Thread: All hail the shaper gods!!

Originally Posted by Ueee

The worst part is i desperately need some nice long parallels, my 6" long ones barely bridge the gap in the vice ways.

Sounds like a shaping/scraping project.

As i had the blue out today i thought i would spot the 11" square plate on the granite to see how flat she is cutting. The cut is of a shear tool but i think i can get a better finish, i just need to get the cutter right. Oddly enough the far side of the plate was cut yesterday, the rest was finished today



Here is a quick vid of the shear tool doing its thing. Thia was MK1 ground as to the1944 books spec, only 15 deg angle. I have since ground it to 45 with better results, but still not as good as i would like. The stroke is long in an attempt to get a higher surface speed and stop the tool from striking the work from the "clap" that comes with the change in ram direction.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHFZTJkx_jU]24" Queen City shaper shear tool - YouTube[/ame]

These shapers have me interested. I think it may have to be my next machine tool purchase. I'm still learning about all things about turning and milling and I know even less about using shapers. One thing that they all seem to have in common (other than the obvious) is that they all look like pure brutes of machines. Are they made so massive because there are huge cutting forces involved in such a machining technique?

They also seem relatively cheaper than their mill and lathe counterparts. Is that because they are inherently simple in design?

Ewan, that finish looks OK! I assume it's possible to get similar surface finish qualities that that of a surface grinder?

Cheers

Simon

Hi Ewan,
You're upset at the flatness of that piece? If you cut off "yesterdays" part it would likely look better. Yesterdays work is lifting toadys work off the plate.

You need a tool lifter

Stuart

Simon,
Shapers are cheaper because usually industry has no use for them these days. Milling a flat surface is faster than using a shaper, so that's the weapon of choice. Mills are also considered more versatile as well (although as plenty here will tell you, shapers can do some interesting stuff too).
From memory, historically shapers were important as they were the tool in the industrial revolution that enabled the economic production of flat surfaces that then gave rise to all the other metal machines that were necessary.
Part of the mass would be historic, part due to cutting forces, some would be that castings are harder to make with thin walls (and cast iron is (relatively) cheap).

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Simon,
Shapers are cheaper because usually industry has no use for them these days. Milling a flat surface is faster than using a shaper, so that's the weapon of choice. Mills are also considered more versatile as well (although as plenty here will tell you, shapers can do some interesting stuff too).
From memory, historically shapers were important as they were the tool in the industrial revolution that enabled the economic production of flat surfaces that then gave rise to all the other metal machines that were necessary.
Part of the mass would be historic, part due to cutting forces, some would be that castings are harder to make with thin walls (and cast iron is (relatively) cheap).

Michael

Thanks!

Spotted this thread the other night and thought what a cool machine, then spotted this one tonight so thought I would give you a heads up.
Description:

Shader, approximately 250mm, adjustable stroke, vertical travel adjustable and adjustable table, 240 volt, come spare tool in toolbox

Nice shader! I haven't got one of those yet.....

Originally Posted by jhovel

Nice shader! I haven't got one of those yet.....

I'm just trying to work out how it works.....it must have a special pencil holder at the front and you put paper on the table......

Could be a nice little machine for someone in VIC. Has a feed ratchet on the knee rise and fall shaft. Interesting table support.....but no vice. Should be in the Ebay thread though, maybe a mod could copy it there?

Hi,
After i made the BIG chips this arvo it was clear i needed to make a proper knurled thumbscrew for the head collar so i went to town. I decided to put a brass tip on it, i just bored the end of the screw 1/8" and turned a piece of 1/4" brass rod to fit with a boss on the end. My first knurl turned double so i filed it off and went again.

I've finally gotten to sorting out the table support bolts. I bought some 5/8 UNF grade 8.8 bolts a week or 2 ago and got to sorting out the washers etc over the week. I just need to make a washer/ bolt head holder for the inside of the support and then cast some knobs (ping pong balls on standby)
As luck had it the handles off the mill are the same thread as what i went with so it gave me a chance to see what it would look like. The nuts are 2" dia x 1 1/4" thick, blind threaded and the washers are 3/8" thick. Beefy enough?

Originally Posted by Ueee

Beefy enough?

Orta do. Looks neat, well done.

Very nice Ewan.

G'Day Gentlemen, Here is a link recently uploaded by Mr.Pete, AKA Tubal Cain, who has lots of interesting videos on youtube as most of you will be aware. Here he shows off a recent gift. Much smaller than yours Ewan, but a real gem non-the-less
Rob

antique model METAL SHAPER MODEL (like ATLAS) tubalcain - YouTube