Thickness Planer

THICKNESS PLANER / PLANER SURFACER

A. Parts Identification:

.

B. Safe Operational Procedures:

1. The planer surfacer is designed to machine stock to exact thickness. It is equipped with a cutterhead, generally containing three knives and it is similar to a jointer except it cues the stock from the top.

2. The machine is sized by the width of the cutter head with common sizes being 12, 18 and 24 inches.

3. It is equipped with four rollers, two upper and two lower rollers. The upper rolls consist of the infeed roll,which is milled or corrugated to feed the stock into the machine and the outfeed roller to pull the stock through the machine.

4. The chip breakers, located near the cutterhead on the infeed side, keeps the knives from chipping the board as they cut into the stock. The pressure bar, located near the head on the outfeed side, keeps the stock down against the table to get an even and uniform finished surface.

5. The depth of cut is determined by the location of the lower table bed in respect to the cutterhead based on the starting thickness of the stock.

6. To plane a board to exact thickness first determine the desired thickness and starting thickness. Measure the board at its thickest point.

7. Set the planer-surfacer for the thickness of the board less the depth of cut. The recommended depth of cut for one pass is no more than 1/16" for hardwoods and no more than 1/8" for softwoods.

8. Position the stock so the knives will cut with the grain with the first or true surface being down. Never plane or surface painted or varnished stock or material containing nails or other foreign material.

9. Adjust the feed roll speed. The speed range is commonly 15 to 45 feet per minute. Softwoods may run at the upper end of the range while hardwoods should be range at the lower end of the range.

10. Turn on the machine and allow the motor to gain full speed.

11. Feed the stock in at right angles to the cutterhead.

12. Do not force the material through the machine but allow the feed roll to pull the stock through the machine.

13. If planing long material get assistance from a helper or use support stand.

14. Be sure to stand to one side of the machine and never allow hands to get close to the feed rolls or knives.

15. Run the stock through as many as necessary to reduce the desired thickness. Successive cuts should be taken off alternative faces. Remember the stock must be turned end for end so that planing will always be with the grain.

16. Pieces shorter than 12 inches should never be surfaced or planed.

17. Never plane or surface a board to less than 3/8" thick without the use of a backer board thicker and wider than the stock being planed.

18. Shut off machine and do not leave area until the machine has completely stopped.

.

C. General Safety Practices:

1. Wear eye protection at all times.

2. Do not operate machine without permission from the instructor.

3. Make sure knives are sharp and properly adjusted.

4. Make all adjustments before turning the machine on.

5. Keep floor and work area free of chips, wood scraps and other materials.

6. Make sure motor is at full RPM before feeding material into machine.

7. Always stand to one side when feeding or receiving stock.

8. Never attempt to remove more than 1/8" on softwood or 1/16" on hardwoods during one pass.

9. Do not place hands near feed rolls or knives.

10. If stock gets stuck shut machine off, lower the table bed and remove the stock.

11. Remove loose knots, nails or other defects before planing.

12. Do not plane stock shorter than 12 inches.

13. Do not plane stock to a thickness of less than 3/8" of an inch without a backer board.

14. Never talk to fellow workers while operating the machine.

15. Do not wear loose fitting clothes.

16. If board is wet, lubricate the bed with kerosene or wax.

.

Bank of Questions: (Thickness Planer)

Missing words

1. The planer-surfacer is sized by the _________ of the _________ ___________ .

2. There are _________ rollers in the machine _________ on top _________ on the bottom.

3. The function of the _________ _________ is to keep the knives from chipping the board as it is being planed.

4. The maximum recommended cut per pass for softwood is _________ of an inch.

5. The feed roll is _________ so that it can grip the board and push it through the machine.

6. Stock shorter than _________ inches should never be planed.

7. The first run depth of cut is determined by the _________ part of the stock.

8. The stock should be fed into the machine at _________ angles to the cutterhead and so the knives are cutting _________ the grain.

9. Stock thinner than _________ of an inch should never be planed unless a _________ ________ is used.

10. Successive cuts should be taken off ____________ faces

Short answer Questions

1. What should you do if your board gets stuck while planing?

2. What are the minimal dimensions that can go through the planer without a backer board?

3. Explain how to use a backer board?

4. What is the thickness planer designed for?

5. What should be done in order to ensure an even cut all the way through?(no planer snipe at the beginning or end of your piece)

Please state why each of the following represent a safety hazard.

1. Feeding stock less then 12”

2. Feeding stock covered with paint

3. Pushing stock with your hands (when getting stuck)

4. Standing behind the infeed table while operating the machine