Innovative Router lift mechanism

Hi !
This is a new kind of Router lift mechanism.
We've seen so many things on that topic, sometimes very complicated contraptions, with screws, slides, or sometimes gears.
They often have several drawbacks, like heavy footprint, limited access to the chuck, intrusive, see destructive for the router, etc ...
Sometimes, the pulling action applies only to one of the router posts, which works well at the beginning, with plenty of WD40, but stops working after some hours because of wood dust.

This mechanism fixes all of these drawbacks.
And it is very simple, I took maybe half a day to make it.
It's based on ... bicycle break cables !

And it is really powerful, I can prove it, in my case, it lifts like a charm a router "beast" made for carpenters, German made, which weights maybe 15kg !

Here it is on my site : https://www.labellenote.fr/articles....=313&tconfig=0

And on Youtube :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xhTIPV2dFA

Very slick, but my mind is still boggling at a 15KG router!! what a beast!

Great idea, and no servos, Arduinos, stepper motors, lead screws, etc. were required to make a fully functional device.

I didn't see any breaks in the brake cables though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusty

Great idea, and no servos, Arduinos, stepper motors, lead screws, etc. were required to make a fully functional device.

I didn't see any breaks in the brake cables though.

Yes, it's a possible future evolution.
On this router, the break is one of the handle, you just have to rotate it, and it's accessible through a door on the cabinet under the table.
An evolution would be to command that handle using a cable either.

I understand English isn't your first language so just a gentle correction. Brake is what the cables did on the bicycle, break is destructive action.

I think I would make the lift crank wheel a little smaller in diameter to that it doesn't extend above the table surface - you just never know what size and shape the next workpiece may be and you might need it to extend past the edge where the crank is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusty

Brake is what the cables did on the bicycle, break is destructive action.

Oh yes ! sorry for that mistake , and thanks for telling me.
Unfortunately, I cannot edit and fix my message, (maybe Jon could help ?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusty

Brake
I think I would make the lift crank wheel a little smaller in diameter to that it doesn't extend above the table surface - you just never know what size and shape the next workpiece may be and you might need it to extend past the edge where the crank is.

Sure, actually, the beauty of this thing is that you can choose where you locate the mechanism on the machine, and here, I screwed it under the table only for the sake of demonstration. In fact I was in a hurry to deliver it to my friend, so he will have to take care of it.
I think it would be better located on the side wall.
Other option would be to make a removable crank, but here I had no time for that.

1 Attachment(s)

A simple wheel trim to reduce its diameter a bit so that the wheel doesn't extend above the table surface would do it, in keeping with your KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid - a common phrase for design guidance in the US).

This brings to mind one of my favorite problem solver devices. On big trucks and other machinery there is commonly a power takeoff control, which consists of a rubber coated long spring guide through which a solid but flexible metal wire travels with a knob at one one, used to operate machinery controls. Since it can deliver a significant amount of force by pushing or pulling on the knob and the guide is small and flexible enough to reach into many difficult to access locations often times it's a great, cheap solution for difficult controls. Some even come with a hand tightened friction nut to lock the wire at any position within its travel range.

Here's one I found at Amazon that's only $7.
Attachment 35892

Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Router Lift to our Router Tables category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-router-lift-20"> <img src="/uploads/234595/homemade-router-lift-20.png"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-router-lift-20">Router Lift</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Christophe+Mineau">Christophe Mineau</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/lifting'>lifting</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/router'>router</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce.desertrat

Very slick, but my mind is still boggling at a 15KG router!! what a beast!

Pretty slick. I have an old Bosch that is almost that big. Definitely a two hander. You only start it with one hand control once.

Congratulations Christophe Mineau - your Router Lift is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

This is a difficult prize to win with something as simple as a router lift; it's only been done once before with revwarguy's Arduino-controlled lift. However, this is a clever and unique approach.

Some more nice builds from this week:

Magnetic Welding Ground by orioncons36
Electric Shears by meanwhileinthegarage
Vise Hold Down by craig9
Magnetizer by diyfixman
Panel Plane by Philip Davies
Tangential Tool Holder by celsoari
Dowel Jig by Mazay
Center Square by machining 4 all
Mini Grill by orioncons36
Scribe by engineer steve
Temporary Bench Shelf by mklotz
Vise by fawabros
Table Saw Bowl Shaping Method by Christofix
Anvil Stand by bobneumann
Optical Center Punch by MachineNZ
Lathe Motor Protective Box by machining 4 all
Mill Clamping Nuts by Carnel
Shop Stool by bouboulas

Christophe Mineau - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

This is your 11th Homemade Tool of the Week win. Here are all of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools. Congrats again :thumbsup:

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Well, thank you very much to all who liked this post !
I'm very grateful. :)

Keep safe !
Christophe

This is on my must do list. This is the slickest easiest to build router lift I have seen. Cudo's to a great design.

Merci Christophe, une idée originale, soignée et simple qui est certainement beaucoup plus facile à utiliser que celle que j'ai faite pour mon grand Elu Router qui pèse également beaucoup.
A deserving win of tool of the week.

Regards,

Tony

Eccuse mon français, je ne l'utilise plus souvent.

@Tonyg

Merci Tony !
Ton français est excellent, ne change rien !
A bientôt.
Christophe

Hello Christophe: Very nice, I really like using the wing nut to hold both cables. One suggestion, depending on the pitch of the thread you could add graduations to the crank disk, 100 for a 1mm pitch resulting with 0.01mm per mark. I did this on my table saw and it is very helpful for fine adjustments. Carl.