Shaper

A shaping machine, often called shaper is a machine tool for metal cutting with horizontally - linear movement of the chisel, the thrusting. The English name is Shaping Machine or Shaper only, resulting in a different name in German-speaking countries was derived: Shaping.

In contrast to the planer, the workpiece is clamped, and is automatically supplied with each stroke of the impactor chisel by the stroke preset respectively, transversely to the direction of impact of the chisel, and during the return stroke step ( backward movement of the tool). The tool moves over it.

Application

Slotting machines were up in the 1970s widely used because they are well suited for the non repetitive tasks of tool and die making and small series. The generation of planes, polygons, and guides primarily been the domain of the shock machine. Furthermore be mentioned internal gears, hitting wedge shafts and gears. Also the first shaping of castings and the removal of the cast skin, which quickly wears out the tool ( sand inclusions, hard spots in the cast ) were applications for the shock machine. The surface finish that creates a shaper, can be milled surfaces to parts far behind, for example, must gear flanks no longer be sanded for finishing.

Current importance

In industrial applications, slotting machines are now largely disappeared. Reasons for this are firstly the inefficient operation (limited and changing during cutting cutting speed, as well as each stroke a return stroke without the performance of work ) and on the other hand, the use of CNC machine tools and carbide tools. In most cases, it was replaced by milling. For small businesses and hobby users, the impact machine remains, however, an interesting machine with the following advantages:

• Cheap and geometrically simple tools;
• High quality surface finishes achievable;
• Low purchase price;
• High degree of flexibility;
• Very quiet in operation;
• Low power consumption;
• Possibility of internal gears and splines to come across.

Construction

The machine usually divided into the main parts:

• Carriage with angle tool holder
• Machine body
• Engine and transmission
• Cross table
• Machine base

Kinematics

The tool carriage is driven via a rocker arm, or an oil hydraulic system, whereby the circular motion of the drive motor is converted into linear motion.

Due to the rocker arm, the speed of the carriage is not constant. In the flow of the carriage is cut during retrace lifts the tool from the workpiece surface down, so as not to scratch it. The flow is slower than the reverse.

In return, each section is the table on which the workpiece is located, to be delivered by a ratchet, which is driven by the crank arm a small amount. The work thus moves slowly through the cutting tool and machining is performed successively.

Tools

The tools are usually made ​​of HSS or SS, as the cutting conditions for hard metals or ceramic cutting materials due to the non-continuous section, and low and varying cutting speeds are not suitable. One advantage, however, is the simple tool geometry. The chisel for a shaper are single-edged tools, similar to turning tools. Such tools are geometrically comparatively primitive.

Cutting speed

The cut is made intermittently and with varying speed. As the machine accelerates the heavy carriage at each intersection and delays again, the cutting speeds are limited to 25 to 50 m / min, since the engine would otherwise migrate through the reciprocating masses. Depending on the length of cut on the workpiece are between 50 and 200 strokes per minute usual.

Manufacturer

Well-known German manufacturers were Klopp ( Solingen ), Wotan, Gack and Erdmann.

In the Americas are widely used in small machines manufacturers in South Bend, Atlas and Ammco, in large machines, however, the manufacturer Gould & Eberhardt and Cincinnati.