Cutting
Tool
Applications
Cutting Tool Applications
By George Schneider, Jr. CMfgE
www.toolingandproduction.com
Chapter 7/Tooling & Production
1
7.1 Introduction
Both the shaper and the planer are single point tools and cut only in straight lines. They
both make the same types of cuts.
The shaper handles relatively small work. The planer handles work weighing up to
several tons. The cutting stroke of the shaper is made by moving the tool bit attached to
the ram. The cutting stroke of the planer is achieved by moving the work past a station-
ary tool bit.
The types of cuts which can be made with either machine are shown in Figure 7.1.
Both the shaper and
the planer usually cut
only in one direction,
so that the return
stroke is lost time.
However, the return
stroke is made at up
to twice the speed of
the cutting stroke.
7.2 The Shaper
The shaper is a rela-
tively simple
machine. It is used
fairly often in the
toolroom or for

Boring Operations and Machines
Reaming and Tapping
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Milling Cutters and Operations
Milling Methods and Machines
Broaches and Broaching
Saws and Sawing
Abrasive Processes
Grinding Wheels and Operations
Grinding Methods and Machines
Lapping and Honing
George Schneider, Jr.CMfgE
Professor Emeritus
Engineering Technology
Lawrence Technological University
Former Chairman
Detroit Chapter ONE
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Former President
International Excutive Board
Society of Carbide & Tool Engineers
Lawrence Tech.Univ.: http://www.ltu.edu
Prentice Hall: http://www.prenhall.com
FIGURE 7.1: Typical cuts made by both shapers and planers.
Chap. 7: Shaping & Planing
2
Tooling & Production/Chapter 7
www.toolingandproduction.com
Ram: The ram slides back and forth
in dovetail or square ways to transmit

Saddle: The saddle moves up and
down (Y axis), usually manually, to set
the rough position of the depth of cut.
Final depth can be set by the hand crank
on the tool head.
Column: The column supports the
ram and the rails for the saddle. The
mechanism for moving the ram and
table is housed inside the column.
Toolholders: Toolholders are the
same as the ones used on an engine
lathe, though often larger in size. The
cutter is sharpened with rake and clear-
ance angles similar to lathe tools,
though the angles are smaller because
the work surface is usually flat. These
cutters are fastened into the toolholder,
just as in the lathe, but in a vertical
plane.
Work Holding: Work holding is fre-
quently done in a vise. The vise is spe-
cially designed for use in shapers and
has long ways which allow the jaws to
open up to 14 inches or more, therefore
quite large work pieces can be held.
The vise may also have a swivel base so
that cuts may be made at an angle.
Work which, due to size or shape, can-
not be held in the vise, is clamped
directly to the shaper table in much the

The RPM of the bull gear becomes the
strokes per minute (sometimes abbrevi-
ated SPM) of the shaper.
Cutting Speed: The cutting speed of
the tool across the work will vary during
the stroke as shown by the velocity dia-
gram in Figure 7.3a. The maximum is
at the center of the stroke. However, if
the cutting speed chosen is somewhat
on the slow side, the average speed may
be used, and computations are greatly
simplified.
Although the ratio varies some-
what,several shapers have a linkage
using 220 degrees of the cycle for the
cutting stroke and 140 degrees for the
return stroke. This is close to a 3:2
ratio.
In setting up a mechanically operated
shaper, the length of cut (in inches) is
known, and the cutting speed (in feet
per minute) is selected according to the
kind of metal being cut. It is then nec-
essary to compute the strokes per
minute since that is how the shaper
speed is controlled. Such calculations
are beyond the scope of this text.
The stroke per minute available on a
shaper will vary according to the size of
the shaper. The larger shapers will have

cross feed. The reverse
stroke is made faster than
the power stroke because of
the smaller area in the return
side of the cylinder, if a con-
stant volume pump is used.
Another method is to have
the rate of fluid flow
increased to speed up the
return stroke.
Speed and feed on a
hydraulic shaper are often
controlled by simple dials.
Speed is read directly in feet
per minute and feed is read
directly in decimal inches.
The cutting speed remains
nearly constant through the
full stroke.
7.2.2 Vertical
Shapers
The vertical shaper,
sometimes called a
slotter, has a verti-
cal ram, with table
and saddle similar
to the horizontal
shaper. If a rotary
table is mounted on
the regular table, a

