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- Apr 14, 2014
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- 3,168
You probably won't find much information about using carbide on a shaper. By the time carbide became popular most shapers were heading to the scrap yard or some hobbyists basement. Remember most publications on the subject of cutting tools are geared toward the professional shop. None of the manufacturers are going to spend the time and money to develop guidelines or tooling that they will never sell.
I can't imagine how long a little AMMCO, Atlas, or South Bend shaper would last going the speeds it would take to make using carbide cost effective in a professional shop. On the other side of the coin can you imagine some big old Cincinnati or Rockford dancing across the floor going 3 times it's normal speed trying get the full benefit of what carbide tooling could do.
While it's fun to experiment, and may work in a limited production mode, I don't think you'll see carbide tooling being marketed for industrial shapers any time in the near future. Personally I'll stick with HSS. It's cheap, can be ground to almost any profile, and if I continue to use it my shaper will probably never need to be rebuilt.
I can't imagine how long a little AMMCO, Atlas, or South Bend shaper would last going the speeds it would take to make using carbide cost effective in a professional shop. On the other side of the coin can you imagine some big old Cincinnati or Rockford dancing across the floor going 3 times it's normal speed trying get the full benefit of what carbide tooling could do.
While it's fun to experiment, and may work in a limited production mode, I don't think you'll see carbide tooling being marketed for industrial shapers any time in the near future. Personally I'll stick with HSS. It's cheap, can be ground to almost any profile, and if I continue to use it my shaper will probably never need to be rebuilt.