Importance of Table Flatness/Levelness

[Michael_Melancon (Mike M)]

There’s a section on it in the docs:

"Your table needs only be as fancy as a sheet of wood on a relatively flat, smooth surface. A CNC can self correct many of its own imperfections if needed. "

There was also bit of discussion on tables recently here:

@vicious1

I do not believe torsion boxes are worth the effort. If you want a fun project, it is a great project, but I see no difference to any of my janky tables in terms of getting things done.

@vicious1

The table is not as important as people keep making it out to be.

@vicious1

A perfectly perfect table can make things easier, and the need for less material removal when surfacing, but no wood is flat enough not to need to get surfaced first. Think of all the jointers and planers pros use to make a decent table. Flat tables just make things a tiny bit easier, 100% not required.

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@GoingForGold

But the side where the rollers ride on the table would be problematic, even with a surfaced spoil board, as basically I will be “bending” the stock to fit the non-flat table.

This was addressed too, but I can’t find it. Just relatively flat is fine.

If you are doing sheet goods and through-cuts, 100% not a problem.

If you are doing fancy carves in thick material, you are likely to need to surface the material before cutting anyway, and you shouldn’t have a problem.

“Relatively flat” and “smooth” are the only thing you absolutely need to shoot for.

Don’t stress over it.

If you want a quick sanity check, you can get a 6’ level or long straight edge and lay it across and shim the MDF from underneath.

I did this for under my rollers, but 1mm is not a big deal.