Types of planer machine and their specification

The effectiveness of planer machines has caused the availability of various types. There is some planer machine that are particularly designed for specific operations in order to offer effectiveness and accuracy to the job.

Today we’ll be looking at the different types of planer machines and their specification.

Planer machine types:

The following stated below represent the various types of planer machines:

Double housing planer machine:

This is one of the most common types of planer machines used in most workshops. It comprises a long heavy base having an accurately machined guideway that allows a table to reciprocate on it. The length is twice the length of the table. There are two vertical housings mounted close to the middle of the bed one on each side, which are connected at the top by a cross member.

Read: Everything you need to know about a planer machine

In the horizontal cross rail, two tool heads slide over the vertical faces of the housings. These tool heads can be operated with power or by hand in the crosswise or vertical direction in order to give a feed. Additionally, there are two other tool heads placed on the vertical face of the housing, it can move in a vertical and horizontal direction to offer the feed.  Driving this planer table, a mechanical or hydraulic device may be used.

Open side planer machine:

These types of planer machines have only one housing on one side of the base. Unlike the double housing that enables two, three tool heads can be featured in this machine and a single housing takes up the entire. however, it is rigid and robust to resist the forces.

The cross rail carries the tool head which can move vertically and horizontally and it can slide vertically along the guideways of the housing. Another tool head is fitted on the housing and it is also in the same direction as the other.

Pit planer machine:

A pit type of planer machine has a massive construction in which the table is kept in a pit in a stationary position. The column that carries the cross rail reciprocates on a horizontal rail that is on both sides of the table.

The table of this machine is designed to feature very heavy work as it is made level with the floor. This helps heavy work to be easily loaded. The cross rail is carrying two tool heads and can be moved both vertically and horizontally to make a cut. A driving screw is used in this machine to drive the column by means of a motor.

Edge planer machine:

An edge planer is known as a plate planer. It is used for squaring and beveling the edges of steel plates that are used in shipbuilding works and for different pressure vessels. The table that carries the workpiece remains stationary and the work is clamped by air-operated clamps. The tool head that is mounted on the carriage moves towards two horizontal guideways on a base front. There is a space for the operator on the carriage in order to move along with it. The tool on the carriage reciprocates past the edge of the plate.

Read more:  The major parts of a planer machine and their functions

Divided table planer machine:

This machine consists of two tables on the bed that can reciprocate separately or together. This feature makes operation must faster, making it suitable for mass production work where identical work is to be performed. This is achieved by loading the work on one of the tables and the other reciprocates past the cutting tool for the finishing work. The table stopped after the work is done and removed by shifting the table to the end.

For heavy-duty and large jobs, the two tables will be clamped together and the reciprocating movement occurs under the tool for machining.

Specification of planer machines:

A planer machine can be specified by the following:

• The height from the top of the table to the cross rail in its utmost position.
• Distance between two housings.
• The maximum length of table travel.

Read more: The working of a planer machine and operations performed on it

Other specifications of a planer machine may include:

• A number of feeds.
• The number of speeds.
• Length of the table.
• Length of bed.
• Floor space requirement.
• Power input.
• Net weight of the machine.
• Method of driving table (geared or hydraulic).

that’s it for this article, “Types of planer machine and their specification”. I hope you enjoyed the reading, if so, kindly comment and share. thank!