GREAT PLANES Slot Machine Instruction Manual

P.O.Box 788 Urbana, IL 61801

[phone]

www.greatplanes.com

Congratulations on your purchase of the CORDLESS version of the Great Planes SLOT
MACHINE™, the first truly easy way to cut hinge slots in your model airplanes.

The Slot Machine you have purchased is equipped with standard BLADES FOR CA
HINGES, each having a thic kness of .008”[0.2mm], which cut slots that are ideal f or toda y’s
“CA hinges.”If you need to cut thicker slots for pinned hinges or tailgear brackets, etc., you
may want to purchase the BLADES FOR NYLON HINGES, which are .012” [0.3mm] thick,
and which have larger teeth and more “set” in the teeth, which produce an ideal slot for a
.040” [1mm] hinge. Or you can purchase the BLADES FOR H.D. HINGES, which are the
same as the blades for Nylon hinges, but cut deeper to accommodate heavy-duty hinges.
You will find the instructions for blade replacement in this pamphlet. If you are one of the
fortunate modelers to have both the corded and cordless models, we suggest using the
cordless version with the standard blades for CA hinges, and the corded version with the
thicker replacement blades.

Please read all the instructions and safety precautions before cutting
your first slot, and be sure to practice on balsa scraps to learn good
technique before cutting slots in your model airplane.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Cordless

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.The exposed blades can inflict severe injury, so

keep this tool out of the reach of children, and never allow the blades to contact any body
part except when changing blades.

DO NOT DISASSEMBLE.No part of the Slot Machine should be disassembled, except f or
servicing the blades through the blade access hatch only.

FOR HOBBY USE ONLY. The slot machine is made for normal, intermittent personal
hobby use.It is not designed for continuous use, such as in a manufacturing operation. Do
not press hard. When operating the slot machine, apply just enough force to keep the
blades cutting at a steady rate.

USE SAFETY GLASSES AND OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Use safety goggles or
safety glasses with side shields, complying with applicable safety standards and, when
needed, a face shield. This applies to all persons in the work area. Do not wear loose
clothing or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Wear protective hair covering to
contain long hair.

SECURE THE WORK. Use clamps to hold your work.It’s safer than using your hands and
it frees both hands to operate the tool.

AVOID UNINTENTIONAL STARTING. When positioning the unit, do not hold your finger
over the s witch.Because the batteries have some charge in them from the f actory, pressing
the switch may activate the blades even before you charge the unit the first time.

CAUTION: If the Slot Machine is dropped, the saw blades ma y be bent.Remove the blades
from the unit and insure the blades lie flat against a flat surface. If the blades are bent
replace them. Even one bent blade may cause the unit to bind or cause the blades to
wander from the intended cut area. NEVER STRAIGHTEN BENT BLADES.

DANGER: KEEP FINGERS AWAY FROM CUTTING AREA. Keep fingers away from
blades.Never hold the part being cut around the area the blades are cutting the slot.

USE ONLY GENUINE GPM BLADES

Never substitute an y blades f or the GPM sa w blades .Never use def ectiv e or incorrect blade
mounting screws. Follow the suggested blade changing procedures. Select the proper
blade for the Hinge you intend to install.Improper blades will cause the slot to be either too
tight or too loose.

IF BLADES BIND OR MOTOR STALLS, RELEASE SWITCH IMMEDIATELY

SPECIFICATIONS

4.8 volts DC

Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, 270-300mAh.

3-hour charger, 120 volt AC.

1-800-822-8837

CHARGE THE BATTERY FIRST

Do not attempt to operate the Cordless Slot Machine before charging the battery.

Plug the charger into a 110-120 volt AC wall outlet, and insert the charger plug all the way into
the charge jack on the Slot Machine until you feel the plug “click” into place. Charge for 3 to 4
hours the first time, and whenever the batteries have been run way down or have not been
charged for se ver al weeks.The battery will be fully charged in 3 to 4 hours, but the charger may
be left plugged in for longer periods of time, up to se veral da ys.Unplug the charger from the Slot
Machine and from the wall outlet during long periods (weeks or months) of inactivity .To maintain
a high level of charge, providing maximum slotting power, it is recommended to leave the
charger plugged into the Slot Machine between slotting sessions.

Starting with a run-down batter y...

NOTE: Fast charging with any charger other than the one provided with the Cordless Slot
Machine is not recommended.

OPERATION

The Slot Machine produces hinge slots in balsa wood by means of two thin sa w blades that
reciprocate in opposite directions, similar to an electric carving knife.The force caused by
one blade is offset by the other blade, so the effect is a straight-in cut with minimal effort.
If this is your first time using the Slot Machine, practice cutting slots in scraps of 3/8”or 1/4”
balsa sheet until you are able to make consistently good slots that are in correct alignment
on the hinge line. The tool may seem a bit awkward at first, because you’ve never used
anything like it; but with a little practice you’ll soon be wondering how you ever got along
without it.If you have a lot of difficulty making good slots, read the “Troubleshooting” section
and look for problems in technique or blade alignment that may be causing the problem.
You may also want to try the optional

Great Planes Slot Machine Cutting Guide

(GPMR4013)

, which helps get your slots precisely started every time.

Note: The Slot Machine is designed to cut hinge slots in balsa wood. Using it in “soft
hardwood” such as basswood may be successful if care is used. Do not attempt to use it
in very hard wood such as birch, maple or oak.

Mark accurate hinge lines on your control surfaces and the structures to which they will be
attached. Using the

Great Planes Precision Hinge Marking Tool™(GPMR4005)

is recommended.

This photo shows

the proper grip to

use when

operating the

Slot Machine.

Notice the position

of the index finger

and thumb.

The switch is

operated by the

middle finger.

A 1 hour charge provides 60% capacity.
A 2 hour charge provides 90% capacity.

A 3 hour charge provides 95% capacity.
A 4 hour charge provides 100% capacity.