Any engineers? Help please!

[marcus]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone out there knows about the possible consequences of grinding some iron off the underside of a planer table....

I recently bought a scheppach planer/thicknesser, and found when it arrived that the outfeed table was warped. So I got them to send me out a new table which took two weeks and arrived today. When fitting it I discovered that there are some small differences between the new and old casting with the result that the new one doesn't quite clear some protruberances near the cutter head.

While words can't express my irritation with Scheppach, I simply haven't the time to wait another two weeks for them to pick it up and send a new one - or even the week it would take for them to replace the whole machine - I have customers waiting....

It looks quite straight forward to grind awaythose bitst of the casting which are in the way. My worry is, will the heat from the grinder warp the table?

Thanks,

Marcus

 

[bugbear]

My worry is, will the heat from the grinder warp the table?

I'd say no; in any case, grinding carefully, with frequent cooling, would avoid heat being an issue.

However, removing material may allow residual (internal) material stress to equalise, resulting in a warp by a different mechanism.

It depends how much you remove, and where.

BugBear

 

[RogerS]

I'm not an engineer and so can't comment on that.

But it will mess up your warranty, I would have thought.

 

[woodbloke]

My view is the same as Rog's, don't fiddle with it, get them to change it until you're satisfied that the P/T is working correctly - Rob

 

[CHJ]

As it's new I would advise you don't touch it because of warrantee.

As BB says there is a risk ,maybe small if it is only a small protruding casting flash, that the casting will move.

If the casting moves of its own accord after a few days due to natural stress relieving taking place in a work environment then you will have no redress having touched it yourself.

 

[Digit]

Contact the supplier and have a chat. I've had problems in the past and offered to correct them myself and reached an agreement. It is in their interest after all.

Roy.

 

[RogerS]

Contact the supplier and have a chat. I've had problems in the past and offered to correct them myself and reached an agreement. It is in their interest after all.

Roy.

But to save any confusion downline, follow up what was agreed verbally with something in writing.

 

[Digit]

But to save any confusion downline, follow up what was agreed verbally with something in writing.

Absolutely, and the name of the person on the phone as well!

Roy.

 

[marcus]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Have decided to discuss it with them on Monday and see if they are willing to let me try and modify it. Hey ho. Still, on the plus side, I get to spend the weekend wood turning instead of machining up timber for 14 wardrobe doors....

Marcus

 

[Anonymous]

My worry is, will the heat from the grinder warp the table?

I'd say no; in any case, grinding carefully, with frequent cooling, would avoid heat being an issue.

However, removing material may allow residual (internal) material stress to equalise, resulting in a warp by a different mechanism.

It depends how much you remove, and where.

BugBear

Exactly what I was going to say (as an engineer)

 

[Bean]

It will also depend upon the type of casting, ribbed or plain and the amount of material you wish to remove.

Castings do not warp just because you show them an angle grinder!

The greatest concern is the expiry of the warrantee