Axminster PROFESSIONAL AP254SB User manual

AP254SB
Sliding Table
Code 108333
Original Instructions
AT: 17/04/2023
BOOK VERSION: 01

INDEX OF CONTENTS
2
The symbols below advise the correct safety procedures when using this machine.
Fully read manual
and safety instructions
before use
Eye protection
should be worn
Ear protection
should be worn
HAZARD
Dust mask
should be worn
What’s Included 02-03
Assembly
Fitting the Rail Brackets 03
Fitting the Sliding Table Support Rail 04
Fitting the Sliding Table 04-05
Fitting the Angle Gauge 05
Fitting the Angle Gauge Sliding Table Fence 05
Fitting the Distance Repeat Stop 06
Fitting the Hold Down Clamp 06
Set Up / Alignment
Levelling the Sliding Table to the Main Table 06-07
Aligning to the Blade 07-08
Squaring to the Blade 08-09-10-11
Exploded Diagram / Parts List 12-13
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Part Description
A
Rail Support Angle Brackets & four M8 Cap head Bolts/Washers
BMain Support Rail
CSliding Table Assembly
DDistance Repeat Stop
EHold Down Clamp
FHold Down Clamp Support Bar
GAngle Gauge Sliding Table Fence
HAngle Gauge

WHAT’S INCLUDED
3
A B C
D
E
F
G H
ASSEMBLY
Fitting the Rail Brackets
1. Locate the two rail support angle brackets and the four
M8 cap head bolts/washers (A).
2. Offer up the two holes in each support bracket (A) with
the threaded holes to the left hand side of the ‘Table
Saws’ support columns and secure in place with the four
M8 cap head bolts/washers, see fig 01-02-03.
Continues over...
Fig 01
Fig 02-03
A

ASSEMBLY
4
Fitting the Sliding Table Support Rail
Fitting the Sliding Table
1. Locate the support rail (B), turn over and remove the
first nut and washer from each of the threaded studs
and place safely aside, see fig 04-05.
2. Lineup the four threaded studs with the pre-drilled
holes in the support brackets (A) and lower the support
rail (B) down onto the angle brackets, see fig 06-07.
1. Locate the sliding table (C), position the running gear
to the under side of the table to the end of support rail (B).
Pull out the table stop pin knob and roll the table
assembly onto the support rail, see 10-11.
3. Replace the nuts/washers you removed earlier, lightly
tighten, see fig 08-09.
Fig 04-05
Fig 06-07
Fig 08-09
Fig 10-11
B
Remove nut/washer
Locking nut
A
C

ASSEMBLY
5
Fitting the Angle Gauge
Fitting the Angle Gauge Sliding Table Fence
2. Place a straight edge a crossed both tables, see fig 12.
Loosen the support rail (B) locking nuts below the angle
brackets (A), see fig 09 and adjust the four upper nuts
above angle brackets to raise or lower the support rail
assembly, see fig 13. NOTE: make small adjustments
until the sliding table (C) is 0.5mm above the main table.
Once complete tighten the locking nuts to secure the
support rail in place. See set up / alignment on page 6
for levelling the sliding table to the main table in more
detail.
Fig 12-13
Adjusting nut
1. Locate the angle gauge (H), using a hex key remove the
cap head bolt in the sliding tables ‘T’ slot and place safely
to one side, see fig 14.
2. Slide the angle gauge (H) into the sliding tables ‘T’ slot.
Note: there are two threaded holes in the tables ‘T’ slot,
enabling the angle gauge to be set in two positions,
see fig 15. This gives extra support for different lengths of
timber.
Fig 14
Cap head bolt
Fig 15-16
3. Line up the recessed hole in the angle gauge support
bar with one of the threaded holes in the table and
replace the cap head bolt you removed earlier, see fig 16.
Threaded holes
recessed hole
1. Find the sliding table fence (G), loosen the two
thumb screws on the angle gauge (H) to give sufficient
clearance to the ‘T’ bolt clamps, see fig 17.
2. Line up the ‘T’ slot in the aluminium fence (G) with the
first ‘T’ bolt clamp and slide on the fence. Repeat for the
remaining ‘T’ bolt clamp, see 18-19. Nip-up the thumb
screws to lock the fence in place.
H
Fig 17-18-19
‘T’ Bolt clamp
Thumb screw
G
Continues over...

