Rotary Broaching Toolholders

April 13, 2013

Slater Tools' highly-engineered internal adjustment-free tool holders allow trapped air and hydraulic pressure to escape during "full-form" applications. For example, on an internal hexagon the company recommends pre-drilling a hole that is larger than the across-the-flats dimension of the hex. This means that only the corners of the hexagon would be cut during the broaching operation, which greatly reduces the amount of force needed and increases tool life. In this scenario there is no concern about trapped fluids or air.

However, there is an increased need, particularly in medical and aerospace manufacturing, to remove material full-form, that is, not having a pre-drilled hole larger than the across-the-flats dimension, thus the entire shape is being broached as opposed to just the corners. This can create pressure issues as coolant or air can get trapped inside of the pilot hole. In that scenario, Slater recommends using a broach that is vented (has a hole going through the length of the broach). With vented broaches, the company's enhanced tool holder design allows coolant and air to escape more rapidly.

In either case, Slater's adjustment-free tool holders increase productivity and reduce set-up time through a design that requires no need to center the tool holder. Simply set the rotary broach holder into your machine and you are ready to hit cycle start. For use in both CNC mills and lathes, these compact tool holders require no center indicating. Available in numerous Swiss-type and standard holder styles and sizes, they are ideal for small part and micro manufacturing, medical and aerospace applications, and for producing small forms on CNC lathes or mills.

"The unique design features a sleek cylindrical body to eliminate interference in tight set ups. The adjustment free series is made specifically for Swiss type and other precision machines. This design takes the guesswork out of centering the holder prior to rotary broaching," says Jeff Tryles, Sales Manager for Slater Tools.

Used in combination with Slater's internal rotary broaches, standard or custom-made to exact specifications, end users are able to machine virtually any hex, square, spline, serration, torx-type or other custom shapes in a variety of materials.

Related Glossary Terms

  • broach

    broach

    Tapered tool, with a series of teeth of increasing length, that is pushed or pulled into a workpiece, successively removing small amounts of metal to enlarge a hole, slot or other opening to final size.

  • broaching

    broaching

    Operation in which a cutter progressively enlarges a slot or hole or shapes a workpiece exterior. Low teeth start the cut, intermediate teeth remove the majority of the material and high teeth finish the task. Broaching can be a one-step operation, as opposed to milling and slotting, which require repeated passes. Typically, however, broaching also involves multiple passes.

  • centering

    centering

    1. Process of locating the center of a workpiece to be mounted on centers. 2. Process of mounting the workpiece concentric to the machine spindle. See centers.

  • computer numerical control ( CNC)

    computer numerical control ( CNC)

    Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.

  • coolant

    coolant

    Fluid that reduces temperature buildup at the tool/workpiece interface during machining. Normally takes the form of a liquid such as soluble or chemical mixtures (semisynthetic, synthetic) but can be pressurized air or other gas. Because of water’s ability to absorb great quantities of heat, it is widely used as a coolant and vehicle for various cutting compounds, with the water-to-compound ratio varying with the machining task. See cutting fluid; semisynthetic cutting fluid; soluble-oil cutting fluid; synthetic cutting fluid.