Author Topic: MFTC portable workshop (Read 990224 times)

Timtool · « **on:** March 08, 2013, 10:23 AM »

Well it's finally here after 10 months of planning, testing, building, replanning rebuilding etc... the MFTC or multi function tool cart!

By far my most exhaustive and complex project, the MFTC is a workshop on wheels, folds up and can be transported like a hand truck.
I started designing this right after i finished my MFTB tool box, because i needed something for bigger site jobs.
But you can read the whole story and see more pics here on my site.

When i was designing this Festool had not yet brought out their sys roll, when it came out i got really scared because the MFTC seems like a logical follow up on what many brands are now doing in making tool boxes on wheels.
The MFTC works somewhat like an MFT table, it has the same length but is a bit narrower to go through doors easily. But it houses a sysport,a shelf and has many more clamping options on the legs. The bottom shelf is great for keeping tools out of the way and keeping the vac underneath out of the way. The shelf also makes the whole bench very stable.

It can also hold 2 1400 rails!
and i made two extension tables so that the MFTC can be adapted to the size you need, by placing the two tables on one side you can cut down entire panels on it with ease!

On my site i am selling the plans for those interested, they are in metric, but i plan on adapting them for imperial sized sheet goods. If anybody wants to help with that i am open to suggestions!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5YzIwK-g0E&feature=youtu.be

Bob Gerritsen · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2013, 10:54 AM »

Ohhh, this is nice Tim!! Would love to see this live. I'm very pleased with my present setup but I did notice I started thinking of a way to implement this in my system.

Big thumbs up, now go finish that video!

Cheers, Bob.

Bob Gerritsen · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2013, 10:57 AM »

Tim, can those drawers be locked? I'm thinking it would be brilliant if you could roll this, laying down that is, into the back of an estate car. You would need some sort of ramp to roll it in but that shouldn't be a problem.

Timtool · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2013, 11:14 AM »

Hi Bob, the drawers have push locks, so they wont open when you tilt it or put in in your trailer. On the front there are some reinforcements that allow you to pull the MFTC up into a van or trailer without damaging it. You can lay it in a car, i put mine a few times in my truck bed, but i removed the systainers so it was lighter to lift.

What i forgot to mention is that i designed this for site work, but i like to use it on my shop as well as a second workbench. And i imagine that people who have limited space or work in a garage can profit from this design as well, placed against a wall it is no deeper than 19,7 inches or 50cm and about 60cm wide or 23 inches wide and still functions as a sysport. Unfolding it takes less than 10 seconds and requires no tools.

RL · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2013, 11:47 AM »

Looks good Tim, I'm going to check out your website now...

Note: I could not see the price for the plans on your website until I clicked on the pay now button, but E7.44 is a great price and I hope loads of people download your plans...I just did.

johninthecamper · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2013, 12:17 PM »

waaay cooool

ericbuggeln · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2013, 12:29 PM »

Tim, you have out done yourself. I remember the prototype you showed me. This piece is equally beautiful and functional.

I bought Tim's MFTB plans and while I have been busy with other projects, the plans are amazingly detailed and easy to follow. I'm gonna talk to my friend with the CNC and maybe make both at the same time. I'm working solo now and need all the help I can get. Could you hoist this into a box van solo?

Nice work and nice saw in the background, Eric

Frank Pellow · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2013, 12:31 PM »

Great! It's away too big for the space I have, but I can admire it and lust after it.

Michael Kellough · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2013, 12:55 PM »

Bravo Tim!

Timtool · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2013, 01:04 PM »

Quote from: ericbuggeln on March 08, 2013, 12:29 PM

I'm working solo now and need all the help I can get. Could you hoist this into a box van solo?

I hoist it into my trailer, but for that i remove the systainers as they make up at least half the weight. I just roll it against the back, go into the trailer and pull it up with the handle.
My first prototype was at least twice as heavy and way to clumsy to move around. I will try to show it all when i make the video, i still have the prototype sitting here and i used it for a good 7 months but too many things were not right about it, and it took me at least half a year to find the right solutions.

ericbuggeln · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2013, 01:08 PM »

That's called persistence, Tim, it paid off, Eric

SRSemenza · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2013, 01:17 PM »

Awesome! I like the drawer for the MFT stuff instead of a Systainer.... instant access.

Seth

Bob Gerritsen · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2013, 01:48 PM »

Man, I don't need this but I'm already trying to come up with an excuse that will tell me otherwise.

Would love to see some detail on those push locks, not really sure how those work.

Timtool · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2013, 02:00 PM »

Quote from: Bob Gerritsen on March 08, 2013, 01:48 PM

Would love to see some detail on those push locks, not really sure how those work.

