[OP]
Contributor
I have a Sawstop Industrial Cabinet Saw with Woodpecker Rip-Flip accessory installed. I am considering adding the Wixey rip digital readout (DRO). It may be possible to mount the Wixey rails below the rip flip rails. The DRO would then be placed on the right side of the sawstop rip fence and the rip-flip stops would be used on the left side of the sawstop rip fence.
Bob
Contributor
Welcome to the Creek Bob.
Sounds like a really nice setup, maybe you could post pics when it is done.
Rick Potter
DIY journeyman,
FWW wannabe.
AKA Village Idiot.
Contributor
Bob,
I've got the Rip-Flip on a PCS but I'm using the iGaging DRO. The sensor is attached to the top of the fence rail instead of having a separate rail.
Cliff
The problem with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.
Charles Bukowski
Contributor
Cliff: the IGaging DRO. Which one do you have? The largest/longest DRO I found is 38".
The fence on my table saw is 52" and I would like to have a DRO of the same measuring ability.
Thanks for any help.
Contributor
Grizzly sells a 52''
Richard Poitras
Central, Michigan....
01-02-2006
[OP]
Contributor
I sure will, if it is successful. The Wixey is on order and I might have it installed in a week or so. I mocked up an end view of the rails in sketchup and it looks like a straightforward fit. We'll see.Originally Posted by Rick Potter
Bob
I've run the same Wixey DRO on three different saws now. Its current home is on my Saw Stop PCS. I don't know that the rip-n-flip would add anything to the DRO. I do have a white board on the wall behind the tablesaw area where I keep random notes. During a project the DRO settings for some things will end up there. I can return to any setting I have jotted down at any time. I also do this for router bit height settings at the table. This has become an integral factor in how I work. If my DRO burst into flames I would order another one immediately. Just so people don't think I am gadget crazy. I have a DRO on the planer (love it) and tried one on the router table (removed it . . . not super useful). Different things work for different people. YMMV.
"A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".
– Samuel Butler
[OP]
Contributor
That sounds interesting. I cannot find any documentation on the igaging product. Their website seems to be bare bones on information and no installation instructions or drawing.
Bob
[OP]
Contributor
I am intrigued by the Grizzly product. Its installation is very simple and it is low cost. It would not compromise my rip flp installation. I cannot find any user reviews. I may order it and try it because it is so cheap and it uses an IGAGING DRO as it's heart.
[OP]
Contributor
Thanks, Richard. That's a great lead. I bought it and will install soon.
[OP]
Contributor
I just purchased the Igaging dro from Grizzly. It has a 60" sensor strip that you cut to length. It is advertised as specific for Sawstop, which I have. The measuring DRO bolts directly of the existing cursor window. If this works out, it is a steal and about half the price of the Wixey.
Contributor
Let us know how this works out for you. My concern is that the DRO read tape is exposed as it is applied to the top of the fence rail. Would/will the read out tape effected by any dust, possible damage, etc.??
Last edited by Ray Newman; 08-15-2024 at 2:28 PM.
[OP]
Contributor
The DRO comes with three component parts: 1) the electronic sensor head which bolts in place of the sawstop cursor window 2) a 60" long slotted stainless steel tape and 3) a visual measurement tape. The sensor head measures position against the stainless steel tape, which is attached with adhesive on top of the fence. The visual measurement tape attaches with adhesive on top of the stainless steel tape. The stainless tape looks like a long stainless hose clamp, only much thinner and finer slots.
It appears to me that this setup is not going to be affected by dust or wear. I will post photos of the installation process. It should be noted that this DRO kit is ONLY for a sawstop saw and fence. I found one extremely harsh review online. Notably, they installed it on a Beismeyer fence. To do so would have required some user engineered adaption. I decided to pay no attention to that review.
Surprisingly, I could not find any Youtube videos or information on the Igaging website for this particular DRO. It seems to only be available through grizzly. For $62, I am willing to take a chance.
Bob
[OP]
Contributor
Ray, I installed the grizzly DRO and it is in use now. It works with some caveats. The biggest design difference between the Grizzly/igaging product and the Wixey product is where the DRO head is mounted. The Grizzly head mounts on the rip fence (in place of the right side cursor window). The Wixey DRO head mounts on the rip fence rail and magnetically couples to the rip fence.
The Grizzly head can lose its calibration if the rip fence is jostled or lifted enough to move the DRO head away from its metal sensor strip (taped to the top of the front rail). It is very easy to recalibrate, but annoying to do this. I do love the ability to dynamically set the reading to zero. I use the rip flip to cut dados using the "two pass" method espoused by Woodpecker (seller of the rip flip). I set the DRO to zero on the left position of the dado and then can measure the width of the dado directly with the DRO. This is hard to explain. Ask for photos if you need them.
I had purchased the Wixey DRO and never opened it. It was headed out the door to return to Amazon when a friend explained the difference between the head mounting on the two DRO's. He has the Wixey without the rip flip. I decided to open the Wixey and look closer. To say it is a robust product is an understatement. The rails for the sensor strip are very sturdy. I have decided to keep it and try to mount it. I believe it is possible (coexist with the rip flip), but it is going to require several custom mounting brackets for the rail. It will also require a custom bracket for the magnetic attachment to the rip fence. I am searching for off-the-shelf brackets that can be adapted.
If I succeed, I promised to publish photos. It seems that adapting Wixey with Woodpecker rip flip has been a popular topic for years, but no one has actually done it (or has not published their success).
Bob
Contributor
Unlike most other table saws, the Sawstop trunion moves straight up and down. I’ve long wanted to put a dro on the blade height. Projects keep getting in the way.
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