Different Types of Shaper Machine

Shaper machine can be classified into different types depending upon the various factors such as driving mechanism, design of the table, etc. Taking each and every category one by one and a brief explanation is given below:

Types of Shaper Machine:

Depending upon driving mechanism: 

Crank type:

This type is a very easily available and mostly used type. In this type, the crank mechanism is utilized to convert the rotary motion of Bull gear into a reciprocating motion of the ram. The ram is loaded with the tool head at its end to provide the desired cutting operation. The total length traveled by the reciprocation tool is equal to the length of the stroke.

Geared type:

This type is not much used in industry now a day but few of them use it. In this type rack and pinion arrangement are utilized to make the ram reciprocate for cutting operation. The number of gears and its arrangement in the gear train decides the speed and direction of the traverse of the machine respectively.

Hydraulic type:

This is the type which is used when we have to produce very fine cutting. It utilizes the hydraulic power for the reciprocating motion of the ram. Oil is pumped into the piston-cylinder system under high pressure. The end of the piston is connected to the ram working as an end effector. As the piston reciprocates due to high-pressure oil, the ram also reciprocates providing desired cutting motion. The speed of ram is controlled by controlling the pressure of oil that is being pumped to the piston. The advantages of this type are that it is less noisy and cutting force remains constant throughout the cutting operation.

Depending upon the position and motion of ram:

Horizontal Shaper:.

As the name suggests in this type of shaper machine the tool head connected to the ram end moves in the horizontal axis of the bed. This type is used to generate flat surfaces, keyways, etc.

HORIZONTAL SHAPER MACHINE

Vertical Shaper:

The movement of the tool in this case also is suggested by the name that is moving in the vertical axis. In this type of Shaper, the workpiece is kept on such a table that it can have a cross, longitudinal, and rotational movement. This type is widely used for cutting slots, grooves, keyholes, etc.

VERTICAL SHAPER MACHINE

Traveling head Shaper:

This type of shaper was developed for heavy and large workpieces which cannot be placed on the table of a regular shaper. In this type, the ram other than having a reciprocating motion also has a crosswise movement to provide the required feed.

Depending upon the table design:

Standard Shaper:

Whenever anything is developed we try to keep it as simple as possible. Similarly, it is the primitive design that has only two movements of the table i.e. the horizontal and the vertical movement.

Universal Shaper:

Above system does not provide much flexibility in machining so to increase flexibility other than two motion that is vertical and horizontal, two more position table is defined in this type. The other two motions are, first is the swiveled motion about an axis parallel to the ram ways and second is that the upper part of the table can be tilted about an axis perpendicular to the first motion explained in this heading. This is the reason it is known as universal Shaper because it can generate complex surfaces also.

Depending upon the Cutting stroke:

Push Type:

It is the most widely and commonly used types of Shaper. In this type, ram is reciprocating away from the column and hence pushing the workpiece for the metal removal process that is why it is known as the push type of Shaper.

Draw Type:

It is the counterpart of the push type means provide cutting in reverse arm stroke. It works exactly opposite of push-type that is the metal removal process is done by moving the ram towards the column. Due to this movement of ram the workpiece takes the force in the direction towards the column of the workpiece which helps in reducing the load from the column and bearing and hence avoiding deflection of the tool.