The most frequently used type of
planer is the double-housing planer,
shown in Figure 7.5, with the following
components:
Frame: The frame is basically two
heavy columns fastened together at the
top with a large bracing section and fas-
tened at the bottom to the machine bed.
This creates a very strong, rigid struc-
ture which will handle heavy loads
without deflection.
Crossrail: The crossrail is also a
heavy box, or similar construction. It
slides up and down on V- or flat ways,
controlled by hand or by power-operat-
ed screws. These crossrails are so
heavy that they are counterweighted,
Ram connection
Max. forward
position
Rocker arm
Bull gear
sliding block
Adjusting
screw
Crank pin
Pivot bearing
(a)
Max. rear
position

Shaper ram
Cutting
stroke
4-way
valve
Pump
Tank
Motor
Base
Ram with annular
adjustment
Drive gear
box
Longitudinal feed
Tool holder
Rotating table
Table rotation
Transverse
feed
FIGURE 7.3: Shapers are available with either (a)
mechanical drive mechanisms or (b) hydraulic drive
mechanisms.
FIGURE 7.4: Schematic illustration of a vertical
shaper, also called a slotter.
Clapper box
Crossrail
Top brace
Rail head
Bed
Drive motor

which carries the work past the cutting
heads. It runs on V- or flat ways. The
table is driven either by a very long
hydraulic cylinder or by a pinion gear
driving a rack which is fastened under
the center of the table. The motor dri-
ving the pinion gear is the reversible
type with variable speed.
Bed: The bed of the planer must be a
weldment or casting twice as long as the
table. Thus a 12-ft table requires a 24-
ft bed. The gearing of hydraulic cylin-
ders for driving the table is housed
under the bed.
Toolholders: Planers use high speed
steel or carbide tipped cutting tools sim-
ilar to those used on shapers. However,
since planers make heavy cuts, their
tools are much larger. Rake relief
angles are similar to those used on lath-
es for cutting cast iron or steel, although
relief angles are often only 3 to 5
degrees, because all cuts are on flat sur-
faces.
Work Holding: Holding the work
while machining such heavy cuts at 60
to 100 feet per minute requires consid-
erable force; therefore, the workpieces
must be solidly fastened to the table.
Because the reversal of direction occurs

of travel and does not influence the time
to machine.
Double-housing Planers: Double-
housing planers consist of a long heavy
base on which the table reciprocates.
The upright housing near the center on
the side of the base, supports the cross-
rail on which the tools are fed across the
work. Figure 7.5 illustrates how the
tools are supported both above and on
the sides, and their adjustment for angle
cuts. They are fed by power in either a
vertical or a crosswise direction.
Open-sided Planers: Open-sided
planers have the housing on one side
only. The open side permits machining
wider workpieces. Most planers have
one flat and one double V-way, which
allows for unequal bed and platen
expansions. Adjustable dogs at the side
of the bed control the stroke length of
the platen.
Planers are often converted to planer-
mills, for more efficient machining.
7.3.1 Comparison of Shapers
and Planers
Although both the planer and the shaper
are able to machine flat surfaces, there
is little overlapping in their application.
They differ greatly in construction and

ishing.
Cutting angles for tools depend on
the tool used and the workpiece materi-
al. They are similar to angles used on
other single-point tools, but the end
clearance does not exceed 4 degrees.
Cutting speeds are affected by the rigid-
ity of the machine, how the work is
held, tool, material, and the number of
tools in operation. Worktables on plan-
ers and shapers are constructed with T-
slots to hold and clamp parts that are to
be machined.