SHAPER MACHINE REDESIGN

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A shaper, a machine tool utilizing linear movement between the workpiece and a single-point cutting tool for machining linear toolpaths, produces cuts similar to those made by a lathe but in a linear rather than helical manner. In metalworking, the shaper is akin to a planer, featuring a cutter that rides on a ram moving relative to a stationary workpiece, as opposed to the workpiece's motion beneath the cutter. Mechanical cranks inside the column typically actuate the ram; however, hydraulic actuation is increasingly used. Additional axes of motion can create helical toolpaths similar to those in helical planing. Despite its primary use for machining straight, flat surfaces, a shaper's versatility allows a wide range of tasks with ingenious techniques and accessories. Examples include keyways in pulley or gear bosses, dovetail slides, internal splines, gear teeth, cutting keyways, splines, and gear teeth in blind holes, cam drums requiring 4-5 axis contouring or turn-mill cylindrical interpolation, and even avoiding wire EDM work in specific situations. The shaper can also improve the smoothness of rough surfaces by cutting internal features from a drilled or cored hole when milling or boring is not feasible due to irregular shapes with tight corners.