Slotter Machine Parts, 4 Types, & Mechanisms, Pros & Cons [PDF]

In this article, we shall learn about the types, parts, mechanisms, and applications of the Slotter Machine. We have provided a PDF for the same.

Slotter Machine History
Photo By ALAMY

A slotter machine is a production machine. This is a very old type of machine and was invented by BRUNEL. The slotting machine is similar to a vertical shaper. The ram carrying the slotting tool reciprocates in a vertical guideway of the machine. The Slotting Machine can manufacture flat and contour surfaces, and slots. and internal grooves.

Slotter Machine Definition

A slotter machine is defined as a machine tool used for removing unwanted material chips from the workpiece to make splines, grooves, and more. Here the Ram (Tool attached) moves reciprocating, whereas In shaper the ram moves horizontally. This is a reciprocating type of Machine tool. (The Reciprocating type of Machine tools are Shaper, Planer, and Slotter Machine).

Slotter Machine
Photo By Yogi Machine Tools

We also called this machine a vertical shaper machine. It is known mostly for machining internal surfaces. The tool we use in this is a Single Point cutting Tool which is made up of High-Speed Steel.

Schematic Diagram of Slotter Machine

Slotter Machine Parts

A slotter machine consists of the following parts

  • Base
  • Column
  • Saddle
  • Cross-slide
  • Rotating or Circular table
  • Ram and tool head
  • Ram drive
  • Feed drive

Base

The base should be sufficiently rigid to take up the entire load of the machine. It has to take all the load (dynamic and Impact loading) while operating. The guideways perpendicular to the column face should be accurately finished to move the saddle easily and accurately. It is made of Cast Iron.

Column

The right vertical cast integral rigid part of the base is the column which serves as the housing for the driving mechanism of the ram, which reciprocates on its front vertical face. It also houses the feeding mechanism of the table.

Saddle

The saddle moves on guideways on the base to provide a longitudinal feed of the table, i.e. in a perpendicular direction to the front vertical face of the column. It also provides guideways on its top face, perpendicular to the guideways on the base for the cross-slide. The longitudinal feed may be given either manually or by power.

Cross-Slide

Cross-slide is mounted on the guideways of the saddle and can provide cross-feeding of the table. It holds the circular table. It provides the arrangement of cross-feeding either manually or by power.

Circular table or Rotating Table

A circular table or Rotating table can rotate on a cross-slide to provide circular feeding of the work. It can hold the work by clamping, using Jigs and Fixtures, fixing vice, etc. It has the arrangement of rotary feeding either by hand or by power. On some machines, the table may be graduated in degrees for indexing.

Ram and Tool Head

Ram slides on the guideways mounted on the front vertical face of the column. Ram provides a slot for changing the position of the stroke. Ram carries the tool, which is mounted at the bottom–end of the tool head.

Ram Drive

Ram Drive provides the circular motion of the motor to the reciprocating motion of the ram in a vertical plane. It also provides the arrangement of slower speed during the cutting or forward stroke and greater speed during the return stroke to reduce idle time.

Feed Drive

It provides the arrangement of longitudinal and cross–feed of the table either by power or manually. It also provides the arrangement of circular or rotary feeding of the table on a vertical axis. Intermittent feeding of the table is supplied at the beginning of each cutting or forward stroke of the ram.

Kinematic System of Slotter Machine
Kinematic System of Slotter Machine

Slotter Machine Mechanism

  • Hydraulic Drive (Greater speed Flexibility, Smoother operation, Stroke length can be adjusted )
  • Variable Speed Motor Drive (In this Multi-speed arrangement)

Hydraulic Drive

A speed motor drives a hydraulic pump that delivers oil at a constant pressure to the line. A regulating valve admits oil under pressure to each end of the piston alternately. At the same time allowing oil from the opposite end of the piston to return to the reservoir. The piston is pushed by the oil and is connected to the ram by a piston rod, which pushes the ram carrying the tool.

Hydraulic drive Slotter Machine
Photo By Zaozhuang Tok Machinery slotter machine hydraulic

The admission of oil to each end of the piston, alternately, is accomplished with the help of trip dogs and pilot valves. As the ram moves and completes its stroke (Forward and Return) a trip dog will trip the pilot valve which operates the regulating valve. The regulating valve will admit the oil to the other side of the piston and the motion of the ram will get reversed. The length of the ram stroke will depend upon the position of the trip dogs. The length of the ram stroke can be changed by unclamping and moving the trip dogs to the desired position.

