Production Shaping

Machinery's Industrial Secrets
articles from Machinery Magazine

More articles from just after WWI. You strap a casting to the bed of the planer, and the bed will pull the casting under a stationary cutting tool. On a shaper, however, the casting is stationary and the ram moves the tool across the casting to remove metal in ways a lathe can't. You don't see shapers much any more, but that doesn't mean they're not useful.

Here, you'll be taken into factories in England, Canada and the U.S. to see how shapers were put to work building other machine tools. It's about as close as you'll come to seeing shapers in action.

You get four articles detailing the use of shapers in the production of parts for drilling machines, other shapers, engine lathes, and more. You'll see the jigs used to mount castings for cutting slots, keyways, dovetails, oil grooves and more in a variety of castings from tiny to gigantic. Another article explores the various types of shaper tables used by different manufacturers to counteract the downward thrust of the cut. And you'll see a shaper adapted to cut radii, do surface grinding, and even cut teeth in a repaired gear.

Admittedly, some of the shapers shown and the work they're doing is larger than we'll encounter. But the principles of adjusting, clamping, and cutting are applicable. These articles were written for the factory machinist who was to be doing this work. Just by "listening in" on the conversation, you're sure to learn valuable lessons. And the number one lesson: don't ever underestimate the value of a shaper. (Truth is, I think after you read this, you'll be drooling to buy a used shaper or build Dave Gingery's model.) Great ideas. Valuable lessons. Inexpensive. Heavily illustrated. Get a copy. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 booklet 48 pages

No. 22253 ... $5.95