Fellas.
Back in my day ( Late 70ies ) our machine shop ( which serviced a paper mill ) had two full-size metal shapers which slapped and clapped in mechanical harmony all day long, I was forever using it for slotting keys, roughing out, gear teeth and it made dovetailing a doddle, it really is a very versatile machine. Now I am at the stage in my shop where I need one, well just say I desire one, but there really is a good reason to have one for it saves on expensive tooling ( end mills and all that ) .
I am in tune with the secondhand market, I attend auctions regularly ( my whole shop has been furnished this way ) and I see full size machines turn up and are sold for nearly scrap value, then there are the small amateur ones that go for silly prices. So here is my question, I know what full size machines can do but I never have had the opportunity to see what the scaled down models can do so anyone with experience I would like to know your thoughts. The information I am most interested in is are they up to snuff with being able to cope with abusive pressures it generates just by the nature of how it works, are there ranges X Y Z practical for their size and what is there feed rates like?.
Next weekend a 7 Atlas metal shaper is for sale at a local auction, its in a sweet shape and it comes with an original vice and I am thinking about buying it, so if anyone has experience with this particular model I would appreciate the heads up. I have the Atlas horizontal mill which is a remarkable little machine and I hope the shaper is just as good.
Its rare for me to machine large stuff; my largest lathe is a 12 x 36 Atlas and there has not been a job in my shop that I have not been able to accomplish so this may give you some scale for what I do
All the best Anthony.
Back in my day ( Late 70ies ) our machine shop ( which serviced a paper mill ) had two full-size metal shapers which slapped and clapped in mechanical harmony all day long, I was forever using it for slotting keys, roughing out, gear teeth and it made dovetailing a doddle, it really is a very versatile machine. Now I am at the stage in my shop where I need one, well just say I desire one, but there really is a good reason to have one for it saves on expensive tooling ( end mills and all that ) .
I am in tune with the secondhand market, I attend auctions regularly ( my whole shop has been furnished this way ) and I see full size machines turn up and are sold for nearly scrap value, then there are the small amateur ones that go for silly prices. So here is my question, I know what full size machines can do but I never have had the opportunity to see what the scaled down models can do so anyone with experience I would like to know your thoughts. The information I am most interested in is are they up to snuff with being able to cope with abusive pressures it generates just by the nature of how it works, are there ranges X Y Z practical for their size and what is there feed rates like?.
Next weekend a 7 Atlas metal shaper is for sale at a local auction, its in a sweet shape and it comes with an original vice and I am thinking about buying it, so if anyone has experience with this particular model I would appreciate the heads up. I have the Atlas horizontal mill which is a remarkable little machine and I hope the shaper is just as good.
Its rare for me to machine large stuff; my largest lathe is a 12 x 36 Atlas and there has not been a job in my shop that I have not been able to accomplish so this may give you some scale for what I do
All the best Anthony.
