Great Planes Slot Machine Hinge Slotting Tool

What’s the biggest challenge you have creating slots for your hinges?

  • Creating a slot of the proper width?
  • Creating a slot of the proper depth?
  • Not splitting the wood?
  • Cleaning out the slot so the hinge will slide in cleanly?
  • Not damaging the hinge in the trial-fitting process?
  • Does it just take too long and get frustrating?

#216- Centers & guides for perfectly aligned slots for any hinge. (3) blades fit #2 X-Acto handle. (3) snap-on jig guides and (1) balsa picker. #660 -DU-BRO® Hinge Slotter Kit takes the hassle out of slotting control surfaces for gluing hinges. The centering/parallel guide centered hinge slotter on u. Product description These are the Slot Machine Motorized Hinge Slotting Tools Replacement Nylon Hinge Slotting Blades. FEATURES: Quickly Cuts Clean, Straight Perfect Hinge Slots Without Gouging Or Being Hindered By Hard Spots In The Wood Unique Counter-Sawing Dual-Blad. Customer Questions &.

Slot

The normal process involves continually trial-fitting until the correct slot width and length has been determined. Since this operation relies on the modelers’ skill, there are any number of unnecessary and misaligned cuts that are not included in the final geometry of the slot.

This process is time-consuming and largely damaging to the wood grain, and in some cases damaging to the hinge. Certain hinges have a flocking material attached to the opposing surfaces that can be damaged or removed by trial fitting. Splitting of the grain can extend beyond the useable slot length thus making the anchoring point unstable.

Since the hinges connect the control surface to the aircraft, is it imperative that they are securely attached to the airframe in a manner that is not mechanically detrimental to the airplanes structure in order to produce a controlled and predictable flight.

Using a #11 knife blade to cut hinge slots in control surfaces has been done for decades – it’s highly dependent on the modelers’ skill, and time consuming. It can be physically damaging to both the wood grain and to the hinge.

While there are several type of hinge slotting tools on the market, the majority of them rely on splitting and separating the grain with a blade which can’t be controlled by the knife or the modeler – immediately followed by digging out the remnants to generate the slot.

Remember, a knife blade is a wedge – and we’re not splitting firewood in the backyard!

AeroBroach offers a revolutionary approach to hinge slotting

Great Planes Slot Machine Hinge Slotting Tool Home Depot

The AeroBroach way!

Each broach has been designed to penetrate the grain and roll the fiber downward – putting it in tension – so that it can be easily sheared by the serrations as the broach progresses through the control surface cap. (pic)

Each broach is a pre-determined thickness to generate the correct slot width for the type of hinge to be installed. The resulting slot length provides lateral adjust of the installed hinge with the mating control surface at final assembly.

Slotting

AeroBroach Comes in 3 Popular Sizes

The “CA” broach is designed for use with the Cyanoacrylate Adhesive (CA) type hinges – the thin polyester strip with flocking bonded to the opposing surfaces – available in pre-cut packages and strip.

The “60” broach is designed for use with the standard pre-pinned hinges such as Dubro #116 for up to 60 size airplanes.

The “1/4” broach is designed for the heavy duty, two (2) piece plastic pinned hinges such as Dubro #257 commonly installed in ¼ scale airplanes

Why AeroBroach?

AeroBroach provides a means of forming a slot of pre-determined width for installation of commercially available plastic hinges in preparation for permanent attachment of the hinges to the control surface caps. The resulting slot is also wider than the hinge to compensate for lateral adjustment and final positioning of the hinge along the hinge line on the opposing control surface cap ( ie. aileron to wing, rudder to fin, and elevator to horizontal stabilizer).

The design of the broach provides accurate centering of the slot on the control surface hinge line and the serrated sides shear the wood perpendicular to the grain. The resulting geometry of the slot is similar to the hinge in thickness and width.

AeroBroach does not rely on splitting the grain, instead it generates the slot by shearing action perpendicular to the wood grain which reduces the time it takes to makes the slots and is less damaging to the wood.

AeroBroach Advantages

  • Saves time
  • Easy to use
  • Accurate – broaches are designed to produce a slot that fits the selected hinge
  • Each broach is clearly identified by laser engraving.
  • AeroBroach can be used to clean-up and realign pre-cut hinge slots in ARF’s
  • Great for field repairs – a new slot can be made on an inside corner without splitting the edge
  • The broaching blade material is strain-hardened chrome/nickel alloy for strength and durability
  • Laser cut for precision and accuracy
  • AeroBroaches can be used with many commercially available handles and holders, used with or without a handle in a press, or adapted to a handle of the modelers’ preference

See the AeroBroach in action!

