Thickness Planer

Tools
Model	CWI Scorpion 5HP Helical Thickness Planer
Room	CNC Woodworking Room
Work envelope/max capacity	20″ max width;
Link to manual
Related tools	;
Trainer(s)	Paolo Riva
Training Sessions	Woodworking Room Training;
Knowledge keeper(s)
Training document(s)
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Safe Work Procedure
Consumables
Software	this machine has no software listed
Equipment type	tool

CNC Woodworking Room Precautions apply

You will be working in the CNC Woodworking Room . In order to keep safe from hazards created by you or other workers using any of the tools in this room, the following precautions apply in addition to any other precautions: The following is a general overview of precautions for the CNC Woodworking Room. Please consult training documents and SWPs for more specific information as there is a lot that can go wrong with the CNC equipment.

Safety

DRAFT: Do not operate CNC machinery unattended

edit this at template:Do not run CNC tools unattended

Do not operate CNC machinery unattended. A camera feed while you are in another room does not qualify as attending the tool.
The law (see 16.13) says that we can not leave a machine unattended unless the machine or part has been (a) immobilized and secured against movement; or (b) enclosed by a safeguard to prevent access by any other worker to the machine or part.
- The Shopbots themselves are not enclosed. The CNC Woodworking Room contains tools in addition to the shopbots, and those tools may be used by other workers. This means we must not run our CNC machinery unattended.
And here is some anecdotal evidence on top of it
We have actually had at least 2 fires on CNC equipment at the fablab

for all	Safety1 Flagging as contentious safety concern.

other safety concerns

Fire: always use appropriate feeds and speeds, use appropriate tools for the job, always watch the CNC so you can respond quickly
Dust (wear min. N95)
Noise - wear hearing protection. Note that it can be hard to tell if the tool has stopped when you're wearing hearing protection.
Projectiles: tools and workpieces can shatter. Use appropriate feeds and speeds, make sure the tool and spindle won't crash into the workpiece, fixtures/clamps. Clean the tool holder with compressed air so the tool doesn't slip.

Housekeeping

The CNC equipment generates lots of dust. Please clean the floor and equipment thoroughly
Fire code prohibits storing wood stock in the CNC room (fixtures and spoilboards are OK). Store fixtures and spoilboards on the red cart - make sure it is labelled with your name and phone number or it may be thrown out.
Overfilled dust collectors can cause fires. Empty the Cyclone dust collector after every job. Empty the main dust collector when the dust is halfway up the viewing window (around 1 garbage bag worth).
Turn off the vacuum and dust collector when you're done.
Turn off the room exhaust if you are the last one in the room.

Workholding

Do not glue, nail or screw into the main spoilboard.
Don't cut more than 1/16" into the main spoilboard - do a small test piece with a secondary spoilboard if required.
- Rule of thumb: Add 0.01" to your depth of cut when cutting all the way through - this should go through the material while minimally cutting into the spoilboard
- Always measure your stock with calipers (don't rely on nominal thickness or tape measures)
Vacuum system may not work with pieces smaller than 24" x 48"

edit these instructions at Instructions:Thickness Planer

Purpose

The thickness planer fulfills two functions:

creating a surface parallel to a reference surface
taking a board down to a thinner thickness

The thickness planer relies on a flat reference surface on the workpiece. If the reference surface is not flat, the opposite side will not be flat either. Most users will use the jointer to set the reference surface(s) before planing.

Safety

Do:

Stand to one side when feeding the material through the planer
Use a sled when cutting thin materials

Do not:

Cut pieces thinner than 0.25” without a sled
Cut across the grain or with end grain facing up

Emergency Stop

The planer can be stopped with the emergency stop on the control panel.

Operating Procedure

Check the cut height. The planer can take up to ⅜” depth of cut, however lighter cuts will give better results. The height gauge is not reliable; aim to cut oversized and sneak up on the cut.
- Use the black indicator in the middle of the top edge of the feed-in as a guide to how thick of a piece you can feed through.
- If your workpiece is thicker at one end, plan to feed that end through first and expect to pull the item through from the other side once the planer gets to the thinner portion; if you feed it thin side first it can get stuck if it is too thick to get through the feed-in.
With the dust collector on, turn the grey locking ring and press the On button.
Verify the position of the speed lever. If the speed lever is set between positions, the feed rollers will not move.
Carefully feed the material through the planer.

Shutdown and Housekeeping

Remove all workpieces and sleds
Wipe down exterior with a brush (table, handles)
Removed dust collector hose, check for debris/clogs, and replace
Check for trapped debris inside the planer (shine a flashlight inside to check)