Table of Contents
- What Is a Body Shaping Machine?
- What Parts Is a Body Shaping Machine Made of?
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- Base
- Column
- The cross-rail
- Workbench Table
- Ram
- Tool Head
- What Is the Working Principle of the Shaping Machine?
- How Does a ShapingMachine Work?
- What Are the Types of Shaping Machines?
- Based on Table Design
- Based on Ram Travel
- Based on the Driving Mechanism
- Based on Cutting Stroke
- What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages?
- Advantages:
- Disadvantages:
- What Is a Shaping Machine Used for?
- Conclusion
Welcoming you to the MU Creatives Blog. We have written a second descriptive article about a different engineering machine. Today, we will be discussing every aspect of the Body shaping machine. Therefore, we must first determine what this type of Machine is and what it does. In the next step, we will examine the Machine’s various components and describe each function.
What Is a Shaping Machine?
It is indispensable in the production of parts, various jobs, etc. In addition, shaping machines produce horizontal, vertical, or inclined planes, while the older generation of Body shaping machines can only produce horizontal, vertical, or inclined planes.
It is one machine tool type that utilizes relative motion between the workpiece and the cutting tool. A shaping machine, like a wood shaper, is a device that allows us to obtain the desired shape and size of the material.
With the assistance of a shaper’s linear motion, this device carves along a linear toolpath. Its cut is very similar to that of a lathe machine, with the exception that lathe machines produce spiral cuts and shapers linear cuts.
Every one of its components plays a unique role in a shaper, and their cooperation allows the shaper to function as intended.
Base
The Machine’s base is its main body and serves as the skeleton for the other components.
Column
The Column of a shaping machine is an iron-made, cast-like casting mounted on a pedestal. It has precision guide rails on which the ram can move back and forth.
Workbench Table
The primary function of the table is to secure the workpiece.
Ram
The tool moves back and forth along a guide rail while carrying a single-point cutting tool at its head. In the forward direction, the working punch performs the cutting motion, while the reverse direction causes the tool head to slide back rapidly and repeat the same work.
Tool Head
The head of the tool contains a cutting instrument fed downward by the screw handle to complete a cutting motion.
What Is the Working Principle of the Shaping Machine?
Before discussing the shaping machine’s operating principle, we must discuss the cutting tool. A cutting tool’s function is to remove material from a workpiece. The shaper utilizes a cutting tool with a single cutting edge and a single cutting point. The turning tool is the best illustration of a single-point cutting instrument.
Ram demonstrates a reciprocating motion. The quick return mechanism generates the cutting tool’s motion, and the tool’s movement determines the cutting depth.
The mode of the shaping machine is reciprocating. The cutting tool traverses back and forth across the working object, with no metal cut on the return stroke.
How Does a Shaping Machine Work?
The table’s height is easily adjustable to accommodate the workpiece. The table features an automatic feed mechanism that operates with a feed screw. This is for cutting, and the stroke of the ram is adjustable.
What Are the Types of Shaping Machines?
As previously stated, we will now discuss the various types of shapers categorized into four distinct classes.
Based on Table Design
1.1. Universal Shaping Machine: The table is mobile in diagonal, horizontal, and vertical planes. In addition, the shaping machine’s axis is rotatable.
1.2. Standard Shaping Machine: In standard shaping machines, the only two components are horizontal and vertical, and these directions are used to provide the feed.
Based on Ram Travel
2.1. Vertical Shaper: In the vertical shapering machine, the ram reciprocates in the vertical direction. The vertical shaper is ideal if you wish to cut the interior surface. And the workpiece is capable of moving in any direction.
2.2. Horizontal Shaper: In the horizontal shaper, there is a reciprocating ram that moves in the horizontal direction.
Based on the Driving Mechanism
3.1. Hydraulic Shaper: As the name suggests, a hydraulic mechanism is required for the machining. High-pressure oil operates on both sides of the piston, causing the Machine to reciprocate. This reciprocal movement propels the ram. This Machine’s primary advantage is that we can maintain a constant cutting speed.
3.2. Crank Type Shaper: The widely utilized shaping machine that performs reciprocating machining is the crank-type shaping machine.
3.3. Gear Type Shaper: The ram reciprocates in this gear-type Machine. Several gears affect the Machine’s transverse velocity.
Based on Cutting Stroke
4.1. Draw Cut Type: In a draw-cut type machine, the metal is removed while the ram is in its reverse position.
4.2. Push Cut Type: In the push cut shaping machine, metal is removed in the forward position of the ram, and it is a widely used shaping machine.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages?
Advantages:
Here are some characteristics of a shaping machine that you must observe:
- For gear teeth and other internal splines.
- For blind holes, gear tooth cutting is possible.
- Used for dovetail sliders.
- This device is ideal for achieving the smoothness of a rough surface.
- Milling and other machining processes cannot create holes with tight corners in an irregular shape. The Machine can create this type of hole.
Disadvantages:
- The machining time for shaping machines is longer. The machining process includes cutting and return strokes, so it takes longer than milling and other machines.
- There is only one type of cutting instrument.
- The cutting speed of shapers is low.
Conclusion
In this article, we have attempted to provide you with all pertinent information regarding the shaping machine. We began with fundamental definitions and then moved on to component and part descriptions. In the third section, we examined the shaper’s underlying operating principle. The remaining sections discussed the various types of shapers and their advantages, disadvantages, and applications. The sole purpose of this article was to simplify your understanding of how a shaper operates.
If you have used different types of shapers and know more about them, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section of our website, MU Creatives. In addition, if you have any questions about this topic, you can register on our website and wait for our experts to respond. Finally, I hope you’ve enjoyed this article.
