Troubleshooting Snipes on a
Through Feed Moulder

A snipe on the left side of a finished part created by the left side spindle and on the leading end of the part.

Not enough pressure on the LSH chipbreaker.

Increase the pressure on the left side chipbreaker.

LSH guide too far away from the cutterhead.

Adjust the left side guide towards the cutterhead. Be certain the knives do not hit the guide.

Un-square ends of stock (usually only on short stock).

Adjust the chop saw to cut the ends square.

Holdover rolls not holding stock against the right side guides.

Adjust the infeed holdover rolls.

Left side guide outside the cutting circle.

Check the setting of the left side guide to the left side cutterhead with a straightedge.

Right side cutterhead not set to the right side guide.

Check the setting of the right cutterhead to the right side guide with a straightedge.

Bottom feedroll on the top roll shaft.

Serrations pull stock away from the right side guide. Replace rolls.

A snipe on the left side of a finished part created by the left side spindle and on the trailing end of the part.

Left side guide not holding the stock tight.

Check the setting of the left side guide to the left side cutterhead with a straightedge.

Left side guide not parallel to the RS guide.

Realign the left side guide.

Right side guide not parallel to the referencing guide.

Realign the side guides.

Chipbreaker too far away from cutterhead knives.

Adjust the chipbreaker closer to the left side cutterhead. Do not permit the chipbreaker to hit the knives.

Chipbreaker un-square with bed.

Check the chipbreaker for sliver, wear or damage. Repair or replace.

Infeed guide not parallel with right side guide.

Realign the side guides.

A snipe on the left side of a finished part created by the left side spindle and on either or both end of the part.

Bowed stock.

Feed stock into the machine with the bowed edge against the infeed guide.

A snipe from the right side can cause a snipe on the left side.

Fix the snipe on the right side first.

Both side of the stock are not held down by the feedrolls (usually only with wide material).

Space feedrolls out across the width of the material.

Slivers in the moulder.

Clean the machine.

Narrow stock.

When running narrow stock set the guides and chipbreakers as close to the cutterheads as possible with out hitting the knives.

Chipbreaker hitting the feedroll when running narrow material.

Remove a feedroll across from the chipbreaker.