Custom SCMS/router/thicknesser cabinets

Thought I'd share some photos of the cabinets that I'm building. I've been thinking of a set of cabinets that could function as infeed and outfeed tables for my sliding compound mitre saw, router table and thicknesser.

In the end, I've made the following. Basic kitchen cabinets with drawers to provide storage, with a gap in the middle where I can slide in either a mitre saw, router table or thicknesser. I based the gap on the size of a router table I bought and cut some melamine shelf offcuts from an ikea wardrobe that I no longer needed to provide bases for the thicknesser and scms. The melamine was strengthened with some timber strips to ensure it could bear the weight of the machines. These strips vary in thickness to ensure that the scms and thicky are level with the tables. They sit on hardwood runners fixed to the side of the cabinets. Total table length is about 2.7m - slightly more on the infeed side.

I made up two fences that run in some t-track channels in the benches. The fences are fitted with a Kreg top track so that I can use the swing stop and production stop. Bought these on sale one day for a bargain. I have a couple of sacrificial fences for the scms and router table to join it all up.

I've got a few jobs left to do. I need to fit the last of the trim on the far end (it suffered from an unfortunate router accident when my straight edge moved :(( ) and I need to fit the drawer fronts. I've also got plans to build in a dust hood that would help collect the dust from the scms - the shop vac gets some dust, but heaps of dust still sprays all over the place. My DC is just around the corner out of sight, so I plan to build a hood that would channel the dust into a 4 or 6 inch dust port. I've left enough room behind the cabinets for the ducting. I've also got some other ideas that could use the same ducting - watch this space.

Trav

NIce re-purpose to a multi function unit.

Reallt nice -- :2tsup::2tsup:

:2tsup:
Looks great.
Well thought out.
:2tsup:

Nice multi purpose unit :2tsup:

Great job!! I could use something like that in my workshop considering i have all mine as free standing units.. Good stuff looks great

Love it, very well thought out.

Looks awesome with the router table in there.

Steven.

Where do you keep the units not in use?

Great idea!
What about instead of infill boards the machines were on wheeled stands that just rolled into the gap? Or would that not line up as well on the surface??

Thanks for the comments. I've been trying to work out a better way to get the different machines in and out. I switched the thicknesses over a few times the other day and it was really heavy. I don't want to do that very often!

I'd toyed with the idea of each device on a mobile trolley, but thought it would be hard to get it all flat and level, especially with my garage floor. At the moment I'm thinking of keeping the rails the machines sit on, but building a single trolley for the thicknesser. I could roll it up to the spot and simply slide the thicky on or off. No lifting. The router table and scms are not too bad to lift. My plan is that they would be stored in the cavity under whatever machine is in use at that time.

Suggest away if you can think of a better plan!

Will post some pics when I'm done. Or if I come up with a better idea.

Cheers

Trav

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What about if the trolley was slightly higher than the rails when rolling and the top when in position had a way to lever drop so it comes down onto the rails.

Some casters have a lift in them that could facilitate this.

When sitting inside the cabinets the feet/castors are off the floor and the rails are supporting it. Frame would want to be pine or light aluminium.