Joseph,
In my opinion....
The RAS has some disadvantages that may warrant your consideration.
The over arm that carries the saw/motor has a locking arrangement to set it
at common angles such as 90, 60, and 45 degrees. There must be some amount
of clearance in order for this mechanism to release so you can change to a
new angle setting. Considering the length of the arm only a thousands or so
clearance at the lock can equate to a 1/4 inch or more at the end farthest
from the locking arrangement. This means cuts that are not true. It also
means that for each setup change you must use a square to set this
accurately before locking it down and make a few test cuts to be satisfied
it is ready for your project, this equates to lost time.
Ripping is no problem as long as it does not exceed the capacity of the
blade to post area.
When the RAS was introduced many people lived and died by it, but that has
pretty much faded, some still swear by it however but they are few.
I have two RAS's (not that I set out to have them, they just came my way).
One I use for rough in type work in deck building etc where precision is not
mandatory. The other one I use for cutting scrap wood for the wood burner
that heats my shop. On rare occasions if I have a large production job
where all 3 table saws and the panel saw are setup for repeat cutting, I'll
set up a RAS for one of the less critical cuts.
So.... if you really want one and can buy it at a modest cost they MAY
justify the space in the shop they consume. I would think twice before
purchasing one new, there are plenty on the used market. I have given one
of mine away 3 times but it keeps coming back!
Don Dando
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Don Dando" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> The over arm that carries the saw/motor has a locking arrangement to set
>> it
>>> at common angles such as 90, 60, and 45 degrees. There must be some
>> amount
>>> of clearance in order for this mechanism to release so you can change to
>>> a
>>> new angle setting.
>>
>> Not necessarily.
>
>I suspect that the RAS uses a "tapered" indexing system that requires NO
>PLAY at all.
>
>>
>> Considering the length of the arm only a thousands or so
>>> clearance at the lock can equate to a 1/4 inch or more at the end
>>> farthest
>>> from the locking arrangement.
>>
>> Fail geometry? No where close.
>
>I never witnessed any thing like that all either.
Agreed. I think Don has something badly wrong with his saw or its
setup. With the carriage at the extreme end of the arm (where it
seldom is), I can get maybe 1/32" or 1/16" inch of play--more than I'd
like, but I haven't really fine-tuned the saw, since I use it
primarily for rougher work. 1/4" would be dramatic slop in the saw.
I think the "failed geometry" comment was based on the comment about
.001" of slop in the pin leading to 1/4" play at the end of the arm.
On my saw, the indexing pins are registering with the outside of a
~2.75" column. So they are at a radius of 1 3/8". If they have a .001"
slop, that would translate to slightly more than 1/64" at the end of a
27" arm. But maybe Don's got one of those mega RASs with a 15-foot
arm! <g>
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Don Dando" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> The over arm that carries the saw/motor has a locking arrangement to set
> it
>> at common angles such as 90, 60, and 45 degrees. There must be some
> amount
>> of clearance in order for this mechanism to release so you can change to
>> a
>> new angle setting.
>
> Not necessarily.
I suspect that the RAS uses a "tapered" indexing system that requires NO
PLAY at all.
>
> Considering the length of the arm only a thousands or so
>> clearance at the lock can equate to a 1/4 inch or more at the end
>> farthest
>> from the locking arrangement.
>
> Fail geometry? No where close.
I never witnessed any thing like that all either.
"alexy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Since Don indicated that he did not set out to get the 2 RAS's and they
>>just
>>came his way I strongly suspect the indexing system was worn out when he
>>got
>>them.
>
> Probably. I wonder; with a tapered pin, if sawdust gets packed in the
> indexing hole, might that keep the pin from fully seating, resulting
> in such slop? Now I need to check to see if there is any way to clean
> mine!
Perhaps, If saw dust can get into that spot and that is assuming that the
taper points down and not up. Taper pointing up would be self cleaning.
"alexy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Agreed. I think Don has something badly wrong with his saw or its
> setup. With the carriage at the extreme end of the arm (where it
> seldom is), I can get maybe 1/32" or 1/16" inch of play--more than I'd
> like, but I haven't really fine-tuned the saw, since I use it
> primarily for rougher work. 1/4" would be dramatic slop in the saw.
>
> I think the "failed geometry" comment was based on the comment about
> .001" of slop in the pin leading to 1/4" play at the end of the arm.
