11 Parts of the Planer
This video is specific to the model at BCIT, but the parts, operation, and safety rules are the same. Note the minimum length that can be safely machined depends on the model of planer.
The planer is more complex than the jointer in terms of parts, but easier to use once the mechanics are understood. Unlike the jointer and table saw, the planer has a mechanism that self feeds the work though the machine, increasing its complexity.
Cutterhead
The thickness planer cutterhead and tooling is nearly identical in design to the jointer cutterhead. It may have straight knives, disposable, or carbide insert tooling. The size of the planer is denoted by the length of the cutterhead. Another measure of planer capacity is the maximum height above the table the cutterhead can travel. This determines the maximum thickness of stock that can be fed through the machine.
Infeed rollers
The infeed rollers are powered to grip and push the material into the machine while keeping it tight to the table. They are spring loaded to allow the material to pass underneath. The tension on the rollers is adjustable.
On some machines, the feed rate can be adjusted by changing the RPM of the rollers. There are three types of infeed rollers, all perform differently.
Smooth
Smooth rollers with a neoprene covering are found on small portable planers and some light industrial planers. Because they are smooth, they grip the wood without leaving any marks or defects in the surface. Planers with smooth infeed rollers excel at taking light finishing cuts. The infeed roller is a single cylinder that is parallel to the machine table, which can have some disadvantages when feeding multiple parts of different thicknesses at the same time. The one piece roller tends to feed the thicker stock while thinner pieces stall in the machine from lack of down and feed pressure.
Serrated
Serrated infeed rollers are commonly found on larger planers. They have grooves or serrations machined into the steel cylinder to grip and feed the material through the cutterhead. Machines with serrated infeed rollers are capable of taking heavier passes, and at higher feed rates. However, the serrations will leave marks on the surface if the depth of cut is less than the bite of the serrations. If the infeed roller is leaving serrations at a moderate depth of cut, the tension may be too high and can be adjusted.
Segmented
On larger industrial planers, the serrated infeed roller is broken up into smaller sections, or segments. Each segment is spring loaded and can move up and down independently. This allows material of different thicknesses to be planed at the same time without the tendency of the thinner pieces to become stalled in the machine. It is more efficient as stock of varying thicknesses can be fed at the same time.
Outfeed rollers
The outfeed rollers are also powered to help feed the stock and exit it from the planer while keeping it tight to the machine table. Outfeed rollers are al