John B. fired this volley in
:

I know of one specific place that uses shapers not mills - they have
several, with long travels (30 feet) - the cutter travels on a bridge
like affair - they make press brake dies with them - they have bins of
blue curly swarf from the tool steel die material - very impressive
machines

Sounds more like a Planer, rather than a Shaper :-)


Everyone keeps saying that!
Doesn't anybody read the OPs anymore?

He said, "...they make press brake dies with them ".

Since press brake dies usually require some sort of grooved profile, and
since the basic difference between 'planer' and 'shaper' is the shape of
the blade and work -- shapers being relegated to grooves and edging,
mostly...


BTW... one other common use for long-throw shapers over the years has
been for hobbiests to convert them into manual milling machines. I've
seen a number of them in service, mostly made from old Logans.

LLoyd