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11.0 Diagnosing Faults in Planing
Fault
Cause
Diagnosis
The timber rocks, and the
edge is rounded in length
after being surfaced.
The outfeed table is out of
alignment with the table.
Re-set the table using the
levelling wedges provided.
Chippings lie between the
timber and table.
Isolate the machine and clear
the chippings.
The timber is placed round-
edge down.
Place the timber hollow edge
down.
Uneven finish.
Dull cutters causing chatter
marks on the timber.
Replace the cutters.
An uneven feed rate.
Feed the timber into the
cutters at the correct rate.
A
pronounced
cuttermark
pattern.
Too fast a feed rate.
Reduce the feed rate.
One knife is damaged or worn. Replace (or reverse) the
cutters.
An unplaned line is left on an
otherwise smooth finish
Chipped cutter
Replace the cutters.
The timber ‘drops’ at the end
of the cut and gouges out the
end of the timber.
The outfeed table is set too
low in relation to the
cutterblock.
Re-set the table using the
levelling wedges provided.
Excessive vibration causing a
poor finish.
Worn bearings.
Renew the bearings.
The edge of the timber is not
square to the face.
The fence is not square.
Adjust the fence square to the
table.
Timber hits the outfeed table
Outfeed table set too high.
Re-set the outfeed table.
Timber
becomes
wedge
shaped over full length.
The outfeed table is set too
high in relation to the
cutterblock.
Re-set the table using the
levelling wedges provided.
End snipe when thicknessing
End of timber is not being held
down against the table by the
outfeed roller.
Adjust roller settings. For long
boards, use an auxiliary table
on the thicknessing bed.
Feed rollers failing to operate
correctly.
Clear any debris from beneath
the feed roller bearing blocks.
12.0 Limitations of Use and Safe Working Practises
The following operations shall not be attempted on planer thicknessing machines, as they cannot
be performed safely:
stopped work, i.e. any cut which does not involve the full workpiece length,
