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Producing wooden joints: Milling beam connectors with a routing template and router

Special application using MFS and OF 2200
Producing wooden joints
This guide demonstrates how wooden joints can be produced quickly and precisely using the Festool system and beam connectors. It provides a step-by-step explanation of how to set up the router, install the routing template, rout the wooden beams and connect the beams without any visible screws. This process is especially advantageous when users need to produce a number of joints – the Festool system enables craftspeople to repeatedly produce precise wooden joints. 

    Description

    Invisible beam joints are often used in timber construction. A number of different jointing means are available for wooden joints. These need to be routed accurately and precisely in order to guarantee a perfect fit. To create invisible beam joints, a combination of a router and multi-routing template is particularly practical. With the Festool system, users can joint wooden beams quickly and precisely without any visible screws. This is particularly advantageous when routing a number of joints. This guide explains the steps users should take to rout invisible beam joints precisely and with high repeat accuracy. 

    Tools/accessories

    The following tools and accessories are recommended for use in this application example:

    Alternative tools

    The following tools and accessories are recommended as an alternative:

    Preparation/set-up

    • To rout the beam connectors, first fit the groove cutter and copying ring in the router. Alternatively, a different base runner can be used. 

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      Fitting the groove cutter and copying ring into the router

    • Adjust the multi-routing template to the width of the beam connector to be routed. 

      When working with the template: Connector width plus the difference between the copying ring diameter and cutter diameter. Here: 60 mm + (30 mm - 18 mm) = 72 mm.

       

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      Adjusting the multi-routing template

    • Insert the connector into the template. 

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      Inserting connector

    • Add the connector width and difference (12 mm in this example), read off the routing template scale and secure it accordingly. The length of the routing template is calculated as the connector length plus approx. 30 mm. This additional length is required as it makes it easier to insert the cutter into the material.

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      Additional length

    • The two angle stops are fitted parallel to the width axis. It is easiest to adjust this setting directly on the workpiece. In this example, the narrow template edge must be 6 mm ((copying ring diameter - cutter diameter)/2 = ((30 mm - 18 mm)/2 = 6 mm) from the routing edge. Insert the two lever clamps in order to secure the template on the edge beam. 

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      Attaching angle stop

    • The template is now ready and can be placed on the axis mark on the edge beam in no time. After routing is complete, it can also be moved to the next position quickly.

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      Positioning template

    Procedure

    • To create wooden joints, position the router and set the depth. After connecting the mobile dust extractor to the router, routing can now start.
      To avoid the router tearing out of the material at the upper edge, we recommend routing briefly into the material on the right-hand side.

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      Setting the router depth

    • Next, remove the cutter and rout the wooden joints along the left-hand edge in a clockwise direction. Rout the interior of the material.

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      routing-material

    • After routing the wooden joints, the connectors are assembled using suitable screws.

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      Attaching connector with screws

    • The Festool system makes it possible to produce flawless wooden joints. The result: Invisible beam joints, routed and assembled precisely, quickly and with excellent repeat accuracy.

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      Invisible beam joint

    1. Our illustrated guides and work results are documented working steps that we have performed in practice. They are individual examples and do not guarantee or promise that users will obtain the same results. The results will depend on the user's experience and skill, as well as the material being used. Illustrated guides do not replace any Festool operating manuals and/or safety instructions. Liability for ensuring that the information, instructions and applications are free from content defects and defects of title, in particular with regard to the absence of defects, correctness, freedom from third party intellectual property rights and copyrights, completeness and fitness for purpose, is excluded. Claims for damages made by the user, regardless of their legal basis, are excluded. These liability exclusions are not applicable if the damage was intentional or caused by gross negligence, or in cases of statutory liability.

      We cannot accept liability for damage resulting from defects.↑