Dewalt 733 snipe issue.

[rod5577]

Hi all, I have a dewalt 733 thicknesser and has been great. Haven't used a lot of it but I have noticed a little amount of snipe. Having worked on and built cnc machines I know the issue with backlash and my thinking is that the planer's problem is a small amount of backlash in the leadscrews. My thinking is to install a anti backlash nut on each side of the threads, taking up the backlash. Anyone thought or heard of this solution?

 

[j0eman]

Hi all, I have a dewalt 733 thicknesser and has been great. Haven't used a lot of it but I have noticed a little amount of snipe. Having worked on and built cnc machines I know the issue with backlash and my thinking is that the planer's problem is a small amount of backlash in the leadscrews. My thinking is to install a anti backlash nut on each side of the threads, taking up the backlash. Anyone thought or heard of this solution?

YEP, the vertical slop in the four leadscrews is the core mechanical cause of snipe on a planer like the DW733.
a little advice here, before you start engineering anti backlash nuts, try adjusting the infeed/outfeed tables.
On the DW733 (and similar planers), snipe is usually caused by the work piece dropping slightly as it enters and leaves the rollers. Raising those tables just a hair (usually ∼1/64th of an inch above the main bed) can often eliminate snipe completely by supporting the board better

 

[rod5577]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, one of the first things I did when I got this planer was to adjust the extended beds. They are spot on and therefore cannot contribute to the snipe. I have tested the cutter head with a dial gauge indicator and sure enough, while running through wood and pressure is put on the rollers, the head lifts slightly and then drops a little when pressure is released. It's a very small amount of snipe, actually very difficult to even feel it but I'm fussy and would like it perfect. My machine, the 733 only has 2 leadscrews and then slides on 4 slide rods. The other Dewalt planer, I think the one you're talking of has the 4 screws and no slide rods. My machine also has a locking mechanism, unfortunately though this locks the slide rods and not the leadscrew. This does a good job but just not good enough. Having investigated the machine, it won't be too much of a job on the lathe to make a couple of brass nuts and there is plenty of room to mount them to the head. With a slight bit of tension on the nuts and then mounted securely i think it will do the job great.