cross posted to alt.machines.cnc

=== Background ===

I am investigating the potential market for a small manual
shaper, similar but not identical to the English units shown at
the following URLs:

http://www.lathes.co.uk/adeptshaper/
http://www.lathes.co.uk/adeptshaper/page2.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/arrowshaper/
http://www.lathes.co.uk/bradley/
http://www.lathes.co.uk/shapers/page2.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/drummondshaper/
http://www.lathes.co.uk/gravesshaper/index.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/shapers/page4.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/seniorshaperplaner/
http://members.surfeu.at/wefalck/tools/toolsmain.html (see about
3/4 down the page)

This shaper would be specifically intended for hobby, model
making, and gunsmith usage (for example sight dovetails) where
both the volume and parts are small.

Retail price per single unit, not including the vise, via inter
net sales, exclusive of shipping/handling and taxes, is projected
to be 100$US +/- 25$

4 inch [100 m/m] stroke
5 inch [125 m/m] table travel
7 inch [175 m/m ] square table
1-1/2 inch [ 40 m/m ] clapper box travel
use up to 3/8 inch [10 m/m] square HSS tools
no automatic feed on any axis
+/- 90 degree clapper box rotation

Because of the wide availability/usage of dial indicators and
digital calipers in the US, micrometer adjustments will not be
included, rather 20 TPI screws made from rolled "all-thread" with
big knobs/wheels, and plenty of tapped holes to mount dial
indicator holders.

The table will be milled with 5/16 T-slots and drilled for
"bunters"

My questions:

(1) Would you be interested in purchasing this unit?

(2) Would you prefer to have the handle move up and down or from
side to side? If from side to side, would "right hand only"
operation be a show-stopper?

(3) Would you consider a spring assisted return stroke to be an
asset?

(4) Assuming comparable strength, would main castings from ZA-27
[zinc/aluminum alloy] be as acceptable as cast iron to you? (If
we use ZA-27 for the castings, the table would be HRS or CRS.)

(5) As long as the sliding surfaces can be adjusted for wear, do
you have any preference for the way construction such as box,
dovetail, or other? Is shim adjustment as opposed to gib
adjustment acceptable?

(6) How much of a premium would you be willing to pay for a made
in USA shaper over an Asian import?

Thanks for your input. Please reply to

If anyone is interested in the results of this survey, include
that in your email and I will send you the results.

GmcD