A whole new era in broaching dawned when General Broach pioneered the blind-spline broaching process. Unlike conventional broaching, blind-spline broaching allows for the machining of blind surfaces—surfaces that are impeded by a flange or protrusion that does not allow a cutting tool to pass completely through or over it.

Blind-spline tools are designed to cut either internal or external forms. Blind-spline tools are mounted on a rotary dial type or linear machine and the tools are kept in sets. Blind spline tools are single-tooth cutting tools, with each successive tool removing a predetermined amount of material until the desired profile is achieved.

The advantages of using blind-spline broaching over more conventional machining processes are:

• quick and easy size
• high degree of accuracy
• extremely high production
• extremely high production rates (over 10 times faster than shaping or hobbing)