Stop wrestling with a knife blade. Get the AeroBroach today and create precise hinge slots in a lot less time!

Have a great flight and Thanks for choosing AeroBroach!

Great Planes Slot Machine Hinge Slot Cutter GPMR4010

Tool

This is the Slot Machine Motorized Hinge Slotting Tool from Great Planes. Now Kit Building's Biggest Chore Takes Almost No Time At All! *** One Year Warranty ***

Features

  • Great Planes Slot Machine Hinge Slot Cutter GPMR4010

  • Quickly Cuts Clean, Straight Perfect Hinge Slots Without Gouging Or Being Hindered By Hard Spots In The Wood (see COMMENTS).

  • Unique Counter-Sawing Dual-Blade Action Removes Wood To Form A Perfect Hinge Pocket.

  • Safer and More Precise Than Cutting Hinge Slots With A Hobby Knife.

  • Rugged, Injection-Molded Body Offers A Comfortable Grip, Comes Fully Assembled and is Ready-To-Use.

  • Blades Pre-Installed For CA Hinges and OPTIONAL Nylon Blades are Available (GPMR4016).

  • Low-Profile Safety Switch Ensures That Power Will Be Turned 'On' Only When The Tool Is In Use.

  • US Patent# 6,096,357

Specifications

  • Voltage: 110/120, 50-60Hz AC

  • AC Cord: 57'

  • Case Size: 3-7/8' (Face of Cutting Side)

  • 4-1/4' (Front to Back)

  • 2' (Grip of Handle-Side to Side)

  • 1-5/8' (Thickness-Top to Bottom)

  • Blade mounting screws: 2.9 x 4.5mm

  • Included Blade for CA Hinges:

  • Length of Blade: 3/4'

  • Total Thickness: 0.016' (0.4mm)

  • Blade Cutting Depth: 0.719'

  • (OPTIONAL) Blades for Nylon Hinges:

  • Length of Blade: 3/4'

  • Total Thickness: 0.024' (0.6mm)

  • Blade Cutting Depth: 0.719'

  • (OPTIONAL) Blades for Heavy Duty Nylon Hinges:

  • Length of Blade: 1-5/8'

  • Total Thickness: 0.037'

  • Blade Cutting Depth: 0.729'

Contents

  • One Ready-To-Use Slot Machine Motorized Hinge Slotting Tool with blade for CA hinges already installed.

  • One Instruction/Operation Sheet.

Requirements

  • Center Locator GPMR4005, To Find The Exact Center For Hinge Slot.

  • Safety Goggles or Glasses.

  • AC Household Outlet.

Comments

Great Planes Slot Machine Hinge Slotting Tool Harbor Freight

  • Highly recommended to practice making slots on scrap balsa before using the Slot Machine on your model. The Slot Machine works far better than a hobby knife for making slots in thin balsa and fragile structures because you do not have to push so hard while cutting. One thing to be aware of is when cutting into thin material, the possibility is greater of the blades coming out of the wood during the cut, due to misalignment or technique.

  • Blades: Replacement Blades: GPMR4015 for CA Hinges (comes stock) Slot Machine Cuts Slots To Accommodate Most Hinges and Tail Gear Brackets Such As: Great Planes, Sullivan, Goldberg (Klett), Sonic-Tronics and Dubro (except for the cotter pin hinges-slot will have to be deepened 1/16' more). (The thicker blades for nylon hinges will produce a slot that is the right thickness, but NOT DEEP ENOUGH for the Dubro heavy duty hinges. The difference in depth is .08' (a little under 3/32'). In many cases, the modeler can cut 3/32' off the tabs of heavy duty hinges, and use the slots cut by the Slot Machine.) OR modeler can use GPMR4017 heavy duty hinge blades. Optional Blades: GPMR4016 for Nylon Hinges or Tail Gear Brackets. Length of Blade: 3/4' Total Thickness: 0.024' (0.6mm) Blade Cutting Depth: 0.179' Optional Blades: GPMR4017 for Heavy Duty Nylon Hinges Length of Blade: 1-5/8' Total Thickness: 0.037' Blade Cutting Depth: 0.729' Blade changes are simple by removing only four phillips head screws. (a soldering iron may be used to heat the locktight on the screws)

  • Safety Precautions: Blades are sharp: Keep Out Of Reach Of Children, use safety equipment, secure parts being cut, use for hobby use only.