Variable Speed Motor Drive

In Variable Speed Motor Drive type of slotter, speed is obtained by different gears present in the gearbox and the shaft rotates with the help of an electrical motor. It is used in modern large slotting machines.

vertical drive slotter machine
Photo By IndiaMart

Working Principle of Slotter Machine

The Slotter machine operates similarly to the shaper machine, with the primary distinction being that the Slotter machine operates in a vertical orientation while the shaper machine operates horizontally. The ram of the Slotter machine is connected to the crank, which is in turn connected to the gears. Adjusting the gear speed alters the rotation of the crank, causing the ram to move up and down.

Slotter Machine Working
Photo By Shandong Luzhong Machine Tool

To begin the operation, the workpiece is placed on the work table and positioned adjacent to the ram, which is then secured in place. The machine is powered on, and the crank’s rotation causes the ram to move up and down. The cutting stroke occurs during the downward motion of the ram, with no cutting occurring during the upward return stroke. To cut in various sections, the work table must be manually fed according to the desired specifications.

Various Work holding devices to which the workpiece is attached or fixed are as follows

  • T bolts and Step block
  • Clamps
  • Vice
  • Parallel strips
  • Chuck
  • Special fixtures for holding
  • Adjustable block

Slotter Machine Operations

  • Internal and external Flat surface Machining.
  • The internal recess of circular, semi-circular, concave, and convex surfaces.
  • Internal and External Circular Surfaces Machining.
  • Blind Holes Internal Machining.
  • For shaping internal and external forms or profiles.
  • The machine operates vertically, Horizontally, and at Some angle too (Inclined Surfaces).
  • Irregular surface machining.
  • Machining operation of Dies and Punches.
  • The operation is like slots, grooves, splines, and keyways for both internal and external surfaces.
  • Internal and external gear teeth machining.
Machining Operations of a Slotter Machine
Machining Operations of a Slotter Machine

Important Terminology

Cutting speed

  • The cutting speed is defined as the rate at which the work moves concerning the tool.
  • This is expressed in RPM (Revolution per minute).

Depth of cut

  • The depth of cut is defined as the distance measured between the machined surface and the un-machined surface is called depth of cut.
  • It is expressed in mm.

Feed

  • The feed is defined as the distance the tool travels during 1 revolution of the parts.
  • These three terms give the details of surface finish, power requirements, and material removal rate.

Types of Slotter Machines

Slotter Machines can be categorized into 4-types which are as follows

  • Punch Slotter
  • Precision Toolroom slotter
  • Production Slotter
  • Special Purpose Slotter Machine
Types of Slotter Machine
Photo By TurboSquid

Punch Slotter

  • This is a heavy and rigid type of machine.
  • This machine is designed for the removal of a large amount of metal from forged or cast material.
  • The length of the puncher slotter is large it may be as long as 1800 to 2000 mm.
How does Punch Slotter work

The ram is usually driven by a spiral pinion meshing with the rack teeth cut on the underside of the ram. The pinion is driven by a variable speed reversible electric motor similar to that of a planer machine. The Feed is controlled by electrical gear.

Precision Toolroom Slotter

  • The tool room slotter works with good machine speed and produces an accurate Surface Texture.

Production Slotter

  • This type of slotter is used for machining tapered jobs by ram swivel to 10 to 30 degrees.

Special Purpose Slotter Machine

  • This type of slotter machine offers a high volume of production at a low cost, also it gives greater accuracy too.
  • Keyseater is one of the special purposes of slotter machines.
  • It is used for machining keys on the wheel and gear hub.
slotter Machine
Photo By Shandong Luzhong Machine Tool

Slotter Machine Specification

The specifications of a Slotter Machine depend on the several factors which are as follows

  • Power Input
  • Type of drive
  • Maximum table drive
  • The maximum length of the ram stroke
  • Number of speed
  • Number of feed
  • Table feed
  • Floor space required
  • The diameter of the Work Table in MM
  • kW of motor

Slotter Machine Application

  • It is used for cutting Slots, Spline, and Keyways, both internal and external.
  • It is also used for the Machining of internal and external gears.
  • Internal machining of blind holes.
  • It is used for light cuts.
Applications of Slotter Machine
Photo By Daljit Machines

Advantages of Slotter Machine

  • This is a light machine.
  • The tool used here is a single-point cutting tool.
  • Low-cost machine.
  • Low Maintenance.
  • Accurate surface finish.
  • Machine efficiency is higher.
Slotter Machine
Photo By BEMATO

Disadvantages of Slotter Machine

  • Rigid in construction.
  • Skilled workers are required to operate.

