Using the Rail Jigs to Set Up the Sliding Table
Preamble
The information which follows could be communicated in person, with the jigs and an X31 in about five or ten minutes. You'll spend about twice that going through these instructions and I've spent literally hours putting this stuff together to help you out. Pass the favor along when the opportunity arises - OK?
CAVEAT
Before getting into the the process of using the jigs to set up your sliding table you need to understand that they will not automatically set up your sliding table so that it's perfectly coplanar with the saw table top nor track exactly parallel to the miter slot. The jigs are aids to get you pretty close and they make the process a great deal easier than setting up the sliding table without them. Unlike a true fixed jig, these jigs have and adjustment option for setting the sliding table height above the saw table top and the left/right tilt of the sliding table, the latter also adjustable with the lower, eccentrically mounter bearings.
Overviiew of the Jigs
This diagram shows a jig in place on the X31. The partial circlular part of the jig (A) slips over the upper rail and will support the rails and the sliding table during the set up. The dovetail shaped bar stock (B) will slide into the dovetailed miter slot on the X31's saw table. When the knob is tighten the jig will be held onto the saw table top. The bolt in the jig near the edge of the saw table top, in conjunction with tightening or loosening "B", will permit raising or lowering the upper rail and thus the saw table side edge of the sliding table. The bolt near the end of the jigs "finger" can be tightened or loosened to tilt the rails and thus tilt the sliding table. Note that the eccentric bearings under the sliding table which ride on the lower rail will also allow you to tilt the table.
Bolts "1" and "2" go through the rail support bracket and connect it to the X31 cabinet. Bolts "3" and "4" are used to raise or lower the rails once bolts "1" and "2" have been loosened. Each has a lock nut to fix its position once the rails and thus the sliding table are set where you want them.
Apparently there are at least two miter slot widths on X31s. My '99 model's miter slot is about 1/32" wider than Bill's circa '95 model. The jigs have the miter bar stock made to fit the narrower miter slot. If you have the wider miter slot don't worry. As you tighten knob "B" it will pull up snug in the miter slot as shown below.
The new jigs Bill's machinist friend made up won't work "out of the box and you may not even be able to get them on the upper rail. The hole to go on the upper sliding table isn't opened enough. I've marked your jigs with black sharpe pen to show you what you need to file off.
