Festool ATF 55E User Manual
ATF 55E
Circular Saw Instruction Manual
Important: Read and understand all
instructions before using this tool.
Contents
General Safety Rules........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Specific Safety Rules for Circular Saws........................................................................................................................................ 4
Tool Description.................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Motor Controls................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Riving Knife..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Technical Specifications ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Systainer (System Container)........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Setup and Adjustments...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Setting up and Adjusting a New Saw.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Adjusting the Guide Rail Gibs ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Trimming the Splinter Guard........................................................................................................................................................ 8
Setting the Blade Perpendicular to the Sole plate....................................................................................................................... 9
Adjusting the Blade Position....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Replacing the Splinter Guard...................................................................................................................................................... 11
Removing/Replacing/Adjusting the Riving Knife ................................................................................................................. 11
Changing the Sawblade ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
Operation ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Setting the Blade Depth................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Speed Control................................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Power Switch................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Bevel Setting .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Dust Extraction.............................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Basic Sawing.................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Making Plunge Cuts..................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Troubleshooting................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Maintenance ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Routine Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Changing the Motor Brushes ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Accessories......................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Sawblades ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Guide Rail Accessory Kit............................................................................................................................................................. 20
Rip Fence........................................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Universal Tool (Toolie)................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Warranty ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Conditions of 1+2 Warranty........................................................................................................................................................ 21
Festool Limited Warranty............................................................................................................................................................ 21
Liability Statement........................................................................................................................................................................ 21
2 ATF 55E Circular Saw
General Safety Rules
Important: Read and understand all instructions listed below.
Failure to heed instructions may result in personal injury,
electrocution, or fire hazard.
Work Area
► Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches and
dark areas invite accidents.
► Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as
in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust. Power
tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.
Electrical Safety
► Double insulated tools are equipped with a polarized plug
(one blade is wider than the other). This plug will fit in a
polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the
outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified
electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not change the plug in
any way. Double insulation eliminates the need for the three wire
grounded power cord and grounded power supply system.
► Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes,
radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of
electric shock if your body is grounded.
Extension Cords
All due care should be practiced while using extension cords with
this tool.
► When operating a power tool outside, use an outdoor extension
cord marked “W-A” or “W”. These cords are rated for outdoor
use and reduce the risk of electric shock.
► Never use an extension cord that is damaged, such as cuts,
exposed wires, or bent/missing prongs.
► Use only extension cords rated for the purpose.
Personal Safety
► Stay alert, watch what you are doing, and use common sense
when operating a power tool. Do not use tool while tired or
under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment
of inattention while operating power tools may result in serious
personal injury.
► Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain
long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves away from
moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be caught
in moving parts.
► Avoid accidental starting. Be sure the switch is off before
plugging in the power cord. Carrying tools with your finger on
Tool Use and Care
► Use clamps or other practical way to secure and support the
workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the work by hand or
against your body is unstable and may lead to loss of control.
► Do not force the tool. Use the correct tool for your application.
The correct tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for
which it is designed.
► Do not use the tool if the switch does not turn it on or off. Any
tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and
must be repaired.
► Disconnect the plug from the power source before making any
adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the tool. Such
preventive safety measures reduce the riske p67 Td06 Tc Shc for
Save These Instructions
► Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away while operating a
power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.
► Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water
entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
► Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the tools or
pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord away from heat, oil,
sharp edges or moving parts. Replace damaged cords
immediately. Damaged cords increase the risk of electric shock.
► Use only extension cords rated for the amperage of this tool
and the length of the cord. Using too small of an extension cord
can cause the saw to lose power and damage the saw.
Extension Cord Ratings
Cord Length Size (AWG)
<50 Ft. 14
50-100 Ft. 12
100-150 Ft. 10
>150 Ft. Not recommended
the switch or plugging in tools that have the switch on invites
accidents.
► Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning the tool on.
A wrench or a key that is left attached to a rotating part of the
tool may result in personal injury.
► Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
Proper footing and balance enables better control of the tool in
unexpected situations.
► Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask,
non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be
used for appropriate conditions. (Ordinary glasses are NOT
proper eye protection.)
Instruction Manual 3
Service
► Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair
personnel. Service or maintenance performed by unqualified
personnel could result in a risk of injury.
► When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts.
Specific Safety Rules for Circular Saws
!WARNING: Risk of personal injury.
► Keep hands away from the blade and cutting area. Keep
your second hand on the auxiliary handle. If both hands
are holding the saw, they cannot be cut by the blade.
► Keep your body positioned to either side of the saw
blade, but not in line with the saw blade. Kickback could
cause the saw to jump backward. (See “Causes and
Prevention of Kickback” below.)
► Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The blade is
fully exposed under the workpiece.
!CAUTION: Never use a dust extraction system when making
cuts that can result in sparks, such as cutting through
nails and other ferrous materials. Sparks and hot embers
can cause a fire or explosion in the dust extraction system.
Causes and Prevention of Kickback
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound, or misaligned saw
blade that causes an uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the workpiece
toward the operator.
When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerf closing down, the
blade stalls and the motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back toward
the operator.
If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the teeth at the
back edge of the blade can dig into the top surface of the wood, causing
the blade to climb out of the kerf and jump back toward the operator.
Kickback is the result of incorrect operating procedures or conditions
and can be avoided by taking proper precautions as described below:
► NEVER hold the piece being cut in your hands or across your
► Hold the saw by the insulated handles when performing an
► When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide.
► Always use blades with the correct size and shape (diamond vs.
► Never use damaged or incorrect blade flanges or bolt. The blade
Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow maintenance
instructions may create a risk of electric shock or injury.
leg. It is important to support the work properly to minimize
body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
operation in which the sawblade may contact hidden wiring or
its own cord. Contact with a “live” wire will make the exposed
metal parts of the tool “live” and shock the operator.
This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance for
blade binding.
round) arbor holes. Blades that do not match the mounting
hardware of the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss of
control.
flanges and bolt were specially designed for your saw for
optimum performance and safety of operation.
Supports must be placed under the panel on both sides,
near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel as
shown.
► The bevel adjusting knobs must be fully tightened before
making a cut. If the blade tilts during a cut, it will bind and
cause a kickback.
► Use extra caution when making a plunge cut into existing
walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut
objects that can cause kickback.
► Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your
body and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces. Kickback forces
can be controlled by the operator if proper precautions are taken.
► If the blade is binding or when interrupting a cut for any reason,
release the trigger and hold the saw motionless in the material until
the blade comes to a complete stop. Never attempt to remove the saw
from the work or pull the saw backward while the blade is in motion,
or kickback may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions to
eliminate the cause of blade binding.
► When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw blade in the
kerf and check that the saw teeth are not engaging the material. If the
saw blade is binding during a restart, it may climb up or kickback from
the workpiece.
► Do not use a dull or damaged blade. Dull or improperly sharpened
blades cause excessive friction, blade binding, and kickback.
► Support large panels to minimize the risk of the blade pinching and
causing a kickback. Large panels tend to sag under their own weight.
Respiratory Exposure Warning
!WARNING: Various dust created by power sanding, sawing,
grinding, drilling and other construction activities contains
chemicals known (to the State of California) to cause cancer, birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these
chemicals are:
► lead from lead-based paints,
► crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry
products, and
► arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.
The risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you
do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to these chemicals:
work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety
equipment, such as dust masks that are specially designed to filter
out microscopic particles.
4 ATF 55E Circular Saw
Tool Description
Figure 1
1-a Plunge Release and Trigger Safety Release. Press this
lever upward to release the plunge lock and move the
sawblade into the work. This lever must be pressed
before the power trigger can be engaged.
1-b Trigger (On/Off Switch). Pull back on the trigger to
turn the saw on. Release the trigger to turn the saw off.
1-c Arbor Lock. Press down on this button to stop the
arbor from turning during blade changing.
1-d Auxiliary Handle.
1-e Dust Extraction Port.
1-f Bevel Lock Knobs. The knobs lock the bevel setting.
There is one at the front and one at the rear of the saw.
1-g Arbor Access Hole. During a blade change, the arbor
screw can be accessed through this opening.
1-h Riving Knife Access Hole. The retaining screw for the
riving knife is accessible through this opening.
Single-point Entry
Figure 2
2-a Plunge Depth Scale. Used with the plunge depth stop
(2-b), this sets the depth of cut.
2-b Plunge Depth Stop. This sets the limit on how deep the
blade will travel into the cut.
2-c 90-degree Stop Screws. The screws are for fine
adjustment so the blade is at 90 degrees to the sole
plate.
2-d Sole Plate.
2-e Dust Deflector Storage. When the saw is used with a
vacuum, the dust deflector can be stored on top of the
rear guide rail gib.
2-f Hex Key Storage. The hex key for changing the blade is
stored here.
2-g Guide Rail Gibs. These are adjusted so the saw fits
snugly on the guide rail. (The second gib is not visible
underneath the dust deflector (2-e).
Single point entry means that the sawblade always enters
the cut at the same location regardless what the bevel angle
is set to. The pivot point of the bevel adjustment is located at
the bottom edge of the splinter guard (3-a). This means that
the cut will always be along the splinter guard for any bevel
setting.
