Konehöylä

Konehöylä, often translated as planer or jointer, is a woodworking machine used to flatten and smooth rough lumber. It typically consists of a rotating cutter head equipped with blades, set within a stationary bed. As wood is fed across the machine, the cutter head removes a thin layer of material, creating a smooth and flat surface.

There are two main types of machine planers: the thickness planer and the jointer. A thickness planer, also known as a surface planer, is designed to make the opposite faces of a board parallel and to reduce the board to a uniform thickness. It has an infeed and outfeed table and the cutter head is positioned above the workpiece. The jointer, on the other hand, is primarily used to flatten and square one face of a board (creating a "face" side) and then to flatten and square one edge of the board (creating a "square" edge) so that it is perpendicular to the face. Jointers typically have two tables, an infeed and an outfeed, with the cutter head located between them.

The precision of a konehöylä is crucial for many woodworking applications, as it ensures that pieces of wood fit together accurately. Accurate joinery, such as making tight-fitting glue joints or ensuring that cabinet doors hang straight, relies heavily on the flat and square surfaces produced by these machines. Safety features are important for operating a konehöylä, including blade guards, push sticks, and proper dust collection systems to remove wood chips and dust generated during operation.