HowTo? Angle Plate on a Shaper

[Tony]

There are no dumb questions right?

One of the first things I'd like to try to make (because I think
it'll be easy and useful) is a large angle plate.

I'd like to face all sides and edges.

If I were doing this on a mill, I'd face each face or edge then
reorient using an indicator.

I'm wondering if there's a better way to do it on the shaper
give its geometry.

I think I could face two perpendicular faces and probably two
edges in one setup -- if I could figure out a way to hold it.

Any tips?

Thanks

[dp]

Square the work on the shaper then cut most of it on a band saw and finish it on the shaper. I doubt there is much advantage in time to trying to cut a vertical and horizontal face in one setup, but certainly an edge and a face can be easily done.

[mike4]

If you have the correct tool holder for your shaper horizontal and vertical flats can be cut in one setup.
Pick the flattest side and put that onto the table cut a vertical side from table to top of your plate .
Thats assuming that you have mounted the plate on one edge of your table to allow the full face to be machined , then the inside face and most of horizontal can be machined without moving any thing other than a cutter.

To complete the plate mount it on the surface you have just machined and do what is left .

Usually four setups will complete an angle plate ,including cutting inside areas .
Michael

[The Artful Bodger]

I suppose it depends on what you are starting with?

I made a make-do angle plate from a piece of thick angle plate. I started by fixing the piece in my shaper vice with one face upwards and the other in the vice, I had to pack under the horizontal piece to support it.

In that first position I was able to do one face surface and two ends. Then I took it out of the vice and clamped the new face to the table with a sacrificial plate in between. From there I could do the second face and two more ends. Basic angle plate done!

The problem is that the accuracy of the angle plate depends entirely on the accuracy of setting the vertical slide on the shaper, needless to say mine has a very slight error.

[Richard Wilson]

I suppose it depends on what you are starting with?

I made a make-do angle plate from a piece of thick angle plate. I started by fixing the piece in my shaper vice with one face upwards and the other in the vice, I had to pack under the horizontal piece to support it.

In that first position I was able to do one face surface and two ends. Then I took it out of the vice and clamped the new face to the table with a sacrificial plate in between. From there I could do the second face and two more ends. Basic angle plate done!

The problem is that the accuracy of the angle plate depends entirely on the accuracy of setting the vertical slide on the shaper, needless to say mine has a very slight error.

You can get around this last problem if you can borrow another angle plate. Having done the first face, bolt the borrowed angle plate to the table and the work in progress to the vertical face. Put a toolmakers jack under the horizontal face to stop deflection, then machine the second face.

Alternatively, if your shaper has a box table, bolt your work to the side of the box, or the front of the box, then machine the top face

Some very small hand shapers had a table which was an angle plate. All you have to do with one of these is remove the table, and bolt your work to the face. Repeat as necessary.

Richard

[The Artful Bodger]

Some very small hand shapers had a table which was an angle plate. All you have to do with one of these is remove the table, and bolt your work to the face. Repeat as necessary.

Richard

Dang me Richarfd! I could do exactly that on my little Adept 2 shaper! Now I can trim up that angle plate! Thanks.

[Rosco-P]

One of the first things I'd like to try to make (because I think
it'll be easy and useful) is a large angle plate.
Thanks

You need to define "large" for starters. 6x12", 12x12" or larger? A logical starting point for large plate might be a weldment or a rough casting. Certainly don't want to rough it out of a solid block.

[Tony]

I'm thinking 8x8x10long .. 5/8" thick or thereabouts. I have a piece
of sharp-cornered angle iron about that size (though now I can't find it!).

[drof34]

Here are a couple that I made back in the 70's.

[Tony]

I could put my whole shop on that.