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Cutter Indexing Question

12/2/21       
gary

For shapers that have a digital height gauge: Do you always put the cutter down at the spindle base or if using spacers below the cutter do you number the spacers ( or paint different colors) in order to repeat the exact previous set-up location ? I have spacers of varying thickness so....

12/2/21       #2: Cutter Indexing Question ...
Leo G Member

I would always try to keep the cutters as low as possible on the spindle. The higher up you go the more chance for run out. Only use spacers if you have to for a specific reason would be my suggestion.

12/3/21       #3: Cutter Indexing Question ...
David R Sochar Member

Website: http://www.acornwoodworks.com

Charles C G G Schmidt Company has color coded plastic spacers that run from .005 to .060. 1-1/4"bore, they also have a chart indicating which color is what thickness.

12/3/21       #4: Cutter Indexing Question ...
Joe Calhoon

For me it depends on the cutter. Some cutters sit flat on the bottom others a small spacer usually 10 or 20mm thick. All my shapers are European so the spacers are even metric sizes. I feel no need to label the larger size spacers. All my adjustable groovers set on a 40 mm spacer as these sometimes need to go high.
I have one programmable shaper and each cutter can be set to a predetermined or relative zero setting. For example rebate cutters are set to the zero for height and depth on this shaper, Then the desired dimensions can just be typed in. Adjustable groovers are either set zero to the center of cut without shims for height or to the bottom of the of cutter.
Another shaper in my shop has electronic height readout
and mechanical fence reading, not programmable. On this one I just go to a predetermined height and do the math based on cutting circle zero of the cutter for the fence setting. One thing you can do on this non programmable shaper in the case of rebate cuts is to bring the cutters knickers level with the table and zero the height readout. Then a simple matter to go to the required height.
One thing I have found helpful for even manual shapers is a setup sheet for each cutter showing spacers under cutter, shim thickness for adjustable groovers and tenon heads, rpm, feed speed etc.
Here is a picture of a setup sheet and how I organize thin spacers.


View higher quality, full size image (2800 X 3734)


View higher quality, full size image (3539 X 2654)

12/3/21       #5: Cutter Indexing Question ...
gary

Thank you Joe; I suspected a journal would be the smart thing to do. For me it would contain which spacers ( if any ) would be under the cutter and, obviously, the digital elevation. I soon will be taking delivery of a new shaper that will have the digital fence location as well. I'm going to have to say goodbye to my Casadei F115 that I bought new 30 years ago. It has been there whilst I became, with some classically stupid mistakes, a pretty decent craftsman.


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