Planers

Category: Machine Shop

Summary: Planing large surfaces.

Planers are machine tools used primarily to produce flat surfaces on workpieces, typically metal. They operate by moving the workpiece back and forth under a stationary cutting tool.

Function: Planers are designed for:

    * Creating large, flat surfaces.

    * Machining long workpieces.

    * Producing surfaces that are parallel to each other.

Mechanism: The workpiece is clamped to a table that moves horizontally, while a single-point cutting tool is mounted on a toolhead that can be adjusted for depth of cut.

Characteristics: Planers are known for:

    * Their ability to machine large workpieces.

    * Producing very flat and accurate surfaces.

    * Relatively slow cutting speeds compared to milling machines.

   While less common in modern high-volume production due to the prevalence of milling machines, planers still find use in machining large or specialized parts where flatness and accuracy are paramount.