Types of Slotters
There are mainly, the following three types of slotters :
(i) Puncher slotter,
(ii) General production slotters,(iii) Precision tool room slotters,
(iv) Keyseater.
Slotter Machines Parts –
(i) Bed or Base is up of cast iron:-
It supports column, table, ram, driving mechanism etc. The top of the bed carries horizontal ways along which the work table can traverse.
(ii) Table of a slotter holds the workpiece and is adjustable:-
in longitudinal and cross wise directions. The table can be rotated about its center. Hand wheels H, J and K are provided for rotating the table and for longitudinal and cross traverse.
(iii) Column is the vertical member:-
made up of cast iron and it houses the driving mechanism. The vertical front face of the column is accurately finished for providing ways along which the ram moves up and down.
(iv)Ram reciprocates vertically up and down:-
(iv)Ram reciprocates vertically up and down:-
At its bottom, it carries the cutting tool. It is similar to the ram of a shaper; but it is more massive an4 moves vertically, at right angle to the work table, instead of having the horizontal motion of a shaper,
(v) Cross slide can be moved parallel to the face of the column. The circular worktable is mounted on the top of the cross slide.
Slotter Operations
- Operations which can be performed on the slotter are, cutting of:
(i) Internal grooves or key ways,
(ii) Internal gears,
(iii) Recesses,
(iv) Concave, circular and convex surfaces etc
Uses of Slotters
- A slotter is a very economical machine tool when used for certain classes of work e.g.
(i) to cut slots, splines, keyways both internal and external.
(ii) for jobs such as machining internal and external gears,
(iii) for such works as machining concave, circular, semi circular and convex surfaces,
(iv) for shaping internal and external forms or profile.
(v) for internal machining of blind holes,
(vi) for machining dies and punches, and
(vii) for machining of shapes which are difficult produce on shaper.
Since a slotter works slowly, it has, in mass production, been substituted by the broaching machine.
Slotter Cutting Tools
- Slotter cutting tools may be
(i) forged from solid tool steel bar, or
(ii) in the form of tool bit held in the tool holder.
The cutting action of a slotter is vertical, rather than horizontal as in shaper or planer. When a cut is being taken on the slotter there is less tendency to shift the work from the work table than is the case with the planer and shaper. The action of cutting presses the work on the table and tends to push the tool away from the job. For this reason it is desirable to Mack the tools or tool holder of stiff section.
Owing to the vertical cutting action of a slotter tool, the cutting edge is formed on the end of the cutting tool, so that it is placed under compression and will cut when pushed endwise. The cutting face that turns the shaving is on the end of the tool.
Types of Slotter Tools
A typical set of slotter cutting tools includes the following:
(a) Roughing
(b) Finishing
(c) Right hand
(d) Left hand
(e) Keyway
(f) Scriber,
The pointed scriber is a much used tool for cylindrical work set ups.
