Shaping Machine

A shaper is analogous to a planer, but smaller, and with the cutter riding a ram that moves above a stationary work piece, rather than the entire work piece moving beneath the cutter. The ram is moved back and forth typically by a crank inside the column.

The work piece mounts on a rigid, box-shaped table in front of the machine. The height of the table can be adjusted to suit this work piece, and the table can traverse sideways underneath the reciprocating tool, which is mounted on the ram. Table motion may be controlled manually, but is usually advanced by automatic feed mechanism acting on the feed screw. The ram slides back and forth above the work. At the front end of the ram is a vertical tool slide that may be adjusted to either side of the vertical plane along the stroke axis. This tool-slide holds the clapper box and tool post, from which the tool can be positioned to cut a straight, flat surface on the top of the work piece. The tool-slide permits feeding the tool downwards to deepen a cut. This adjustability, coupled with the use of specialized cutters and tool holders, enable the operator to cut internal and external gear tooth profiles, splines, dovetails, and keyways.

The ram is adjustable for stroke and, due to the geometry of the linkage, it moves faster on the return (non-cutting) stroke than on the forward, cutting stroke.