The Spindle Shaper PDF

The Spindle Shaper Aka Shaper Main goal is to impart a shaped edge/face to stock o Mostly used for mouldings o Can be equipped with small saw blade o Very versatile machine Fixed profile cutter-heads o Carbide tipped o Were the standard for a long time o Moving away from this technology  Insert tec...

The Spindle Shaper Aka Shaper Main goal is to impart a shaped edge/face to stock o Mostly used for mouldings o Can be equipped with small saw blade o Very versatile machine Fixed profile cutter-heads o Carbide tipped o Were the standard for a long time o Moving away from this technology  Insert technology is becoming more popular/common One block with several profile options Basic Shaper o A motor and a spindle (some have interchangeable ones) for mounting cutterblocks  Spindle will have a locking nut and various thickness’ of spacers Can be used to help adjust the height of the cutter o Enclosed base o Table top with table way and concentric rings around spindle  Allows to vary the opening in the table around the cutter  Opening should be as small as possible o Fence with guard  Open where cutter head is o Must be variable speed  Different diameter cutters require different speeds o Spring hold-downs for holding stock close to the cutter ctterblock  Feather boards work too  Helps with consistent cut Double spindle shapers increase production o Can even have 3 spindle shapers o Allow the running of multiple profiles  Can have the same profile with one spindle climb cutting Helps deal with contrary grain Tilting arbor (spindle) shapers o 45° forward and 15° back o Allows you to alter the profiles of your cutters increasing versatility CNC shapers o Our Martin is one  Has programmable settings for cutters  Makes repeated set-ups easier and more accurate Standard rotation is counter clockwise, when looking down at the table o Feed stock from right to left Most machines will have a reverse function  Feed from left to right  OR can be used for climb-cutting when dealing with erratic grain (maple) o NEVER climb-cut without a power feeder  Also a good idea to add a 2nd locking nut to the top of the spindle Power Feeder o Controls feed rate and applies pressure o 2 main types  Rubber wheels that are spring loaded  Track system, like a bulldozer o Good to have for production runs  Prevents operator fatigue  Gives a better result most times as the feed rate and pressure are constant o Can be used on other machines as well  Table saw  Jointer  Bandsaw  Router table o Must be very careful with short pieces o Running a ball bearing or rub collar is important  What we did for the single door commode door panel o Using a sliding table/clamping jig will also help  Don’t want the part to be sucked into the cutter  Useful for cope and stick On the end grain of rails Freehand shaping o Remove fence assembly o Not well guarded  Watch hand placement o Requires a start pin or steady pin  Acts as a fulcrum against which your part can pivot  Once part makes contact with the rub collar/ball bearing you can come off the pin Shaper fences are independent o Move separately forward and backwards o For full edge removal fences are out of alignment to prevent snipe  Outfeed matches new profile edge o For partial edge removal fences are in line with one another o Most fences have sacrificial wood boards on them  Slide side to side to close gap around cutter  Depends on how much you what to remove you can create zero-clearance fence Breakthrough fence is the safest o Like a zero-clearance insert o Clamp a solid board across the opening o Move fence back into cutter – allow the cutter to cut through the board o Has the disadvantage of losing some of the profile of the cutter Cutters can be flipped o Must use reverse function and feed left to right  Still feeding against to rotation Shaper Accessories Cutter blocks o More costly than the machine over time o Slot spindle (French Head)  More of a scraping action  Good for contrary woods o Square block (must be a power fed machine o Stair trencher (rebates and dados in stair stringers) o Circular block  2,3 or more HSS knives, depending on diameter  Blanks can be custom ground  Must be same profile on a block for balance  Projection of knives does not affect the balance, just the cut o Solid profile cutter block – most common shapes Guards o Cage guard  Also known as a hood guard  Surrounds the cutter block with steel cage o Shaw guard  Guides the part against the fence and holds down against table  Less control when part exits  Difficult to injure oneself as you can’t really get fingers in front of cutter o Tunnel guard  Similar to Shaw guard  No down force  Hard to clear piece o Breakthrough fence  Most often used with large diameter cutters  Zero clearance opening  Sacrificial fence o Auxiliary fences  Purpose made fences o Ring fence  Not so much a fence as a guide  Versatile  Great for curved work  Replaces ball bearing, rub collar and lead-in Profile grinders o For custom shaped knives o Ensures same profile and projection Stacked cutter blocks o For complicated profiles with grooves, dadoes, etc. o Usually have insert knives Can lever-in, like a drop on o Must use a stop block