New to me Ammco 6" Metal shaper

[gerritv]

Manually turning is done by handwheel on the final pulley shaft. RTFM

 

[Susquatch]

Surely you are not suggesting that you don't have a way to operate your shaper manually?

Sort of Mickey. I don't have a crank. I have to turn the pulley or pull on a belt manually.

Yes, I am aware of the need to check the stroke before turning on the power.

My comment in my earlier post was just acknowledging what a PIA pulling belts and turning pulleys is. My AMMCO has no crank, so I'm thinking of adding a hand crank to the drive pulley so it can be more easily turned by hand.

 

[trevj]

Surely you are not suggesting that you don't have a way to operate your shaper manually? A shaper MUST have a way to run through a complete cycle manually (slowly and carefully) before you apply power whenever you do a new set up. Otherwise you at least may not have the tool travel and stroke length correctly set, and worse, may run the tool head back into the column, causing great weeping and gnashing of teeth. Reading backwards, I see someone suggested pulling on the belt. No, you need a proper crank handle. More often than not on a small shaper this will also fit the Ram clamp and stroke positioner.

That's exactly why the wheel on the end of the second stage driven pulleys (that's the knob that they built the belt Guard around, so as to leave it accessible!), is knurled, so you can get a good grip to cycle the shaper through it's stroke, before you apply power and break something more expensive than your heart! LOL!

 

[trevj]

Always a possibility. But one I'd like to avoid.



Good eye! I don't think I could have noticed that from a photo. But when you are looking at it in person, it's rather obvious. I noticed that when I first held it in place. To hit the 4 pads as much as possible, I have to pull the pulley inward. It looks like there is enough room on the shaft to hit the drive pulley. I have not looked yet, but I might also be able to push the drive pulley out a bit too. Last, but not least, the motor pulley can be reversed. Lots of ways to get there.

Since there are only 3 speeds, I am also thinking about a small 3 phase motor and a cheaper VFD. Or maybe a DC motor and speed control.



The motor I have is reversable.

I might also mount a drive crank so I can operate it manually.

If the pulley isn't too munged up, you may be able to simply remove and replace it, or just relocate it. Small drive pulleys, are cheap as chips!

Reversible is good! But checking if it needs reversing 'before' you bolt it up, is even better!

I don't think you are really going to get value out of 3 Phase, and a VFD. Shapers is a slow motion (and quite relaxing to watch run!) process, and it really isn't a place where having infinite control over stroke speed, is any real benefit

 

[mickeyf]

Shapers is a slow motion

Actually shapers are more often than not run too slowly. If you actually calculate the material cutting speed and FPM etc, they can be quite ...um, brisk. At least if they are seriously earning their keep in a for-profit-not-hobby shop.