Snipe (wood machining)

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/snipe-wood-machining

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the machining defect classification?Surface imperfection characterized by an unintended groove or depression on lumber ends
2. What is the primary mitigation technique?Utilization of sacrificial boards to absorb roller pressure variations
3. What is a snipe in wood machining?A snipe is a groove or dip that appears on the ends of a board after it goes through a thickness planer. It is not a natural part of the wood, but a result of the machine.
4. Why does a snipe happen?It happens when the rollers that feed the board don’t support it properly as it enters or exits the planer, so the cutter digs deeper into the wood.

Thickness Planer: A stationary machine tool used to flatten and reduce the thickness of lumber.
Feed Rollers: Components that grip and advance the workpiece through the cutting head of a machine.
Cutterhead: The rotating assembly within a planer that houses the cutting knives.
Dimensional Accuracy: The degree to which the actual size of a manufactured part matches its specified dimensions.