ASSEMBLY
6
Fitting the Distance Repeat Stop Fitting the Hold Down Clamp
Locate the distance repeat stop (D), loosen the clamping
handle on the distance stop, insert the ‘T’ bolt into the ‘T’
slot to the centre of the aluminium fence (G) and slide the
distance stop on, see fig 20. Nip-up the handle.
Fig 20-21
‘T’ Bolt
Clamping handle
D
Find the hold down clamp assembly (E) and support bar
(F). Screw the support bar into the threaded hole in the
sliding table (C), loosen the clamping knob on the hold
clamp and slide it down over the bar and re-tighten to
secure the hold down clamp in place, see fig 22-23.
Fig 22-23
SET UP  ALIGNMENT
Levelling the Sliding Table to the Main Table
The main cast iron sliding table should sit 0.5mm above
and level with the main saw table. If the sliding table is
too low the fence & timber will drag on the main saw
table & will be difficult to feed through the cut, this will
also result in a slightly angled cut. If the sliding table is
too high, the timber may tilt resulting in an angled cut
with a poor finish due to timber movement through poor
support.
1. Firstly,slide the table into position on the rail, see fig 24.
2. Use a straight edge or the supplied fence to check
alignment, see fig 25.
Fig 24-25
Fig 26
3. If the table appears too low, it will need to be raised, see
fig 26.

SET UP  ALIGNMENT
7
3. If the table appears too high, it will need to be lowered,
see fig 27.
4. There are four adjusting bolts located on the underside
of the rail, these bolts will allow movement of the rail &
table for height & levelling, see fig 28.
5. Firstly unlock the lower nut then wind the upper nut
either up or down until the correct table height & level is
achieved, see fig 29-30. Ensure that this adjustment
process is done both in front of and behind the blade, see
fig 31-32.
Fig 27-28
Fig 29-30
Fig 31-32
Aligning to the Blade
The sliding table should slide through smoothly & be in
line with the blade.
1. With the sliding table positioned at the font of the main
saw table undo the 2 black plastic thumb screws and slide
the fence to meet the edge of the mitre fence slot, see fig
33.
Fig 33
Thumb screw
Continues over...

SET UP  ALIGNMENT
8
Fig 34-35
2. Move the sliding table through its full travel toward
the back of the machine checking where the edge of
the fence meets the edge of the mitre fence slot, see fig
34-35.
3. Adjustments are made by releasing both left & right
lower nuts on the underside of the rail, see fig 36. Then
tapping the rails left or right to align it to the mitre fence
slot, see fig 37.
Fig 36-37
4. The gap between the edge of the sliding table & the
edge of the main saw table should be a 1-2mm consistent
front to back, see fig 38.
5. This can be also checked against the blade. Wind the
blade up to its highest point then by slide the fence over
to make very light contact with one of the blades tips at
the front, slide through and check this also at the back of
the blade, see fig 39-40.
Fig 38
Fig 39-40
Squaring to the Blade
To achieve square cuts, it’s important to square the
sliding table fence to the blade.
1. Slide the fence over close to the blade, see fig 41.
2. Position a large square against the fence then slide it
over to meet the blade which should be raised up to its
highest point, see fig 42.
3. Ensuring that the square is making contact with the
plate of the blade and not the tips check for square, see
fig 43.

SET UP  ALIGNMENT
9
Fig 41-42
Fig 43-44
4. If the fence appears out of square to the blade
adjustment is made by firstly unlocking the angle
adjustment lever, see fig 44. Then pivot the fence left or
right until the square is fully contacting both the fence
and the plate of the blade, see fig 45.
5. Lock in place when square then adjust the pointer to
zero, see fig 46.
Fig 45-46
The only true way of checking to see if a sliding table is
aligned and square to the blade is to perform some test
cuts.
Check alignment by performing a test cut, this is
best done on MDF as the cut results are clearer.
Using the sliding table cut along one edge, you should
hear a very slight back cut where the back of the blade
is lightly contacting the material, this is sometimes
highlighted by a subtle criss-cross pattern on the cut
edge of the material. If burning occurs at the end of the
cut it is a sign that the sliding table is towing in toward
the back of the blade and will need to move out slightly.
The five cut method is a simple way to check that the
sliding table is square to the blade-
•Using a small board around 400mm square, mark one
edge, then make a very small trimming cut, see fig 47.
Fig 47
Continues over...

SET UP  ALIGNMENT
10
•The rotate the board clockwise so that the first cut edge
is against the fence, see fig 48.
•Repeat the clockwise rotation and cut twice more, see
fig 49-50.
•The 5th cut will be a larger cut of around 1cm, cutting off
the very first cut edge, see fig 51.
Fig 48
Fig 49
Fig 50
Fig 51