Shaper and its types

Shaper and its types

A shaper is machine used for producing flat surfaces on the given work piece. It can also be used for doing any type of machining operations but with little difficulty. The shaper cuts the metal by reciprocating motion of the tool carrying ram. The first metal working shaper was developed by James Nesmith in the year 1936

Types of shapers

Shapers are classified according to various aspects.

1)            Based on type of mechanism employed for the movement of the cutting tool i.e. tool carrying ram the shapers are classified in to three types

a.            Crank type

b.            Gear type

c.             Hydraulic type

2)            According to position and movement of ram the shapers are classified in to three types

a.            Horizontal type

b.            Vertical type

c.             Travelling head type

3)            Shapers are classified in to two types based on design of the work table

a.            Standard shaper

b.            Universal shaper

4)            Based on type of cutting stroke employed these are classified in to

a.            Push type

b.            Draw type

Crank type shaper

In these shapers the reciprocating ram is driven by crank mechanism. In this a single point cutting tool is employed to do the operation. A crank is connected to the ram and the bull gear to which the power is given through an individual motor. These are most common type of shapers being used. The reciprocating length of tool will be always is equal to the length of stroke.

Gear type shaper

These are the rarely used shapers. In these shapers a rack and pinion are employed the rack is attached to the lower part of the ram and on which the pinion moves. The power is transmitted from the bull gear. A grain train is engaged for the transfer of power from the bull gear to pinion.

Hydraulic type shaper

These shapers run on hydraulic power. The end of the ram is connected to a piston fitted in to a cylinder. Oil is fed in to the cylinder initially the oil acts in one direction and the ram moves in one direction. A varying pressure is applied on the oil so as to obtain the reciprocating motion of the ram. One of the main advantage of this shaper is a constant speed can be obtained from the starting of the machining operation. There will be no fluctuations in the cutting speed and stroke of the ram. Another important advantage of this shaper is no sound will be produced hence a noise free environment can be obtained.

Horizontal shaper

As the name indicates these shapers have the motion of ram along the horizontal axis. This type of shapers is generally used for generation of fine and flat surfaces.

Vertical shaper

In these shapers the tool containing ram has its motion in vertical direction. In some of the shapers a provision of 100 rotation of the ram is also provided. In vertical shaper the ram may be driven by various types like crank driven, screw driven, gear driven, or by hydraulic power. Vertical shaping machines finds many applications in deep hole boring, machining internal surfaces, keyways, grooves etc. vertical shaper has a very robust table which can have cross, longitudinal, and rotational movement. The tool used on a vertical shaper is totally different from that of the normal tool which is employed on a horizontal shaper.

Travelling head type shaper

This type of shaper is generally employed for machining very large objects that cannot be mounted on the table of the machine and cannot be moved. In this machine the ram having reciprocating movement also provides crosswise movement simultaneously such that the tool can cut the required shape on the work piece.

Standard shaper

In this shaper the table has only two movements i.e. vertical and horizontal. The table may or may not be supported on the other end. These are not generally used

Universal shaper

In these shapers in addition to the above mentioned two movements of the standard shaper it provides two more directions.

1) By swelling the table about an axis rams ways.

2) The table can be tilted about an axis perpendicular to the 1st one

So due to these two features any operation at any angle can be performed very easily. So due to these features the shaper is termed as a universal shaper

Push type shaper

It is one of the most commonly used shaper. In this the metal is removed when the ram is moving away from the column. This type of shaper pushes the work piece while removing the work piece away from it so this shaper is called as push type shaper.

Draw type shaper

It is just a converse of the push type shaper. In these machines the metal is removed from the work piece when the ram is moving towards the column. So due to this the work piece takes a force in the direction towards the column of the work piece. Due to this action the forces over the column and bearings are somewhat reduced. The tool is required to be mounted in opposite direction to the normal conditions. The vibrations on machine components are also damped to some extent.