If you’ve ever used or seen a router lift, you know that the 3 major flaws with all of them are: 1) backlash,
2) dust build-up on the working parts, and
3) the inability to accurately adjust bit height changes.
Every router lift currently on the market uses either a belt-and-pulley system or some type of chain-and-sprocket arrangement. By design, each of these configurations has an inherent amount of backlash “engineered” into them. Add to that, the fact that all of the working components used to raise or lower the router motor and bit are exposed, thus making them a constant and frustrating maintenance issue of dust and particulate matter build-up. Additionally, adjusting the height of the router bit still requires the use of a ruler or some third party add-on device that fails to accurately or quickly give you the setting that you need...or worse yet, a never ending stream of test cuts.

SmartLift Digital incorporates a continuously self-adjusting anti-backlash direct-drive system. Bottom line…NO BACKLASH! One hundred percent of the Height Adjustment Handle’s movement results in perfect 1/16” to 1 movement of the Router Carriage, router motor and bit. All moving components are either Stainless Steel or completely shielded from dust and debris, eliminating the wear and parts abrasion so common with all other lifts. Jointech even designed a special “thread-clearing” feature into the SmartLift Digital to prevent particulate matter from working itself into the internal mechanism. The size of the SmartLift plate is 9.240" x 11.740" with 3/4" radius corners. It is designed to fit into a standard 9-1/4" x 11-3/4" opening with a ledge milled to a depth of 7/16" x 1/2" wide.

With a Absolute Encoder from USA-based manufacturer Wixey attached directly to the Router Carriage, and a digital display conveniently recessed into the SmartLift Digital’s top plate, precision height adjustments are now guaranteed accurate to within .001”.

Why go Digital? Most consider the obvious answer to be precision height adjustments. The reality is that while precision height adjustments are an every day reality, with the SmartLift Digital the biggest benefit to digital is repeatability. Think about it... every time you install a router bit into your router you are faced with making trial and error test cuts to properly adjust the bit. With the SmartLift Digital and its ability to “Zero Out” any router bit and dial it up to a predetermined height, you need only do your “trial and error” cuts the first time you ever use that bit. After that zero out the bit and run it up to the predetermined height and start cutting.
The digital display can be viewed in either SAE to .001”, with fractions, or in Metric to .01 mm. LCD display automatically shuts off after 15 minutes to conserve battery life. And because of the Absolute Encoder, when you turn the unit back on, or turn the handle, the last setting that was in memory is displayed.

One of the most frustrating operations can be changing the router bit. Normally it is required that the router and plate be removed from the router table cut out so that your wrenches can reach the bit chuck. SmartLift has an unprecedented 3-3/4" range of travel from top to bottom. This makes it possible to raise the router high enough to expose the bit chuck and gain easy access for router bit removal in seconds. All this can be accomplished by simply raising SmartLift to its maximum height.

Snuggers and Corner Leveling Pads are accessible from under your router table. This means the initial set-up and any future adjustments of the SmartLift Digital are quick and easy. No more hassles of having to take your router lift in and out of the table to make these critical, and in the past, frustrating adjustments.

With the Insert Ring removed the 3-5/8” opening in the top plate of the SmartLift Digital is large enough to accommodate even the largest router bits ... including the 3-1/2” Panel Raisers. Three Insert Rings are included with the SmartLift Digital with openings of 1/2”, 2-1/2” and 1-3/8” to allow for the use of a guide bushing. Optionally a 5 piece Ring Set is available with openings of 3/4”, 1”, 1-1/2”, 2” and a Blank insert that can be custom drilled by the user.

If you’re not quite ready for the digital age yet, don’t worry… Jointech has an analog version of the SmartLift called the SmartLift Pro™. The SmartLift Pro has all of the exciting features and tremendous precision of the SmartLift Digital but without the digital reader, absolute encoder and display. Instead, precision height adjustments can be read on the graduated ring located at the base of the Height Adjustment Handle. When you are ready to upgrade to Digital - SmartLift Pro™ is the only lift on the market that will allow you to make that upgrade. No other lift can do that!

Now you have a choice without ANY compromise - the SmartLift Pro for precision adjustments of router bit height with an analog scale, or the SmartLift Digital with repeatable digital adjustability to within .001”.