They are simple cheap drawer push locks, this was one of the great challenges of keeping the drawers closed while moving it around. And it was only when i mentioned my problem to a hardware salesman that he pointed out to me they had these locks i never used before.
When you close the drawer the locks hook the drawer, and to open the drawer again you have to give it a little inward push and the lock springs open.
Similar to the mechanism of a ballpoint pen!

Bob Gerritsen · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2013, 02:06 PM »

Sorry, me again. This thing keeps getting better the longer you look at it. I love the possibilities of the two extensions, really simple but it covers everything you could wish for on site. I'm gonna look up my Paypal details and get these plans.

Only thing I don't like about this thread is the amount of pics. Would looooove to see some more details.

rnt80 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2013, 02:54 PM »

Great job. It looks like your persistence paid off.

andyman · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2013, 02:57 PM »

That will be great for working on site great design

Michael_Swe · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2013, 03:53 PM »

That is a really nice setup. Nicely done!
I'm not a portable kind of guy. But I can see the greatness of this setup if you're on the road.
//Michael

bmwproboi05 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 08, 2013, 06:13 PM »

That is one great invention you have there! Tool storage and a work surface!

irishroey · « **Reply #19 on:** March 08, 2013, 06:34 PM »

This looks great Tim and I could do with one of these, I will get the plans and get started ASAP on it

MrToolJunkie · « **Reply #20 on:** March 08, 2013, 06:53 PM »

Outstanding!

Scot

neilc · « **Reply #21 on:** March 08, 2013, 07:16 PM »

I just ordered the plans.

Really excellent job. I can see you put a LOT of thought into it.

neil

Guilliaume woodworks · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2013, 01:00 AM »

Tim, fantastic ! What dollar figure would you estimate this project? And is there anything you would add or modify?

Timtool · « **Reply #23 on:** March 09, 2013, 04:01 AM »

Quote from: Guilliaume woodworks on March 09, 2013, 01:00 AM

Tim, fantastic ! What dollar figure would you estimate this project? And is there anything you would add or modify?

Thank you,

It's hard to put a price tag on it, there isn't that much material in one, and in my case i made half of it with scraps. The only thing i had to buy was 2 sheets of ply, the T-tracks, wheels, slides and some hardware. There is a list of everything needed in the plans.

Things i would change? Well nothing that wouldn't add more problems than it could solve. The first prototype has 25m of electric cable on board, connected to a socket with 4 outlets on the MFTC, it was really practical but it added way too much weight. The cord of the CT vac is long enough in 80% of cases to reach an outlet.
I gave this allot of thought and spent dozens of hours on sketchup making all possible combinations, shapes and mechanisms to try and find the best i could. Countless times i started from zero on a new idea and be stuck in the end because there is an tremendous amount of interaction of all the parts.
I changed a few things after building the final model, like putting adjustable feet in the MFTC base as well, and not only on the table legs, which has greatly improved stability.

In the future i might add a miter saw table extension, where the table of the saw sits flat with the surface. The extension table design is highly customizable and simple, and the legs fold into the base taking minimal space when not in use.

moody · « **Reply #24 on:** March 09, 2013, 11:14 AM »

Looking really good! How much for the plans?

bpitch · « **Reply #25 on:** March 09, 2013, 11:56 AM »

Quote from: moody on March 09, 2013, 11:14 AM

Looking really good! How much for the plans?

Quote from: Richard Leon on March 08, 2013, 11:47 AM

Looks good Tim, I'm going to check out your website now...

Note: I could not see the price for the plans on your website until I clicked on the pay now button, but E7.44 is a great price and I hope loads of people download your plans...I just did.

GhostFist · « **Reply #26 on:** March 09, 2013, 12:35 PM »

I bought plans as well

jobsworth · « **Reply #27 on:** March 09, 2013, 12:47 PM »

I wish I had the time to build all these projects…

Maybe when I retire from my day job Ill have time.

Reiska · « **Reply #28 on:** March 09, 2013, 03:10 PM »

Don't know if I'll ever find time to build this but bought the plans to show my support for this sort of great community design just like I did with the MFTB and UWB plans. Maybe one day I'll actually build these.

Keep on innovating Tim!

mohrab · « **Reply #29 on:** March 09, 2013, 05:15 PM »

Great job Tim. Will order the plans!

Just used my MFTB this weekend for the first time that I built from your plans. I clamped it to the fender of a wood chipper (doing work for an Arborist friend) to cut small pieces of oak baseboard for the kitchen. Found it easy to clamp small pieces to cut with my dovetail saw.