throat plate not flush with table top

[jkristia]

Another completely newbie question.

I noticed on my new BT3100 that the throat plate is not flush with the table top, but is about 1-2mm lower (1/16th"). Isn't that supposed to sit flush with the table?. I didn't see any way to adjust it, so maybe that is just how it is

Jesper

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Jesper:

I raised mine to the level of the saw table by sticking layers of metal duct tape to the bottom of the insert. (1-2mm seems like a lot)

- Lonnie

[Tom Miller]

Just to be clear: Yes, it absolutely is supposed to be flush, and if it's not, you should make it so. I do like Lonnie, but there are other ways, which others might post about. You might also do a search -- it's been talked about before.

Regards,
Tom
Oh, and welcome to the forum!

[jkristia]

ok, maybe it's only 1mm not 1-2mm, and thanks, I will do a search and see if I can fix it

thank you
Jesper

[sweensdv]

If the insert is absolutely supposed to be flush and it isn't, and there is no way to adjust the height, then I would call Ryobi Customer Service and ask them what they are going to do about it. If this is a reoccuring problem then Ryobi needs to step up and offer a fix.

[JohnnyTest]

I had this same problem recently, the solution was to put a washer under each of the 4 screws.

[Pappy]

To the best of my knowledge all the stock Ryobi plates set a bit low. You can either shim them up, make your own, or buy the ones sold thru T-Nuts.

Another shim idea someone posted was to use O rings on the screws under the plate.

[jkristia]

I have checked it now, and it is 0.8mm low in the front and 1.2mm low in the back.
I noticed 2 screw holes in the front, are there supposed to be 2 screws there for adjustment?, and the 2 in the back, the seem stuck, shouldn't I be able to adjust those 2 ?
Jesper

[JimD]

Jesper,

You should be able to adjust the height of the stock throat plate in the back by using the two screws. In the front, I think you have to shim.

This is also a good excuse to make yourself some zero clearance throat plates, however. I find that 3/8 thickness for the plate with rabbets in the areas that much be thinner gets it flush enough for me. For the zero clearance plates, you use the four threaded holes that are not used by the stock throat plate.

Jim

[LCHIEN]

quote:Originally posted by jkristia

Another completely newbie question.

I noticed on my new BT3100 that the throat plate is not flush with the table top, but is about 1-2mm lower (1/16th"). Isn't that supposed to sit flush with the table?. I didn't see any way to adjust it, so maybe that is just how it is

Jesper

That's a lot, are you measuring with calipers or just a ruler?
1 mm is ~.040 so 1.2m is .048" and .8mm is .032"

Mine have been I think about .016 - .020 inches low (6 year old BT3000)
and I have shimmed it up with multiple layers of gummed labels cut to ~1/4" x 1" strips around the bottom edges, each about .003 -.004" thick.

Ideally the plate should be truly flush fore and aft. Practically you'd like the front to be whisker low and the rear a whisker high so that even with material expansion and contraction over time the workpiece won't catch on the front of the tp or the rear of the opening. In reality, it easier to make things flat rather than sloped and to allow for material and machining tolerances so the plate is low all over rather than risk being high at the front.

The second set of four holes is for the user-cut ZCTPs.

Some people use the extra set of holes for set screws to raise or lower the plate.

This question and more are answered in the first post in this, the "Getting Started" forum here at BT3central. You'll find a permanent link to the Frequently asked Questions (FAQ) document.

[monte]

I used O-rings on the screws below the plate. Makes the screws captive as well.

[jkristia]

quote:Originally posted by LCHIEN
That's a lot, are you measuring with calipers or just a ruler?
1 mm is ~.040 so 1.2m is .048" and .8mm is .032"

I measured this with a caliper.
Thank you all for the info. I will try and adjust it with some of the methods mentioned here

thanks you
Jesper