Festool MFS Fence System Instruction Manual page 33

Using the Festool MFS
profiles as an adjustable
rectangular router tem-
plate
So far we have only looked at the MFS in
terms of using its various components as
fences or guide rail positioning aids. If
you assemble four of the MFS extrusions
as a rectangle with the ruler markings on
the inside it now be-
comes an adjustable
rectangular router
template. It is easy to
adjust to whatever
size rectangle you
want.
As we will see in a
moment it is just as
easy to change the
size of the template to
do offset routing as it
is to leave the tem-
plate the same size
and change bearings
or guide bushings or
guide bushing and
ring sets. Either works
well for most applica-
tions.
Let's start with a
commonly requested
example. Let's recess
a router plate into the top of a Festool
Multi-Function Table. I'm not going to ac-
tually cut into my tables because I al-
ready have large industrial router tables.
Instead I will cut into a piece of 3/4" mdf
which we will pretend is a Festool MFT
top plate.
33
To set a router plate into a table surface,
the male already exists (the plate itself)
so we just need to fit it into a proper fe-
male recess. We need to rout a groove
the thickness of the router plate and ex-
actly the same size as the router plate.
Then we need to cut clear through the
table top surface leaving about a 10mm
to 15mm lip all around to support the
router plate. The router plate pictured
below with the router still attached is de-
signed for a lip that is 11mm deep.
as is shown in this photo.
That is all it takes to make a template that
is exactly the same size as the router
plate.
Now, place the rectangular template you
just made on top of the intended work
piece positioned just where you want it.
Begin by
setting the
selected
router plate
flat on the
table top.
Assemble
four MFS
extrusions
into a rec-
tangle with
the ruler
markings
on the in-
side.
Place this
rectangle
over the
router plate
and adjust
the rectan-
gle to just
fit the
router plate