Tim Espy, plant manager at V W Broaching Service Inc., Chicago, provides the play-by-play as an internal spline is created on a 24" dia. ball valve for a water utility. The broaching shop uses a Colonial horizontal broaching machine to produce the spline in the stainless steel valve in just a few seconds.
Related Glossary Terms
- 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.
- broaching machine
broaching machine
Machine designed specifically to run broaching tools. It is typically designated by operating characteristics (pull, push, rotary, continuous, blind-spline), type of power used (hydraulic, mechanical) and tonnage ratings. Broaching is also performed on arbor presses (manual and powered).
