Ridgid Zero Clearance Throat Plate

Create a zero clearance throat plate for your Ridgid Table Saw, model R4512. Two bits are used, a 201 (1/4" flat endmill) and a 102 (1/8" flat endmill). You will be using a piece of 3/4" plywood. The piece that I used measured .73" with calipers. You will want to make sure that your material measures .73" or you will need to adjust cutting depths for all tool paths.

There are eight tool paths. I'll briefly explain them.
1. The first tool path makes room for the riving knife.

2. The second tool path makes room for the blade. It intentionally doesn't cut all the way through. (Note: Using your table saw fence to hold down the throat plate, you will raise your saw blade through to finish.)

3. The third tool path makes a hole for each leveling screw so that they are adjustable when the plate is in place.

4. The fourth tool path clears an area where the magnet sits high.

5. The fifth tool path clears the area around where the leveling screws are located. There are five of these locations.

6. The sixth tool path makes a hole to allow for you finger to pick up the throat plate once it has been placed in the table saw.

7. The seventh tool path makes a lip so that the throat plate will rest on the table saw.

8. The eigth, and last, tool path is the contour cut. I added four tabs so that the piece will stay in place when the cutting is finished.

Note: If you wish to not have the space for the riving knife you can simply disable that tool path.