Planning Machine

 Planning Machine

It is used to perform almost the same operations as are done on a shaper but jobs of comparatively larger size are machined on the planner. 


It is commonly used for machining large flat surfaces or machining similar jobs more in number keeping the line. The surfaces to be machined may be horizontal, vertical or inclined. Several tools can be fitted on this machine to work separately or at a time to give faster output.

CONSTRUCTION

Bed: 

It is a very large and heavy cast iron structure which is provided with cross ribs for additional strength and stiffness. In case of large planers the bed is sometimes made in two parts which are properly machined and then bolted together to form a single length of bed. 
Leveling pads or jacks are provided under the bottom of the bed to level it during its installation. The bed itself accommodates the table driving mechanisms. V-ways and sometimes flat ways are provided on the top of bed to guide and support the reciprocating table of the planer. These bed ways are straight and parallel accurately machined and scrapped. The bed ways should be constantly lubricated.

Table: 

The table or platen is also made of cast iron with an accurately machined top. It carries a box type construction provided with strengthening ribs under it in order to make it strong enough to support the heavy work over it. At its top it has longitudinal T-slots and holes to accommodate the clamping bolt and other devices. 
Under the table chip pockets are cast integral with it for collecting and removing the chips. On its side the table carries adjustable stops to reverse its motion at the end of each stroke. A common safety device i.e. large cutting tool is bolted under the table on its both sides and stops blocks are fixed on the bed on each side. 
In case of running away of the table the tool will take a deep cut into the stop block and thus absorb the whole kinetic energy of the table, bringing it to a halt without damage to machine or workman.

Housing and columns: 

These are vertical members situated on both sides in case of double housing planer and on one side only in case of an open side planer. Inside them they carry the different mechanisms for transmission of power to the upper parts of the machine. The vertical guide ways along which the cross rail slides up and down are machined at the front of columns, where side tool heads are used, they also slide vertically along the same ways.

Cross rail: 

It is a horizontal member of heavy structure which connects the two vertical housings of the machine. It provides additional rigidity to the machine. By means of elevating screws it can be moved up and down along the guide ways. 
Clamps are provided to lock the cross rail in any desired position along the columns. In order that the cross rail is moved up or down uniformly on both ends, both the elevating screws are rotated simultaneously by horizontal shaft, mounted on the top of the machine. 
Accurately finished ways are provided at the front of the cross rails for the two vertical tool heads. Inside the rail the feed rods for vertical power feed and cross feed for the tools are provided.

Tool heads: 

The planner tool heads resemble with shape tool heads in construction as well as in operation. Four tool heads can be fitted in a planer and any or all of them can be used at a time. Two tool heads can be fitted in a vertical position on the cross rails and the other two can be fitted in horizontal position on the vertical columns. 
The tool head on the cross rail can travel horizontally along the cross rail. They can also be raised or lowered moving the cross rail up and down. The side tools can move up and down along the vertical column ways. The side tools can be fed horizontally into the job or at a desired inclination. 
Both hand and power feeds can be employed for all the tool heads. The tool head can swivel on either side from its normal position and the apron can also be set at an inclination whenever needed in the same way as in shaper head. The clapper block is also hinged in similar way as in shaper so as to avoid scratching during idle stroke.

Controls: 

Various controls for governing the action of different parts of planer are systematically provided in the easy reach of the operator. The controls may be provided on a suspended pedant easily approachable by the operator. A suspended pedant usually has the controls like start, stop, automatic cut, automatic return etc. The controls are devices for quick adjustments of vertical or horizontal tool feeds, control for rapid transverse of the tool heads individually or together. These controls sometimes increases the work efficiency.