System for spacing flutes on a workpiece
View Patent ↗A system, apparatus, and method for spacing and aligning flutes to be routed in a workpiece is disclosed. The system includes a flute-spacing jig with spaced alignment holes, a workpiece aligner, and a fence guide. Additionally, the system can include a T-square with adjustable stop-blocks.
1. An apparatus for aligning a workpiece for routing flutes therein comprising:
a generally longitudinal jig with a first end and an opposing second end, a generally planar bottom surface and an opposing top surface, and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side;
a fence guide attached to the first side of the generally longitudinal jig;
an alignment hole in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal jig, generally spaced between the first end and the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal jig; and
a raised workpiece aligner, the raised workpiece aligner rising generally vertically from the top surface of the generally longitudinal jig.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of spaced alignment holes in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal jig.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fence guide comprises:
a screw; and
a lock nut attached to the screw.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alignment hole creates an aperture in the top surface of the generally longitudinal jig.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the raised workpiece aligner is spaced near the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal jig.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generally longitudinal jig is metal.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generally longitudinal jig is wood.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generally longitudinal jig is plastic.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generally longitudinal jig is fiber glass.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the first side has a taper toward the second side, the taper having a beginning and an ending, whereby the width of the generally planar bottom surface and the width of the opposing top surface at the ending of the taper is generally less than the width of the generally planar bottom surface and the width of the opposing top surface at the beginning of the taper.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fence guide is generally spaced between the first end of the generally longitudinal jig and the ending of the taper.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the alignment hole in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal jig is generally spaced between the beginning of the taper and the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal jig.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the alignment hole in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal jig is generally spaced between the beginning of the taper and the raised workpiece aligner.
14. A system for spacing flutes comprising:
a router table;
a router, with an attached router bit, operably attached to the router table;
a router fence slidably attached to the router table; and
a flute-spacing jig having a first end and an opposing second end and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the flute-spacing jig has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side for positioning the flute-spacing jig over the router bit.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig is metal.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig is wood.
17. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig is plastic.
18. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig is fiber glass.
19. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig has a first longitudinally-spaced end portion and an opposing second longitudinally-spaced end portion wherein the first longitudinally-spaced end portion is tapered.
20. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig has a first longitudinally-spaced end portion and an opposing second longitudinally-spaced end portion wherein the first longitudinally-spaced end portion has an attached fence guide.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the attached fence guide comprises:
a screw; and
a lock nut attached to the screw.
22. The system of claim 14 wherein the flute-spacing jig has a first longitudinally-spaced end portion and an opposing second longitudinally-spaced end portion with the opposing second longitudinally-spaced end portion having a workpiece aligner.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the workpiece aligner is raised.
24. The system of claim 22 wherein the workpiece aligner is a pin.
25. The system of claim 14 further comprising a removable bushing temporarily centering the flute-spacing jig over the router bit.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the removable bushing has an aperture, the aperture having an internal diameter sized to allow the removable bushing to be placed over the router bit, the removable bushing also having an exterior diameter, the exterior diameter being sized to allow the removable bushing to slidably mate with the internal diameter of the alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein the removable bushing has a flange, the flange having an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of the alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig whereby the flange of the removable bushing is operably supported by the flute-spacing jig.
28. The system of claim 14 further comprising a T-square slidably contacting the router table.
29. The system of claim 28 further comprising a stop-block attached to the T-square.
30. The system of claim 29 wherein the stop-block is adjustable.
31. The system of claim 29 wherein the stop-block is removable.
32. The system of claim 29 wherein the stop-block is hinged.
33. The system of claim 14 wherein the router fence further comprising:
a longitudinal channel positioned in the router fence; and
a stop-block slidably attached to the longitudinal channel in the router fence.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein the stop-block is adjustable.
35. The system of claim 33 wherein the stop-block is removable.
36. The system of claim 33 wherein the stop-block is hinged.
37. A system for spacing flutes comprising:
a router table;
a router, with an attached router bit, operably attached to the router table;
a router fence slidably attached to the router table;
a flute-spacing jig with a plurality of spaced alignment holes between a first longitudinally-spaced end portion and an opposing second longitudinally-spaced end portion, wherein the first longitudinally-spaced end portion is tapered and has an attached fence guide, and wherein the opposing second longitudinally-spaced end portion has a raised workpiece aligner;
a removable bushing having an apertured body portion, the apertured body portion having an internal diameter sized to allow the removable bushing to be placed over the router bit, the removable bushing also having an exterior diameter, the exterior diameter being sized to allow the removable bushing to be placed within the spaced alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig whereby the spaced alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig are temporarily positioned over the router bit; and
a flange attached to the apertured body portion, the flange having an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of the spaced alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig whereby the flange is operably supported by the flute-spacing jig.
38. The system of claim 37 wherein the flute-spacing jig is metal.
39. The system of claim 37 wherein the flute-spacing jig is wood.
40. The system of claim 37 wherein the flute-spacing jig is plastic.
41. The system of claim 37 wherein the flute-spacing jig is fiber glass.
42. The system of claim 37 wherein the attached fence guide operably contacting the router fence comprises:
a screw; and
a lock nut attached to the screw.
43. The system of claim 37 wherein the raised workpiece aligner is a pin.
44. The system of claim 37 further comprising a T-square slidably attached to the router table, the T-square having an adjustable hinged stop-block.
45. A system for spacing flutes comprising:
a means for supporting a workpiece having a first end and a second end during routing operations;
a means for routing flutes in the workpiece operably attached to the means for supporting the workpiece during routing operations; and
a means for aligning the workpiece with the means for routing flutes in the workpiece, the means for aligning the workpiece having a first end and an opposing second end and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width at the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the means for aligning the workpiece has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side, whereby either the first end or the second end of the workpiece may be translated across the means for routing flutes.
