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Triton Router - Digital Readout Possible?

8900 Views 51 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  ckurdziel
I have one of the 3 1/4 hp Triton routers for a table that does not use a lift; it comes with a winder that raises the router up and down when it is in a table. I plan on getting the incra table and fence. I'd like to have digital readout for the router. Has anyone tried this with this router?
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I hope to have an answer soon. I emailed customer service at both Triton and Wixey with your question and will share it. I really like my Triton a lot, so i'm also interested in the answer.
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Got this answer from CS at Toolstream (Triton), and still waiting for Wixey's response.

Tom:

I got an answer back from the guru. Below I what he said to me:

Hi Debbie

no reason why it shouldn't. Looks like the Trend one which is ok.

Thanks, and have a great day!

Debbie Long
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Got this answer from CS at Toolstream (Triton), and still waiting for Wixey's response.

Tom:

I got an answer back from the guru. Below I what he said to me:

Hi Debbie

no reason why it shouldn't. Looks like the Trend one which is ok.

Thanks, and have a great day!

Debbie Long
Which "Trend one"? I don't find any Trend instruments other than digital protractors.
Thanks
I think Wixey will have the most detailed answer, but a look at their website doesn't look very hopeful because they only mention lifts and the Triton isn't on their list. So I'd ignore the Toolstream information, which was just a little too casual to suit me.

Trend makes a number of routers, a few of which look a little like the Triton

Alternatives: Many specialty bits have setup jigs available. Line the bit up with the jig and you're off and running. Or make you own jig, many of which will be adequate so long as you work with the finished side down. For any bits in sets, I go to Sommerfeld for their matched shank heights. Set the first bit and the others just drop in, in alignment. Sommerfeld has a quick set jig for many critical bits that also takes into account the thickness of the workpiece. They make one for their bits and another for Freud bits. There are a number of bits where simply knowing where the center is is sufficient for setup.

I can see the advantage of the digital readout for the planer, but not sure it's a great idea for the router where partial turns of the height adjuster produce a predictable rise or fall of the bit.

I'll add any Wixey response as soon as I get it.
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Welcome to the forum Christopher.
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Hi Christopher, I just realized this was your first post. So welcome!. This is a really great group. No sign of a response from Wixey yet.
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Look at this one from MLCS. It might be able to adapt to your Triton I don't know. I also don't know about the quality of this lift I am just passing information along.

https://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/powerlift_pro.html
Got the following email this morning from Barry Wixey himself. The picture is the Wixey mounted on an Hitachi router, which is pretty much how it will go on the Triton. That's nice customer support.

Hi Tom;

Thanks for your email and thank you for your support of our products. We really appreciate the forum comments.

There should be no problem using our system with the Triton router in a router table. Please check out the " will it fit my?" Wixey.com - Remote Router Readout - Will It Fit? section of our web site where we show the device mounted to a lot of different lifts.

Our system is very simple and flexible, but keep in mind it is a kit. You will always need to do a little drilling and bend one of our brackets. We have never heard of a lift that this will not work with.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Barry Wixey
Barry Wixey Development

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Awesome! Let me know if you apply this to your Triton router and how you did it. I have to wait until I get my Incra Router table (6-8 weeks).
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Welcome to the forum Christopher. I didn't want to post as I had nothing to offer your query .
But now that Tom's fixed you up :)
Yeah, I have one of those. Battery life is measured in minutes. Whenever I need to use it, the battery is dead ;-(

I have a high precision (128ths inch) scale but it's a PITA to use for offset bits. I really want a digital readout that tells me how high the cutting edge is off the table.
Awesome! Let me know if you apply this to your Triton router and how you did it. I have to wait until I get my Incra Router table (6-8 weeks).
Don't know if I'll install one on my setup because of the way I work. The bits that really need precision setting I have jigs for, including the Sommerfeld star shaped QuickSet jig, which also comes in a version for Freud bits. Saving my cash for another goodie at the moment. Looks like a pretty foolproof installation to me.
Wixey stuff is great - I have it on my DW 735 planer and on my Delta Unisaw - both the fence gauge and I use one of their angle gauges to measure the blade angle. For my router table, I set aside my old under-table Woodpecker's router lift and Incra fence and went with a Ready2Rout/Ready2Lift package from NextWave Automation - uses a couple of CNC motors and a zero plate, much like a CNC machine, but in a router table. You zero the bit height and fence and punch in on a touch screen the bit height and fence position. It's pricey (about $1k), but I am SURE I spent nearly that much on the Incra fence and lift. Now I know where the bit is in relation to the fence and how high it is EXACTLY... I never had the guts to try inlay before - now, measure the thickness and width of the inlay strip (digitally), zero the bit, punch location and depth of cut in to the touch screen, and off you go. I still make test cuts because it's a bit new to me, but it really does work. I did some box joints with the program and it did what I needed it to do - a little tight, though - you have to add some space for glue - it's that precise...

Tom, I also use the Sommerfeld jig, and it's great. Did a test door with it and it was fine. Am in the midst of demo on my kitchen - got the face frames done, countertop next week... hard to find time for with a 60-70 hour a week job.

To the point of the question - beware when you go digital - you can over-obsess on being precise and it isn't generally necessary. Things made out of wood are seldom precise - and even if they are, they change...

Larry
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Larry, thanks. I recently got a DeWalt 735 and I just ordered the Wixey for it, based on your input.
Larry, thanks. I recently got a DeWalt 735 and I just ordered the Wixey for it, based on your input.
When you get the Wixey dialed in properly, it's really great to crank the DW 735 to, say, .75" - and it planes .75". Sounds simple, but I'm totally spoiled. Let me know how you like it when it comes. Not too hard to install. Installing mine came after putting a helical carbide head in it... that was not fun. Happy with the planer now.

Larry
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When you get the Wixey dialed in properly, it's really great to crank the DW 735 to, say, .75" - and it planes .75". Sounds simple, but I'm totally spoiled. Let me know how you like it when it comes. Not too hard to install. Installing mine came after putting a helical carbide head in it... that was not fun. Happy with the planer now.

Larry
I'm looking forward to doing that. On installation, seems to me that clamping the vertical bar in place before drilling is a good idea.

If I understand it right, you set zero, then dial in, say .75 inch, plane it, then measure the piece and reset the Wixey to that exact measure, which calibrates the Wixey to the blade height. Is that about right? Precision is nice to the extend you can get it with wood.

Getting the new one with the AAA battery. It arrives tuesday but I'm unlikely to get it running right away.
I found this YouTube clip very helpful

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@Lappa Thanks. Very helpful.
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