Planers

Challenges

Planers or thicknessers use a spinning blade or series of cutting tools to flatten a board to a desired thickness. Thicknessing wood can require a powerful motor and sharp tools moving quickly. Engineering a safer tool than commercial equivalents is a goal, but great care with respect to safety should be practiced around any such tool.

Parts

• Dewalt portable planer
• Shelix helical carbide cutting head - shares tooling with lathe and mill

Development targets

• Replimat planer (frame, pillow block bearings, flat steel blades sharpened on grinder with replimat linear bearing attachment, motor, V wheels, sheet stock, hardware)