> On my saw, the indexing pins are registering with the outside of a
> ~2.75" column. So they are at a radius of 1 3/8". If they have a .001"
> slop, that would translate to slightly more than 1/64" at the end of a
> 27" arm. But maybe Don's got one of those mega RASs with a 15-foot
> arm! <g>
Since Don indicated that he did not set out to get the 2 RAS's and they just
came his way I strongly suspect the indexing system was worn out when he got
them.
"Don Dando" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The over arm that carries the saw/motor has a locking arrangement to set
it
> at common angles such as 90, 60, and 45 degrees. There must be some
amount
> of clearance in order for this mechanism to release so you can change to a
> new angle setting.
Not necessarily.
Considering the length of the arm only a thousands or so
> clearance at the lock can equate to a 1/4 inch or more at the end farthest
> from the locking arrangement.
Fail geometry? No where close.
Don Dando wrote:
> Joseph,
> In my opinion....
>
> The RAS has some disadvantages that may warrant your consideration.
>
> The over arm that carries the saw/motor has a locking arrangement to set it
> at common angles such as 90, 60, and 45 degrees. There must be some amount
> of clearance in order for this mechanism to release so you can change to a
> new angle setting. Considering the length of the arm only a thousands or so
> clearance at the lock can equate to a 1/4 inch or more at the end farthest
> from the locking arrangement. This means cuts that are not true. It also
> means that for each setup change you must use a square to set this
> accurately before locking it down and make a few test cuts to be satisfied
> it is ready for your project, this equates to lost time.
>
> Ripping is no problem as long as it does not exceed the capacity of the
> blade to post area.
>
> When the RAS was introduced many people lived and died by it, but that has
> pretty much faded, some still swear by it however but they are few.
>
> I have two RAS's (not that I set out to have them, they just came my way).
> One I use for rough in type work in deck building etc where precision is not
> mandatory. The other one I use for cutting scrap wood for the wood burner
> that heats my shop. On rare occasions if I have a large production job
> where all 3 table saws and the panel saw are setup for repeat cutting, I'll
> set up a RAS for one of the less critical cuts.
>
> So.... if you really want one and can buy it at a modest cost they MAY
> justify the space in the shop they consume. I would think twice before
> purchasing one new, there are plenty on the used market. I have given one
> of mine away 3 times but it keeps coming back!
>
> Don Dando
>
>
>
OK, I must admit that I am a RAS user. For saws that what I knew having
grown up using my Dad's. I was building some cabinets for the garage
and I came to the same conclusion as Don. They are not too accurate. I
bought the RAS because I knew the machine and I thought that I would not
need the expense of a miter saw as well. I bought the miter saw. Now I
wish that I bought a good table saw. So anyone who wants a Rigid RAS
can make me an offer. I might even still have the video that explains
how to align it. Mean while I try to figure out how to convince
HomeDepot I need to upgrade -- for free. :)
-G
On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 15:08:23 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Don Dando" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> The over arm that carries the saw/motor has a locking arrangement to set
>> it
>>> at common angles such as 90, 60, and 45 degrees. There must be some
>> amount
>>> of clearance in order for this mechanism to release so you can change to
>>> a
>>> new angle setting.
>>
>> Not necessarily.
>
>I suspect that the RAS uses a "tapered" indexing system that requires NO
>PLAY at all.
The manual for my 1972 Craftsman specifically describes that.
--
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997
email addy de-spam-ified due to 1,000 spams per month.
If you can't figure out how to use it, I probably wouldn't
care to correspond with you anyway.
As far as the Geometry question is concerned, it depends on the radius
of the locking mechanism. The closer the locking mechanism is to the
center of rotation, the more maginifed the slop becomes... Thus,
depending on the make, the slop magnification can be large or small.
I'll see if I can determine the amount of slop on my blade tonight,
but I doubt it's more than 1/32 (I've never had any problems with
accuracy).
John
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Since Don indicated that he did not set out to get the 2 RAS's and they just
>came his way I strongly suspect the indexing system was worn out when he got
>them.
Probably. I wonder; with a tapered pin, if sawdust gets packed in the
indexing hole, might that keep the pin from fully seating, resulting
in such slop? Now I need to check to see if there is any way to clean
mine!
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.