Router Lift Redux

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OK - this has been a long time in recess, I know, but I only just worked out how to make the rise/fall mechanism for the thing work, so bear with me. The nice new shiny countersink you can see in the plate is where the M6 countersink machine screw that will operate the lift will sit. This will be attached  to a long threaded rod that will pass through to the router body below, where a captive nut will be fixed, allowing the router to be inched higher or lower against the force of its built in compression springs, to raise or lower the collet and bit. I've got the threaded rod and some extension nuts on order which should be with me tomorrow.

But a thought struck me that the adjustment screw, if left simply rotating in its countersink, would be under considerable tension: a steel countersink screw, running in an aluminium alloy countersink is a) going to face a good deal of friction in operation, and hence b)  exhibit an inordinate amount of wear to the softer metal of the plate in said operation, let alone being a pain to use. So, I intend to secure the operating end of the thing into a fixed ball-race under the plate: I've got a few old ones lying about the workshop, so I should be able to cobble something up. If I don't have a suitable one and end up having to buy something specifically for the job, it will only cost a couple of quid anyway.

Of course, in the thinking about and prepping for this thing this afternoon, I came up with the notion that it would be a really, really nice idea to sink the router plate into the top of the table-saw, so that I've got both devices in one space, and both using the table-saw fence, to boot. This will present its own challenges, but it looks like a fun - and useful - project to have a crack at. Keep you posted on progress...

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