PLANERS

Planer
• A type of metalworking machine tool that is similar to a shaper but larger and with
the entire workpiece moving beneath the cutter instead of the cutter moving above
a stationary workpiece.
• Primarily used to produce horizontal, vertical or incline flat surfaces and cutting slots on
work pieces which are too large and heavy to be accommodated on shaper machine
table.
• Use to machine multiple small part held in line on the platen.
• The work table is moved back and forth on the bed beneath the cutting head either
by mechanical mean such as a rack and pinion gear or by a hydraulic cylinder.
Working Principle of a Planer
• The work which is supported on the table
reciprocates past the stationary cutting tool and
the feed is imparted by the lateral movement of
the tool.
• The tool is clamped in the tool holder and work
on the table.
• The bigger job is fixed with the help of the
grooves on the base of the planer and is
accurately guided as it travels back and forth
• The different mechanisms used to give
reciprocating motion to the table are reversible
motor drive, open and cross belt drive and
hydraulic drive.
Classification of Planners
Planers are generally divided into 5 types according to their
construction.
• Double Housing Planer
• Open Side Planer
• Universal Planer
• Edge type / Plate type Planer
• Divided Table Planer
• Pit type Planer
Double Housing Planer
• It is the most common type of planer. It
consists of mainly a massive bed on which
the worktable reciprocates, and two vertical
columns or housing, one on each side of the
bed.
• Each column carries a tool head that can be
slide up and down on the column.
• A cross rail fitted between the two columns
may carry one or two tool heads that can
slide horizontally on the cross rail. All the
tool heads can be clamped in position, and
can be used collectively or individually
depending on the requirements.
Open Side Planer

• Open side planer consists of only one

vertical column or housing on which the
cross rail is mounted.
• The column and the cross rail carry
single and double tool heads respectively.
• This type of machine permits machining
of wide work pieces.
Universal Planer
• The main feature of this type of planer is that it can cut on both forward and
reverse strokes.
• Different cutting edges operate for cutting in the two strokes.
Edge type / Plate type Planer
• This type of machine is used for machining the edges of heavy work pieces.
• The work piece is clamped on the bed and the side mounted carriage
supporting the cutting tool is reciprocated along the edge of the work piece.
• Cutting can take place during both directions of carriage travel.
Divided Table Planer
• It is also called tandem planer and
consists of two worktables, which may be
reciprocated together or separately.
• When mounting and setting of workpieces
on the worktable consumes more time
thereby restricting the machine for
continuous mass production applications,
divided table planer can be used.
• In this, one worktable can be used for
setting up a new workpiece, while the
second worktable carrying workpiece is
being machined.
• The two tables can be joined together to
hold large workpieces.
Pit type Planer
• A pit type planer differs from other planer in the
sense that, the table and the work piece resting on it
remain stationary and the tool reciprocates across
the work surface.
• This type of machine is preferred for very large work,
where the weight of the work piece and the table
would make reciprocating movement difficult.
• The job is either mounted on a stationary table, or on
the floor inside a pit, and hence the name pit type
planer.
• One or two tool heads can be mounted on the cross
rail and two side tool posts on the housings, if
required.
• The entire unit travels along the horizontal ways to
and fro, thus the tool moves past the work surface
during operation.
Planer Machine Parts
• Bed & Table
• Housings
• Cross rail
• Tool head
• Column
• Driving & Feed mechanism
Bed & Table
• It is of long & heavy base made of cast iron.
• Its top surface is flat and machined
accurately.
• The flat top surface has slots in which the
work piece can be securely clamped thus
avoiding shifting out of its position.
• The standard clamping devices used on
planer machine are: Heavy duty vice, T-
holders and clamps, angle plate, planer jack,
step blocks and stop.
• The table movement may be actuated by a
variable speed drive through a rack and
pinion arrangement, or a hydraulic system.
Table & Housing
• The table supports the work and
reciprocates along the ways of the bed.
• Table is made from good quality cast iron.
• The top face of the table is accurately
finished in order to locate the work correctly.
• T-slots are provided on the entire length of
the table so that the work and work holding
devices may be bolted upon it.
• The housings are the rigid and upright
column like castings. These are located near
the centre on each side of the base.
Column
• These are rigid box-like vertical
structures placed on each side of
the bed and are fastened to the
sides of the bed.
• They are heavily ribbed to trace up
severe forces due to cutting.
• The cross rail may be made to slide
up and down for accommodating
different heights of work.
Cross rail
• It is a rigid box-like casting connecting the two
columns.
• It may be raised or lowered on the face of the
housing and can be clamped at a desired position
by manual or electrical clamping devices.
• It should remain absolutely parallel to the top
surface of the table.
• It is necessary to generate a flat horizontal
surface on a work piece because the tool follows
the part on the cross rail during cross feed.
• The vertical movement of the cross rail allows to
accommodate work piece of different heights.
Since the cross rail is supported at both the ends,
this type of planer machine is rigid in
construction.
Tool Head
• Tool heads are mounted on the
cross rail by a saddle.
• The saddle may be made to move
transversely on the cross rail to
give cross feed.
• The swivel base is pivoted on the
saddle and is graduated on each
side to 60 degrees.
• The clapper block is hinged at
hinge pins to the clapper box and it
holds the tool post in which the
tool is clamped by straps.
Driving and Feed mechanism
• The tool heads may be fed either
by hand or by power in crosswise
or vertical direction.
• The motor drive is usually at one
side of the planer near the centre
and drive mechanism is located
under the table