Format4 | exact 51 Planer
The Format4 exact 51 Planer, with a 19¾" (504 mm) planing width, offers precision and comfort for heavy-duty professional woodworking. Featuring a solid cast iron table, spring-loaded pressure bars, and optional Silent-Power® spiral blade cutterblock, it ensures perfectly planed surfaces for solid wood. The variable feed speed and Digi-Drive controls provide flexibility and precision for diverse applications.
Key Features
Highlights
- Silent-Power®: Spiral blade cutterblock reduces noise by 50%, provides tear-free planing, and lowers operating costs with up to 20 times longer blade life (optional).
- Digi-Drive: Programmable jointing table control with numeric keypad for precise positioning, LED displays for target/actual values, incremental adjustments, and 4 programmable positions.
- Feeder Device: Variable feed speed (5–20 m/min) for optimal finish or quick thickness calibration.
Details
- Change the Blades in Record Time: 4-knife system cutterblock with knife changes in under two minutes, self-aligning knives, no resin buildup, and economical blade costs.
- Thickness Planing with 4-Knife System Cutterblock: 4 23/32" (120 mm) cutting circle with 4 blades for performance, precision, and comfort.
- Infeed Rollers: Suspended rollers lift gently for large depth of cut processing.
- Power-Drive: Electric height adjustment with knob for quick adjustments, button for fine-tuning, and LED display for actual values.
- Adjustable Integrated Bed Rollers: Optional rollers for processing resinous or moist workpieces.
- Table Extension: Stable extension with outfeed workpiece roller for increased comfort.
- Outstanding Stability and Long-Lasting Precision: Four trapezoidal support spindles ensure precision and high load-bearing capacity, with vertical guides for accurate table positioning.
- Workpiece Roller on the Infeed Side: Powder-coated steel roller for planers with electric jointing table adjustment, mounted on the infeed side.
- Scissor Lifting Table: Optional 45 9/32" (1150 mm) extension for planer table support.
Technical Specifications
| Category | Details |
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| Electrics |
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| Cutterblock |
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| Jointer and Feed Gears |
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| General |
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| Accessories |
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Specifications
Felder Format4 Exact 51 Planer – FAQs
What is the Felder Format4 Exact 51 Planer and what woodworking tasks is it designed for?
The Felder Format4 Exact 51 Planer is a professional thickness planer built for heavy-use, high-precision surface planing and thicknessing of solid wood and engineered panel materials. It delivers flat, consistent surfaces for cabinetry, furniture components, door stock, panel glue-ups, and other woodworking tasks requiring smooth, dimensionally accurate stock preparation.([turn0search0](https://www.felder-group.com/en-us/products/jointer-planers-jointers-planers-c1948/planer-exact-51-p3184?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Who should choose the Format4 Exact 51 Planer?
This planer is ideal for professional woodshops, custom furniture manufacturers, cabinetmakers, and millwork operations that need reliable thickness planing with precise electronic controls and professional-grade construction. It’s also well suited to shops that require versatile feed speed control and optional advanced cutters for tear-free finishes.([turn0search4](https://www.centexautomation.net/products/format4-exact-51-planer))
What are the primary use cases for the Exact 51 Planer?
The Exact 51 excels at:
- Thickness planing boards to consistent finished dimensions.
- Producing smooth surfaces for assembly and finishing.
- Preparing stock for glue-ups, cabinetry parts, and panel components.
- Handling both hardwood and softwood species with minimal tear-out using advanced cutter options.
What are the key specifications of the Format4 Exact 51?
The Exact 51 features a **504 mm (19¾″) planing width**, a **4-knife cutterblock with 120 mm cutting diameter**, and **variable feed speeds from approximately 5–20 m/min**. Electronic height adjustment with digital displays and optional Digi-Drive control improves precision and repeatability.([turn0search4](https://www.centexautomation.net/products/format4-exact-51-planer))
How does the variable feed speed improve planing quality?
Variable feed speed allows operators to match the feed rate to the material and desired finish quality — slower speeds for fine finishes and faster speeds for quick thicknessing or stock removal, giving flexibility across different wood types and moisture levels.([turn0search0](https://www.felder-group.com/en-us/products/jointer-planers-jointers-planers-c1948/planer-exact-51-p3184?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
What cutterblock options are available and why do they matter?
Standard cutterblocks include a **4-knife Format4 system** and optional **TERSA system** or **Silent-Power® spiral cutterblock**. A spiral cutterblock reduces noise emissions by more than 50%, provides tear-free planed surfaces, and significantly longer blade life (up to ~20×), reducing operating costs and improving surface quality.([turn0search0](https://www.felder-group.com/en-us/products/jointer-planers-jointers-planers-c1948/planer-exact-51-p3184?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
How do electronic controls like Power-Drive and Digi-Drive enhance performance?
The **Power-Drive** electronic table height adjustment with a knob and digital display enables fast, accurate adjustments of thickness settings. **Digi-Drive** adds programmable positioning with pre-set thickness values and numeric entry, reducing setup time and improving repeatability between batches.([turn0search4](https://www.centexautomation.net/products/format4-exact-51-planer))
What materials can the Exact 51 handle?
The Exact 51 is engineered for processing solid hardwoods, softwoods, plywood, MDF, and other panel products when used with appropriate cutter options and dust extraction. Its variable speed and advanced pressure roller design help accommodate diverse wood characteristics.([turn0search0](https://www.felder-group.com/en-us/products/jointer-planers-jointers-planers-c1948/planer-exact-51-p3184?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
What safety and ergonomic features are included?
Standard features include spring-loaded pressure bars, segmented infeed pressure to stabilize material, and a solid cast-iron table for vibration-free planing. Integrated digital displays for height adjustments enhance ergonomics and reduce repetitive strain during setup.([turn0search4](https://www.centexautomation.net/products/format4-exact-51-planer))
How does the Exact 51 compare with the Format4 Exact 63 Planer?
The Exact 51 offers a **504 mm (19¾″) planing width**, making it suited for most standard woodworking stock sizes and cabinetry panels. The Exact 63 is a larger model with a **630 mm (24¾″) width**, better suited for shops that process wider boards or larger panel components, but at a higher investment and floor space requirement. Choosing between them depends on typical workpiece dimensions and production needs.([turn0search16](https://www.felder-group.com/en-us/products/jointer-planers-jointers-planers-c1948))
How does the Exact 51 compare with separate planer and thicknesser systems?
As a dedicated thickness planer, the Exact 51 provides more precise thickness control and workflow efficiency than a basic surface planer alone. While separate planer and thicknesser combinations can offer versatility, a dedicated model like the Exact 51 optimizes planing tasks with electronic controls and advanced cutter systems, saving setup time in continuous use. This can benefit professional shops with repeat thicknessing workloads.([turn0search4](https://www.centexautomation.net/products/format4-exact-51-planer))
What are the electrical and motor options?
Typical configurations include three-phase voltages such as **3×400 V or 3×230 V** with motor choices like **5.5 kW (7.5 HP)** standard and optional **7.35 kW (10 HP)** or **10 kW (13.5 HP)** for heavier stock or continuous production scenarios.([turn0search4](https://www.centexautomation.net/products/format4-exact-51-planer))
Is the Format4 Exact 51 a good investment for professional woodworking?
Yes. With Austrian engineering, robust construction, advanced cutter options, electronic control systems, and variable feed speeds, the Format4 Exact 51 combines precision, comfort, and productivity for serious woodworking applications, making it a strong choice for professional shops.([turn0search0](https://www.felder-group.com/en-us/products/jointer-planers-jointers-planers-c1948/planer-exact-51-p3184?utm_source=chatgpt.com))