(Note that this is applicable only when the guide rail is used.
When the guide rail is not under the saw, the bevel cut will
move slightly outward, away from the main body of the
saw.)
Instruction Manual 5
Motor Controls
Additional Motor Features
Figure 4
4-a Speed Control Knob. The ATF 55E has electronic
variable speed control that maintains a constant speed
under varying loads. Turn this dial to change speed
from 2100 to 5100 RPM.
4-b Speed Control Pointer. When setting the speed control,
line up the numbers on the speed control knob with
this pointer.
4-c Motor Power (Green). This green LED indicates when
the motor is receiving power. This LED should be ON
during normal cutting operations.
4-d Motor Overload (Red). This red LED indicates when
the motor is being loaded within 70% of maximum
power. When this LED turns ON, you should slow the
feed rate of your cut.
Soft Start: When the motor is first started, it will come up to speed
slowly. This prevents the saw from jumping during startup. This also
extends the life of the components within the saw.
Overcurrent Protection: If the motor is loaded to the point where it
can no longer maintain its set speed and the current exceeds the safe
limitation of the motor, it will shut down operation to protect the
motor.
Riving Knife
Figure 5
5-a Riving Knife: The riving knife is a safety feature
5-b Retaining Screw: The retaining screw holds the
Thermal Overload Protection: To protect the motor
under excessive loading, it is equipped with
thermal overload protection. This prevents the
motor from being damaged due to overheating.
The motor is disabled until it has cooled down.
Wait 3 to 5 minutes for the overload protection to
automatically reset.
that prevents the cut from closing and binding on
the sawblade. This reduces the chances for a
kickback. (See page 4 for more information on
kickbacks.)
riving knife in position. Use this screw when
removing or adjusting the riving knife. (See page
11 for more information on removing and
adjusting the riving knife.)
Technical Specifications
Power Consumption 1200 Watts (10 amps @ 120 volts)
Weight 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs)
Speed Range 2,100 to 5,100 RPM
Blade Diameter 160 mm
Arbor Diameter 20 mm/Round
Maximum Depth of Cut
(using the guide rail)
Bevel Angle 0 to 45 degrees
Certifications IEC 745, UL745, CSA C22.2/745
6 ATF 55E Circular Saw
50 mm @ 90º, 37 mm @ 45º
(1-15/16 in. @ 90º, 1-7/16 in. @ 45º)
All metric dimensions are binding.
Only metric sawblades should be used.
Systainer (System Container)
Every Festool product is shipped in its own unique system container, called a "Systainer". This provides protection
and storage for the tool and accessories. All Systainers are stackable and can be interlocked together, including
stacking and locking atop Festool dust extractors.
Figure 6
6-a Carrying Handle. The handle folds flat when not in
use.
6-b Cover Latches. These secure the cover and also secure
one systainer to another as described below.
6-c Stacking Tabs. These are used to lock two systainers
together. There are four sets of tabs (two on the front
and two on the sides) of each systainer.
6-d Stacking Latches. These are similar to the cover latches,
but they serve the purpose of latching onto the side
stacking tabs of a systainer stacked above the systainer.
Setup and Adjustments
Setting up and Adjusting a New Saw
!WARNING: Always disconnect the saw from the power
supply before making any adjustments to the saw or
installing or removing any accessory!
Follow this sequence of inspections and adjustments before
using a new saw. It is important that this sequence be
followed before cutting the zero-clearance splinter guard.
Stacking Systainers (Figure 7)
Figure 7 shows how the four latches (2 stacking latches and 2
cover latches) are repositioned so they will engage the
stacking tabs of the upper systainer.
1. Place one systainer on top of the other.
2. Release all four latches on the lower systainer by pulling
back at their top edges (step 7-1).
3. Slide all four latches upward (step 7-2) as depicted by
the two views of figure 7.
4. Snap all four latches back to their flat position (step 7-3)
so they engage the stacking tabs (item 6-c) of the upper
systainer.
2. Verify that the riving knife is properly secured and
adjusted (refer to page 11 for more information).
!CAUTION: The ATF 55 E is fitted with a riving knife. All
saw work, with the exception of plunge cuts, should be
carried out only with the riving knife installed and
correctly set!
1. With the saw unplugged, inspect the blade for damage
and make sure it is properly secured to the arbor. (Refer
to "Changing the Sawblade" on page 12 for more
information).
!WARNING: Check regularly whether the saw blade is in
good condition. Saw blades which are cracked,
damaged, or deformed should no longer be used.
Instruction Manual 7
3. Perform the guide rail gib adjustment procedure
described on page 8.
4. Only after all other inspections and adjustments have
been completed, cut the zero-clearance splinter guard as
described on page 8.
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