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Shaper Machine Tool: Wood, Metal, Hand-Operated And Craftsman
By:
Published: January 4, 2007
Creative types interested in building their own custom motorcycles or kitchen cabinets need more than just a saw and hammer. Most wood working and metal shaping projects require the use of a very special tool: the shaper.
Shapers are a type of machine tool used for shaping metal, wood, plastic, and other materials. They are primarily used on flat surfaces containing vertical, horizontal or angular planes.
A machine tool is generally any tool which uses a power source to operate. Historically, most machine tools operated through human and animal power. However, advances in technology have resulted in current machine tools using electricity as their main power source. Machine tools are available in both hand-operated and automatic control.
Although they are still used, the shaper has been superseded by milling and grinding machines. The reason for this is in comparison to modern machines, shapers can seem time consuming as they are only able to operate a few workpieces at a time. Ultimately, shapers are still considered a valuable tool for repair jobs due to their cheap maintenance and simple design.
A shaper is usually equipped with a table or vise and operates in a specific way. First, the workpiece is anchored to either the table or the vise provided on the shaper. Then, the workpiece is fed into the machine which uses a revolving cutting tool to shape the workpiece. Finally, the cutting tool moves in a back and forth motion in order to cut or chip away at the material.
Shapers are divided into two types: metal shaper and wood shaper. A metal shaper is used to cut metal workpieces. Metal shapers are further divided into two different types: vertical and horizontal. Horizontal metal shapers are most commonly used while vertical metal shapers are equipped with a rotary table which allows arcs to be cut into workpieces.
When combined with accessories, a metal shaper can be used to create a variety of different shapes. Metal shapers are commonly used in creating keyways cutting in blind holes, dovetail slides and internal splines.
The wood shaper, as the name suggests, is primarily used in the shaping and surfacing of wood. A wood shaper is a stationary machine which cuts into workpieces through specially designed bits which are mounted onto a spinning spindle. Different accessories, such as sliding tables and tenon tables, enable the wood shaper to complete specialized cuts.
Many shapers can be purchased at hardware stores and home improvement stores. Different accessories, replacements parts or particular shapers can be most easily found through online stores. Craftsman is the most respected manufacturer of machine tools and provides a variety of much needed accessories and replacement parts.
Sources:
Craftsman Power Tool Accessories. 2006. Sears. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_UseBVC ookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&keyword=shaper& />"Machine Tool. Wikipedia." 20 Dec. 2006. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_tool>.
"Shaper." Wikipedia. 13 Dec. 2006. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaper>.
"Wood Shaper." Wikipedia. 20 Dec. 2006. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_shaper>.
Shapers are a type of machine tool used for shaping metal, wood, plastic, and other materials. They are primarily used on flat surfaces containing vertical, horizontal or angular planes.
A machine tool is generally any tool which uses a power source to operate. Historically, most machine tools operated through human and animal power. However, advances in technology have resulted in current machine tools using electricity as their main power source. Machine tools are available in both hand-operated and automatic control.
Although they are still used, the shaper has been superseded by milling and grinding machines. The reason for this is in comparison to modern machines, shapers can seem time consuming as they are only able to operate a few workpieces at a time. Ultimately, shapers are still considered a valuable tool for repair jobs due to their cheap maintenance and simple design.
A shaper is usually equipped with a table or vise and operates in a specific way. First, the workpiece is anchored to either the table or the vise provided on the shaper. Then, the workpiece is fed into the machine which uses a revolving cutting tool to shape the workpiece. Finally, the cutting tool moves in a back and forth motion in order to cut or chip away at the material.
Shapers are divided into two types: metal shaper and wood shaper. A metal shaper is used to cut metal workpieces. Metal shapers are further divided into two different types: vertical and horizontal. Horizontal metal shapers are most commonly used while vertical metal shapers are equipped with a rotary table which allows arcs to be cut into workpieces.
When combined with accessories, a metal shaper can be used to create a variety of different shapes. Metal shapers are commonly used in creating keyways cutting in blind holes, dovetail slides and internal splines.
The wood shaper, as the name suggests, is primarily used in the shaping and surfacing of wood. A wood shaper is a stationary machine which cuts into workpieces through specially designed bits which are mounted onto a spinning spindle. Different accessories, such as sliding tables and tenon tables, enable the wood shaper to complete specialized cuts.
Many shapers can be purchased at hardware stores and home improvement stores. Different accessories, replacements parts or particular shapers can be most easily found through online stores. Craftsman is the most respected manufacturer of machine tools and provides a variety of much needed accessories and replacement parts.
Sources:
Craftsman Power Tool Accessories. 2006. Sears. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_UseBVC ookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&keyword=shaper& />"Machine Tool. Wikipedia." 20 Dec. 2006. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_tool>.
"Shaper." Wikipedia. 13 Dec. 2006. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaper>.
"Wood Shaper." Wikipedia. 20 Dec. 2006. 3 Jan. 2007 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_shaper>.
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