Shaping and Slotting Machines

Shaping machines and slotting machines have a mounted cutting tool with a movable table so that metal or wood can be moved back and forth for shaping, slotting, or cutting. The proper selection of a shaping machine or slotting machine requires a careful analysis of product types. A metal cutting machine can create flat, metal surfaces, grooves, T-slots, dovetails and curved surfaces. A profiler follows a wooden template to cut deck and bottom curves into blanks. A pantograph uses a plug to trace the tool paths for the cutting head to shape the blank. CNC machines do not use a plug; instead, they receive the design directly from a computer. Other types of shaping machines and slotting machines are also available.