Synonyms: sliding panel saw, horizontal panel saw
Type: Sliding Table Saw
Material: wood, engineered woods, many plastics
Location: Wood Workshop
Access Requirements: Sliding Table Saw Introduction
Status: In Commissioning
Manual: 1990 version (Daltons-Wadkin.com)
Tutors: Lukas
Similar (More or Less): table saw



We were able to afford this used sliding table saw from 1985 with donations from a past bonus program and a (still active!) betterplace campaign.

This tool is not ready for use yet since not all commissioning steps have been completed. The process is also tracked on GitHub. Feel free to contribute to making it usable, any help is very welcome!

Task comment Status
Name the tool: - done
Take a picture - done
Find the manual as PDF a) 1990 version (Daltons-Wadkin.com): close enough? /// b) spare parts manual (1993 version, Daltons-Wadkin.com): still useful? Done - close enough
Documentation this page, status: in commissioning done
Print QR-Code use the wikicrawler pending
Introduction Sliding Table Saw Introduction done
Security Check needs blade guard for miter cuts pending
Test to be done or witnessed by a manager done
tool's name, owner and approx. value provide to Johannes for inventorization done
Last step: make it available physically and in the wiki - then delete this template pending



Specs

These are the correct machine specifics - information in the (newer) manual may differ!

  • workpiece
    • max. length: 250 cm
    • max. width: to be verified - approx. 150 cm on either side of the cut
  • main blade
    • max. diameter: 350 mm
    • central bore: 30 mm
    • guide pins: 2 8 60 (matching holes appear to be 2 10 60)
    • 3000/4000/5000/6000 rpm
    • currently installed: freud LU2A 2800, Ø350x3.5/2.5x30 Z54 HW, max. 5500 rpm (massive wood: min 3000/max 5000 rpm) [1]

Hood

The protective hood must be installed for all cuts. Before you start, make sure it is set to the proper height and does not touch the blade!

Extra wide hoods that allow miter cuts cost a substantial amount of money, would require extra attention and last but not least intuitive storage space. Therefore, we [modified https://github.com/comakingspace/do-something/issues/305#issuecomment-2690405041] our original [https://www.altendorf-shop.de/hood-narrow-90-wa-107.html narrow WA 107) to make it 65 mm wider.

Fences

Crosscut Fence

Please do not move the table extension with the crosscut fence along the sliding table! It should remain in the back or you will mess up its accuracy.

Last calibration 2025-2-5: right angle accuracy < 0.5 mm per m, further improvements would require extended test cut series.

Caution: the sliding stop on the crosscut fence is bent so that workpieces of different thickness are stopped at slightly different lengths! The scale is only accurate for 9 mm workpieces at the moment (see [2])

Parallel Fence

This fence is the most accurate guide on the sliding table saw, featuring screw-driven fine adjustment for the final cm.

For reliable alignment, make sure you press the fence down onto the table with one hand while tightening it with the front lever!

when fixing the workpiece on the sliding table, pull the parallel fence all the way back so it ends before the blade

Never use both fences at once - however, you can use the parallel fence pulled all the way back to align a workpiece held on the sliding table! The important point is that only one constraint (sliding table OR parallel fence) is acting on the workpiece anywhere it touches the blade.

Accessories

Click the photos below for more information!

Potential Upgrades

  • elongated crosscut fence (something like this would also fix the problem with the slanted stopper)
  • miter fence
  • "butt handle" for hands-free table pullback after a cut (part 7.02 in the manual)
  • scoring blade/Vorritzer
    • NOT installed!
    • if you need this feature and are willing to contribute to the necessary upgrades, reach out to Johannes