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Shaper Vs Planer Vs Slotting Machine.

The slotting machine (slotter) is a reciprocating type of machine tool similar to a shaper or a planer machine. It may be considered as a vertical shaper. The main difference between a slotter and a shaper is the direction of the cutting action.
A planer is a type of metalworking machine tool that uses the linear relative motion between the workpiece and a single-point cutting tool to cut the workpiece. A planer is similar to a shaper, but larger, and with workpiece moving, whereas in a shaper the cutting tool moves.
The slotting machine is quite identical to the Shaper machine. The only difference lies in the cutting mechanism, ie horizontal and vertical. In slotting machine works with holding ram in the vertical axis and cutting action in downwards stroke only. Rams are either crank driven or hydraulic driven. It works for small industries.
A shaper machine is a machine tool that uses linear relative motion in its cutting action on the workpiece. Cutting takes place during forwarding stroke of ram and backward stroke comes back idle, only restores the position of ram.

Shaping Machine

The work is held stationary and the tool on the ram is moved back and forth across the work.
Used for shaping much smaller jobs
It is a light machine.
It can employ light cuts and finer feed.
Uses one cutting tool at a time.
Driven using quick- return link mechanism.
It is less rigid and less robust.

The tool is stationary and the workpiece on the table travels back and forth under the tool.
Meant for much larger jobs. Jobs as large as 6 meters wide and twice as long can be machined.
It is a heavy-duty machine.
It can employ heavier cuts and coarse feed.
Several tools can cut simultaneously.
The drive on the planer table is either by gears or by hydraulic means.
Better rigidity that give more accuracy on machined surfaces.

The work is held stationary and the tool on the ram is moved up and down across the work.
It is used for making slots in smaller jobs.
Slotting is a light machine.
It can employ light cuts and finer feed.
Shaper uses one cutting tool at a time.
The rams are either crank-driven or hydraulically driven.
It is less rigid and less robust.

Sr. No.	Shaper	Planer	Slotter
1.	It can use light cuts and finer feed.	It can use heavier cuts and coarse feed.	It can use light cuts and improved feed.
2.	Use for shaping greatly smaller jobs	Inevitable for much bigger jobs. Jobs as big like 6 meter wise and twice as long can be machined.	It use for make shots in smaller jobs.
3.	Work is held at a stop and the tool on the ram is moved back with forth across the work.	The tool is fixed and the workpiece on the table movements back and forth under the tool.	The job is held at a stop and the tool on the ram is moved up and down across the work.
4.	Driven use quick-return link mechanism.	Drive on the planer table is too by gear or by hydraulic means.	The rams are also crank-driven or hydraulically driven.
5.	Uses single cutting tool at a time.	Some tools can cut at the same time.	Shaper uses single cutting tool at a time.
6.	It is fewer rigid and fewer robust.	Enhanced rigidity that gives more precision on machined surfaces.	It is fewer rigid and fewer robust.
7.	It is a light machine.	It is a heavyweight machine.	It is a light machine.