Differences between Shaper and Planer Machines

Comparison between shaper and planer machines is given below in the tabular form.

S.no	Shaper	Planer
1	In a shaper machine work is held stationary and the cutting tool on the ram is moved back and forth across the work.	In a planar machine, the tool is stationary and work piece travels back and forth under the tool.
2	Shaper can be used for shaping much smaller jobs.	A planer is meant for larger jobs than can be undertaken on a shaper. Jobs as large as 6 meter wide and twice as long can be machined on a planer.
3	A shaper is a light machine.	A planer is a heavy duty machine.
4	Shaper can employ light cuts and finer feed.	Planer can employ heavier cuts and coarse feed.
5	Shaper uses one cutting tool at a time.	Planer uses several tools to cut simultaneously.
6	The shaper is driven using quick return mechanism.	The drive on the planer table is either by gears or by hydraulic means.
7	It is less rigid and less robust.	Due to better rigidity of planer machine, compared to that of a shaper, planer can give more accuracy on machined surfaces.

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