Let’s see a Keyway Slotting Operation

Requirements are as follows

  • A slotting machine.
  • Fixture and clamping screw for holding the job.
  • Scriber or Marking Block
  • Single point slotting tool.
  • Slip gauge.

The procedure is as follows

  • Marking the keyway with the help of a scriber or marking block.
  • Then clamp the workpiece with the help of a fixture or clamps or vice
  • Clamp the keyway tool on the tool holder.
  • Match the marking portion with the center of the tool.
  • Define the length and position of the strokes.
  • Start the machine and give feed gradually by hand.
  • Measure the keyway with the help of a slip gauge.
  • Continue the operation until the keyway is finished.
key-way slotting operation
Photo by Adobe Stock

video on Vertical Slotting

Differences between the Shaper Machine, Planner Machine, and Slotter Machine

SHAPERPLANERSLOTTER
The tool reciprocates in a horizontal axis and job feeds in intermittent translatory motion.Job reciprocates in a horizontal axis and the tool feeds in intermittent translatory motion.Tool reciprocates in the vertical axis and job feeds in intermittent translatory motion.
Low machining accuracy.High machining accuracy.Low machining accuracy.
Power consumption is low.Power consumption is High.Same as a shaper, The rate of power consumption is low.
Lighter in construction and less rigid.Heavier in construction and more rigid.Lighter in construction but more rigid than a vertical shaper.
It Requires a Large Floor Space.It is intended for large Jobs.It is also intended for small Jobs.
It Requires Less Floor Space.Here one tool is used for machining.It also Requires Less Floor Space.
In Shaper, The tool is moving and the work is Stationary.The tool is Stationary and the work is moving.Same as the shaper, The tool is moving and the work is Stationary.
Usually, only one tool is used on a shaper.Multiple tooling permits the machining of more than one surface at a time.Here also one tool is used for machining.
It can machine only one surface at a time.It can machine three surfaces at a time.Same as a shaper.
The cost of the machine is Low.The cost of the machine is high.The cost of the machine is slightly less than the shaper.

FAQ

What Is The Slotter Machine?

Slotter machine is defined as a machine tool uses for removing unwanted material chips from the workpiece to make splines, grooves and more. Here the Ram (Tool attached) moves reciprocating, whereas In shaper the ram moves horizontally.

How Is A Slotting Machine Specified?

A Slotter Machine can be specified as follows

  • The maximum length of stroke of the ram.
  • The diameter of the table.
  • Maximum vertical adjustment of the ram.
  • Floor space required in a square meter.
  • The maximum longitudinal and cross travel of the table.

Which Mechanism Is Used In A Slotting Machine?

  • Hydraulic Drive (Greater speed Flexibility, Smoother operation, Stroke length can be adjusted )
  • Variable Speed Motor Drive (In this Multi-speed arrangement)

What Are The Parts Of A Slotting Machine?

A slotter machine consists of these following parts

  • Base
  • Column
  • Saddle
  • Cross-slide
  • Rotating or Circular table
  • Ram and tool head
  • Ram drive
  • Feed drive

How Many Types Of Slotter Machines Are There?

Slotter Machines are can be categorized in these 4-types which are as follows

  • Punch Slotter
  • Precision Toolroom slotter
  • Production Slotter and
  • Special Purpose Slotter Machine

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Slotter machine is an essential tool in the manufacturing industry due to its versatility and precision. Its various parts, including the ram, crank, gears, and work table, work together to produce accurate cuts on a variety of workpieces. With its vertical orientation, the Slotter machine is particularly useful for cutting keyways, slots, and irregular shapes. Understanding the different types and mechanisms of the Slotter machine can help manufacturers select the appropriate machine for their specific needs. Overall, the Slotter machine is a crucial component in modern manufacturing, enabling efficient and accurate machining operations.

References

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