Shaper - help!

[AdeV]

Sooo...... I appear to have bought myself a Shaper. Oops (when will I learn to stop buying machine tools!)

Before I bought the milling machine & lathe, a kindly soul sent me complete copies of Darrell Holland's "How to run a Vertical Mill" & "How to run a Lathe" video tutorials - these were brilliant at explaining how the machines worked, how to set them up, use them, etc. As a result, when the machines arrived & I got them wired in, I really felt like I already knew them...

Not so, the shaper...

I understand at a VERY basic level how it works (tool goes back & forth over workpiece, which moves either left/right or up/down depending on how you configure the machine, as the toolbit comes out it scrapes a defined amount of metal off. 

What I don't have a clue about is things like; setting up the angle of the tool, griding the tool (what shapes?), cutting dovetails, etc...

So - is there, out there, a handy reference guide to the care & feeding of metal shapers? Or even better, a video instruction guide?

The machine I am picking up next week:

[Pete W.]

Hi there, Ade,

Regarding tools, one of the old Percival Marshall books (might have been by 'Duplex') was called 'Lathe & Shaping Machine Tools'.  That indicates that they're not too different.

If you think about it, a shaper cutting action is very much the same as that of a lathe working on a workpiece of infinite radius (except that it's an interrupted cut).

The bit that intrigues me is what's the difference between a shaper and a planer?

I hope this helps,

Best regards,

Pete W.

[AdeV]

Hi Pete,

From what I understand - a shaper moves the toolbit over the workpiece; a planer moves the workpiece under the toolbit...

Actually, looking for old (properly old) textbooks might be a good idea... thanks!

Cheers,
Ade.

[John Rudd]

The bit that intrigues me is what's the difference between a shaper and a planer?




Pete W.

Easy,

A planer table moves the workpiece and the tool is static, on a shaper, the tool traverses the work face and the workpiece is static...

Hope this helps...

Was typing at the same time as Ade...

[Raggle]

A good page of info

http://www.eurospares.com/shapers.htm

at the bottom of the page is a short list  -  choose "an introduction ... " and you'll get

AshaperTutorial.pdf

(typing one-handed today, sorry)

ray

[buffalow bill]

Ade,

Loads of shaper info no this site.

http://www.neme-s.org/index.htm


 

[Stilldrillin]

The bit that intrigues me is what's the difference between a shaper and a planer?
Pete W.

Pete.

Now...... This is a planer.........



David D

[velocette]

Now that is a Planer!!!!

Does it follow the normal in some departments

1 to drive it and 16 to tell him-her how to do it

[steamer]

Adev,

I you look up Lindsay pubilcations , they have a book on how to run a shaper that is pretty good.

That said....try google books....you may find a good one for free!

Wonderful machines...I had a 7" AAMCO for some time.   STRONGLY resist the urge to stick anything in the cut zone while in operation.

Additionally, take care as to drive rotation.   The quick return should be the BACK stroke...not forward.

Dave

[AR1911]

My little Atlas shaper is my favorite machine to run. Before I set up a milling job, I look at it long and hard trying to make a shaper job out of it instead..
That thing is mesmerizing.   That also makes it a bit dangerous. That ram is coming through, no matter what happens to be in the way.

If you are going to drink a beer and watch it work, set your stool about 6 feet away, and out of the line of the smoking chips.

More info links:

http://www.circuitousroot.com/artifice/machine-shop/shaper/literature/index.html

http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/shape1.htm

http://magic.lib.msu.edu/search/c?SEARCH=TJ1160%20.R8    Modern Machine Shop Practice Vol 1 & 2 PDF    (shaper chapter)

[hopefuldave]

Ade, sent you a PM...

Rudy Kouhoupt did a shaper video, but it may put you to sleep....

Dave H. (the other one)

[AdeV]

Thanks everyone, that's loads of useful info to get me started, looks like I've lots of reading ahead of me!

Cheers!
Ade.

[Mike Cole]

Hi Adv

I have been using a shaper off and on for the last couple of years.  I found the homeworkshop site very good on shapers. I had a book from camden books Lathe and shaper tools cheap but good.
I am only around the corner if you get stuck give me a shout.

Mike

[75Plus]

AdeV, You might find a few tips here: http://www.neme-s.org/shapers/shaper_faq.html

Joe