46. A method for routing aligned flutes in a workpiece comprising:
aligning a workpiece with a flute-spacing jig, the jig having a first end and an opposing second end and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the jig has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side for positioning the jig over the router bit;
running a first end of the workpiece aligned with a router fence over a router bit;
reversing the workpiece; and
running a second end of the workpiece aligned with the router fence over the router bit.
47. A method for aligning a workpiece for routing flutes therein comprising:
positioning a spaced alignment hole of a flute-spacing jig over a router bit, the flute-spacing jig having a first end and an opposing second end and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the flute-spacing jig has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side for positioning the flute-spacing jig over the router bit;
placing a workpiece over the flute-spacing jig and between a raised aligner and a router fence;
sliding a router fence flush with the workpiece and the flute-spacing jig; and
removing the flute-spacing jig.
48. The method of claim 47 further comprising putting a removable bushing through the spaced alignment hole and over the router bit.
49. The method of claim 47 further comprising positioning an adjustable hinged stop-block of a slidably T-square whereby a stop-flute may be routed in the workpiece.
50. A method for routing aligned flutes in a workpiece comprising:
positioning a spaced alignment hole of a flute-spacing jig over a router bit, the flute-spacing jig having a first end and an opposing second end and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the flute-spacing jig has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side for positioning the flute-spacing up over the router bit;
placing a workpiece over the flute-spacing jig and between a raised aligner and a router fence;
sliding the router fence flush with the workpiece and the flute-spacing jig;
removing the flute-spacing jig;
rotating the router bit; and
running the workpiece aligned with the router fence over the router bit.
51. The method of claim 50 further comprising inserting a removable bushing through the angularly-spaced alignment hole and over the router bit.
52. The method of claim 50 further comprising:
positioning an adjustable, hinged stop-block of a slidably T-square whereby a stop-flute may be routed in the workpiece; and
blocking a path of the workpiece.
53. An apparatus for aligning a workpiece for routing flutes therein comprising:
a generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig with a first end and an opposing second end, a generally planar bottom surface and an opposing top surface, and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side;
an alignment hole in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig, generally spaced between the first end and the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig; and
a raised workpiece aligner integral with the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig, the raised workpiece aligner rising generally vertically from the top surface of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig.
54. The apparatus of claim 53 further comprising a plurality of spaced alignment holes in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig.
55. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the alignment hole creates an aperture in the top surface of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig.
56. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the raised workpiece aligner is spaced near the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig.
57. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the workpiece aligner is a pin.
58. The apparatus of claim 53 further comprising a fence guide attached to the first side of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig.
59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the fence guide comprises:
a screw; and
a lock nut attached to the screw.
60. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the width of the first end is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side.
61. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising:
a removable bushing having an aperture, the aperture having an internal diameter sized to allow the removable bushing to be placed over a router bit, the removable bushing also having an exterior diameter, the exterior diameter being sized to allow the removable bushing to slidably mate with the internal diameter of the alignment hole of the flute-spacing jig.
62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the removable bushing has a flange, the flange having an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of the spaced alignment hole of the flute-spacing jig whereby the flange of the removable bushing is operably supported by the flute-spacing jig.
63. An apparatus for aligning a workpiece for routing flutes therein comprising:
a generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig with a first end and an opposing second end, a generally planar bottom surface and an opposing top surface, and a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is adapted to operably position the flute-spacing jig against a router table fence while the workpiece is being aligned;
a plurality of spaced alignment holes in the generally planar bottom surface of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig, generally spaced between the first end and the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig, wherein the alignment holes create an aperture in the top surface of the generally flute-spacing longitudinal jig; and
a raised workpiece aligner integral with the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig, the raised workpiece aligner rising generally vertically from the top surface of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig, the raised workpiece aligner being positioned near the opposing second end of the generally longitudinal flute-spacing jig.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the workpiece aligner is a pin.
65. A system for spacing flutes comprising:
a means for supporting a workpiece having a first end and a second end during routing operations;
a means for routing flutes in the workpiece operably attached to the means for supporting the workpiece during routing operations; and
a means for aligning the workpiece with the means for routing flutes in the workpiece without the need to take measurements, the means for aligning the workpiece having a first end and an opposing second end and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end is less than the width at the first side and the width of the second end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the means for aligning the workpiece has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side, whereby either the first end or the second end of the workpiece may be translated across the means for routing flutes.
66. A system for spacing flutes comprising:
a router table;
a router, with an attached router bit, operably attached to the router table;
a router fence slidably attached to the router table;
a flute-spacing jig having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion and a first side and a second side, wherein the width of the first end portion is less than the width of the first side and the width of the second portion end is less than the width of the second side, and wherein the flute-spacing jig has a plurality of alignment holes angularly spaced between the first side and the second side and between the first end portion and the opposing second end portion, and wherein the opposing second end portion has a raised workpiece aligner;
a removable bushing having an apertured body portion, the apertured body portion having an internal diameter sized to allow the removable bushing to be placed over the router bit, the removable bushing also having an exterior diameter, the exterior diameter being sized to allow the removable bushing to be placed within the alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig whereby the alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig are temporarily positioned over the router bit; and
a flange attached to the apertured body portion, the flange having an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of the alignment holes of the flute-spacing jig whereby the flange is operably supported by the flute-spacing jig.
67. The system of claim 66 wherein the raised workpiece aligner is a pin.