Thread: Shaper basics

Hi Mike,
Not sure if thats meant to be a question or not?
The clapper might not move much depending on the toolholder and DOC.
Are you thinking about shapers that have a tool lifters on the clapper?

Stuart

Clapper box has to lift on return of the ram on normal cutting because as you feed sideways it would cause excessive wear to tool by trying to cut on the return stroke.
In a key way there is no sideways feed movement, but the tool could lift excessively on the return stroke due the depth of the engaged cut in the key way and the tool dragging against the key way walls.

Two sentences, two things I've learnt.
Thanks, Clubman7!

Jordan

It happens so quick you probably wont see it.....but you can hear it. There are 2 "strange" noises that seem to come through really well on video's. One is the click click of the ratchet on the side to side feed, and the other is the thunk of the tool coming back down onto the work and/or the clapper seating after the change in direction of the ram and the tool being dragged back over the edge of the work.

Most of those U tube movies have background music , a very annoying distraction . Yes it would not be easy to see the clapper rising in the general view they tend to show of the machine operating, more closeups would help .Oh well, its back to the books again !

here is one..not much clapper action

Atlas Shaper 7B 7" Metal Shaper - YouTube

and another Atlas shaper machining hardened steel Aloris tool holder - YouTube

the clapper appears to be stationary shaping machine - YouTube

OMG! hold the camera still, gave up on the first video after 1:10.
The second video is shot from the front so you arent going to see much happening.

watch this one
Cincinnati 20" Universal Shaper - YouTube
But dont leave the crank handle there!

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

OMG! hold the camera still, gave up on the first video after 1:10.
The second video is shot from the front so you arent going to see much happening.

watch this one
Cincinnati 20" Universal Shaper - YouTube
But dont leave the crank handle there!

Stuart

Hi Stuart ............ thanks .

That cinci is out of phase - the forward stroke is faster.

Originally Posted by Bryan

That cinci is out of phase - the forward stroke is faster.

I reakon nearly half the shaper videos I have seen are running backwards. Really bad for the crank pin etc.

I don't know much about shapers. How do they run backwards, is it simply a matter of accidently mixing up the wiring for the phases and it runs backwards? Being a cyclic action it means it still runs in a fashion?

Also, while I'm at it can I ask another question, I see one of their uses is to create a flat surface, in this case, what does a shaper have over a mill with a face cutter? Do you get a superior finish?

Simon

hi Simon........... yes in shaper theory, the forward stroke is slower than the backward stroke. Something to do with the tool speed . Yes , many people reckon the finish is better than with milling . I dont know how they manage to run backwards unless the motor start circuit has been tampered with , single phase motors usually have a capacitor that starts the motor in one direction , 3 phase normally only wants to start in one direction , so I have read ..Mike

Because of the way a shaper works one direction of stroke is fast, the other slower. The return is arranged to be on the fast stroke (more time spent cutting) and the tool feeds across then too. From thinking about it in a casual manner, I think the leverage would be better when cutting on the slow stroke.
Shapers are historical - they were used to produce the flat surfaces that enabled mills to be made back in the industrial revolution. Mills are faster. Shapers have a more mesmerising action and the surface is straight line cuts. None of the circular patterns you get with a face or end mill. Nicer finish? Some think so.

Michael

Yes, I find the linear tool marks much nicer than the circular 'cat tracks' often left by face mills. And with a good finishing tool, a satiny sheen is easily achieved on a shaper, even on gummy steel.