You need a broach tool for making precision machining parts. The more high-quality the broach tool itself is, it will impart greater precision to the custom-made part. Broach tools come in a wide variety of applications and styles, simply because you can make so many possible custom parts.
The majority of broach tools have a multi-tooth design that is capable of creating successive cuts during high-speed operation. In some cases, these broach tools can be set up for long production runs to get the most out of the tool itself and to derive the greatest return from investment in the tool.
Types of Broach Tools
There are two basic categories of broaching tools, those being pull broaches and push broaches. You might also divide them into two categories identified as external broaches and internal broaches. Pull broaches and push broaches use very similar approaches when parts need to be machined.
A push broach needs to be very short, so it can withstand tremendous pressure without buckling or showing signs of breakage. The design for a pull broach is to use it either vertically or horizontally, and it creates very accurate cuts when pulling a workpiece across the teeth of the broach.
Internal broaches are capable of creating internal holes such as keyways, for a great number of applications and in a great number of industries. Using an internal broach will allow you to create a number of components that can be either simple or extremely complicated, at a very high speed. Manufacturers use external broaches for the purpose of creating defined edges or exterior contouring. With these types of broaches, you may create built-up designs for inserts, as well as indexable tool bits.
Components of a Broach Tool
Any broaching tool generally has quite a few precision components. In order for a broach tool to be manufactured, serviced, or repaired it must be thoroughly understood by the manufacturer or whatever repair company is operating on it.
Some of the most common components you might find in broach tools are the following:
- tooth land, pitch, and gullet
- length
- rear pilot
- front pilot
- chip load
- side relief
- chip breakers
- sheer angle.
Under heavy usage and high-volume production runs, it’s very common for the teeth of any good broach tool to become dull and possibly to become damaged as well. That’s why it’s essential to have a regular maintenance routine in place so that these precision tools can be kept in the best shape, and so that they can consistently perform up to standards.
Any business making use of high-quality broach tools should protect its investment by making sure that maintenance is performed regularly, and that broaches are routinely inspected for dullness or any signs of damage.
Needed Tools in Action
Broaching tools can be used to operate on either hard or soft materials, and the type of material you’re working on will generally determine which type of broach tool is required to create a precision custom part. Broaching has a great deal in common with other processes such as milling, boring, shaping, and reaming, but when it’s necessary to produce high-quality parts in volume, broaching is often the chosen process by many manufacturers.
Unlike most other machining processes, broaching has the ability to combine three different levels of cutting teeth into a single tool, or into a succession of tools that are similar.
These can be used to accomplish rough cuts, semi-finished cots, or finish cutting. Each one of these different types of machine steps can be accomplished in rapid succession, and that’s one of the main reasons why broaching is such a popular option for high-volume machining of components that have to be created with precision. Ideally, a broaching tool works with a reliable broaching machine, and the broaching machine itself can either be a vertical, horizontal, or chain broaching machine.
Using this type of machine will depend in large part on the materials you work on, the kind of broaching to accomplish, and the overall budget for the project.
Broaching Applications
You can use the combination of a high-quality broaching tool and a broaching machine in a tremendous variety of applications and industries. For instance, broaching tools can help to produce parts for firearm components, industrial manufacturing, fasteners, and automotive parts, to name just a few.
When you need broaching work done, it’s always best to work with a company that has experience with your industry, so you can be sure that the appropriate broaches will be created for you, and so they can be used in the manufacture of high-quality goods.
At the same time, you would probably also want to choose a broaching company with an excellent record of maintenance on the broaches they produce, so that you can be sure your broach investment will give you an excellent return on investment. If you can get this part right, there will be an unlimited potential for you to specialize in a broaching service that you offer to industries.
You may want to specialize in broaching hard metal workpieces or plastic pieces, you may want to specialize in relatively simple components or in components that are relatively complicated. By customizing your broaching machine to fit the exact specifications of your broaching tool and the industry which will make use of the parts, you could set yourself up to have a very successful broaching service.
Other Types of Broaching Services
Some companies specialize in merely servicing and maintaining high-quality brooches. These companies will provide services such as reconditioning, sharpening, grinding, and replacing precision broaches.
Sharpening services are frequently needed by broach users, simply because after high-volume production runs, it’s very possible for the teeth turn somewhat dull. In other cases, it might be necessary to have a major machine rebuild to accommodate an entirely new production run. In any case, these types of service organizations make their living by providing reliable service on high-quality broaching tools, so that the tools can be kept in optimal working condition.