Material and Processes Technology



Material and Processes Technology Planer

Objective: The student will explain and demonstrate the proper and safe operation of the planer. The student will pass both a written and practicum safety test with a score of 100%.

Introduction

Once wood has been jointed, you should have a face and an edge that are flat, smooth and square to each other. The next step is to surface the stock. The planer, also called a surfacer, is the tool that you use. They are used to cut boards to a desired thickness or to surface the wood. They are not used for any other purpose.

Like jointers, planers have a rotating cutterhead. The cutterhead contains three knives. Unlike jointers, planers cut from the top rather than the bottom. This means that the machine pulls the stock through the cut.

Figure 1 shows how the planer works. The infeed rolls feed the stock into the cutterhead. They feed the stock at a steady rate. Notice that the top roll is corrugated. This gives the roll a better grip on the stock. The chip breaker prevents kickbacks and chipping. The pressure bar holds the stock down as it comes through the cut. The stock then passes between the two outfeed rolls. These rolls continue the self-feeding process.

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Figure 1.

Planers are sized by the widest, thickest board the machine can surface. Our planer is a 15”x 6” model.

Operation and Safe Use of the Planer

Do not plane warped stock until one side has been surfaced flat on the jointer. The stock must lie flat on the bed of the planer. The shortest stock that you may plane is 12” in length and no thinner than ½”. If you need to plane thinner than ½”, the teacher will assist you by using a backing board. A backing board that is thicker, wider and longer than the stock being plane.

When feeding stock into the machine, release the stock when the infeed rolls take hold of it. You must keep your hands at least 6” from the mouth of the planer. Keep your fingers away from the underside of the board as it is feed through the planer. This will prevent fingers from being pinched between the board and tables. Always stand to one side of the planer when feeding stock into the machine. This will prevent injury in case of kickback. Never look into the planer when it is running.

Never wear gloves when using the planer. Remove all jewelry and secure any loose clothing. In most cases, you should be the only person in the safety zone. If a long board needs to be planed, have another student assist you and serve as the tail-off person.

Never plane stock of varying thickness at the same time. The thinner stock could be thrown back with great force.

Before you begin operating the planer, you will need to check and make several adjustments:

• Measure the thickness of the board at its thickest point and adjust the thickness to about 1/16” less than the measured thickness. The maximum cut in any one pass is 1/16”.

• Stock that is warped can not be straightened on the thickness planer. One surface must first be surfaced on the jointer.

• Placed the jointed surfaced face-down on the infeed bed with the board being fed with the grain, never across the grain.

• Make sure that the dust collector is connected and on before using the planer.

• Turn the machine on. Push the board into the planer. If it should get started at a slight angle, a quick shove will straighten it.

• When the major portion of the board has passed through the machine, walk around to the back and hold it as it comes through. Remember to use a tail-off person for long stock.

• After the first cut has been made, readjust the planer 1/16” or less and make a second cut. Continue in this manner, alternating sides until the stock is at the desired thickness. This will prevent the board from warping due to stresses in the board. If several pieces are to be surfaced, surface one side of each first.

• If the board being surfaced is made up of glued sections, always scrape the dried glue from the joints. If the glue is not removed, it will chip the blades and adhere to the rollers causing irregularities in the finished surface of the board.

• Do not plane stock shorter than 12”.

• If a board should become stuck, take the following steps:

Turn off the planer, waiting for the machine to stop.

Put the feed rate control in to the neutral position.

Lower the table.

Remove the stock.

Determine the reason for the board getting stuck before resuming the planning process.

Parts of a Planer

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Bed

Locking Knob

Infeed Side

Depth Scale

Outfeed Side

Feed Speed Control

Elevating Handwheel

On/Off Switch

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