Big Eye B-36/B-52 Rip Fence System: Sawstop ICS/PCS Installation

Modified on Wed, 22 Oct at 2:48 PM

The Harvey Big Eye Rip Fence System can be mounted to SawStop ICS and PCS table saws with some modifications required.

This article provides step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process and ensure a smooth, precise installation.

SawStop ICS/PCS Extension Wing Considerations

SawStop left extension wings are wider than those of the Harvey Alpha Series:

SawStop PCS: 12" wide
SawStop ICS: 10" wide
Harvey Alpha Series: 7-9/32" wide

To compensate for this difference, the rails can be shifted to maintain the desired 36" or 52" rip capacity to the right of the blade, depending on the model.

Because the Big Eye fence body is T-shaped and wider in the front than the rear, the rear rail should be positioned so that the rear clamping mechanism of the fence body remains securely engaged when the fence is moved to the left bumper on the front guide rail.

Typically, the front rail is positioned far enough to the right to achieve either a 36" or 52" rip capacity on the right side of the blade.

However, if the operator prefers to maximize use of the table surface to the left (for example, when using a left-wing wider than Harvey's 7-9/32" cast iron left wing), the rails can be shifted accordingly.

In this case, note that rip capacity to the right of the blade will be reduced.

SawStop ICS/PCS Front and Rear Rail Installation:

Over time, SawStop has produced different ICS and PCS versions with variations in rail mounting hole placement relative to the tabletop.

Because these changes are not standardized or controlled by Harvey, installation steps may vary slightly between machines.

Follow these general guidelines to ensure proper rail alignment and secure mounting:

Verify Hole Height Alignment:
Verify that 10mm diameter through-holes are drilled in perfect vertical and horizontal alignment across the saw, from left to right.

This ensures compatibility with the eccentric bolts used for Big Eye rail mounting in the T-track system.
Perform a Fit Test:
If the original holes in the cast iron wings and extension table are at different heights, perform a quick test fit:
- Mount the front rail to the cast iron wings using the eccentric bolts (see Fig. 5b).
- Ensure the top of the rail sits 11.5 mm below the table surface or about 1–2 mm below the tabletop’s T-slots to avoid interference.
- If the height is correct, drill new holes in the extension table to match the wing hole height, ensuring full alignment.
- If the height is not correct, and none of the orientations of the eccentric bolts allow the rail to sit 11.5 mm below the table surface or about 1-2 mm below the tabletop's T-slots to prevent interference of the T-slots, then drill new holes in the cast iron extension wings at the correct height that achieves this.
Example Scenario:
If the cast iron wing holes are positioned 29 mm from the tabletop to the hole center:
- Drill 10 mm through-holes at the same height (29 mm) along the front and rear guide rail mounting surfaces, as shown in Figures 1–4.
- For a 52" extension table, three holes are recommended.
Follow Orientation Details:
- Use the screw orientations shown in Fig. 5b for the cast iron wings, and those in Fig. 5a for the extension table.
- See Figures 6–7 for the specifications and positions of the front guide rail screws.
- See Figure 8 for rear guide rail screw specifications and positions.
Secure Hardware:
- Inside the table, install flat washers, spring washers, and nuts, tightening them securely.
  Maintain a distance of 11.5 mm from the guide rail’s top surface to the tabletop, as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10 depicts the final installation outcome.

Fig. 10

Rear Rail Installation

Repeat the same procedure for the rear rail installation.

Refer to the user manual for detailed diagrams and explanations regarding direct installation or modification-based installation, depending on your specific SawStop model.