Planers

From
Project: Planers
Designers: Timothy Schmidt
Tools: Wrenches
Parts: Frames, Nuts, Bolts, Plates, End caps
Techniques: Shelf joints, Tri joints

Introduction

A thickness planer (also known in the UK and Australia as a thicknesser or in North America as a planer) is a woodworking machine to trim boards to a consistent thickness throughout their length and flat on both surfaces.

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.

Approaches

Parts

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

Interoperability

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)

References