Hex Broach Options?

[Andrew Blair]

I've been looking at hex broaches recently from the major catalogues (Mcmaster, MSC, etc.), and the $130+ price tags are scaring me a little. Are there any tool suppliers that offer quality broaches at lower prices than these?

[ChuckDickerson]

Hex Broaches aren't cheap anyway you cut it!

Try Enco: http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=84

They are about the least expensive I have found. If you find a less expensive source let us know. I'm sure there are lots of people around here that would like to know.

[Bill_Hancoc]

I understand what a broach is used for but never actully cutting my own keyways could someone explain how one is used? Thank you very much

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Bill_Hancoc

I understand what a broach is used for but never actully cutting my own keyways could someone explain how one is used? Thank you very much

a hex broach has a cylindrical end to it that is the same OD as the ID of the pilot hole in your part. This helps align it with the part. You then use a press to push it through the part. the broach gets progressively larger as you approach the top, until it reaches it's finished size.

With a standard keyway broach, you have a bushing that has the same OD as the ID of the hole you're broaching, with the profile of the key removed from the edge so that you can push the broach through with a press.

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

Hex Broaches aren't cheap anyway you cut it!

Try Enco: http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=84

They are about the least expensive I have found. If you find a less expensive source let us know. I'm sure there are lots of people around here that would like to know.

You know, it's kind of ironic: Hex stock is relatively cheap, but the tool needed to use it is outrageous! You can buy an entire set of keyway broaches for the cost of one moderate sized hex broach.

[ChuckDickerson]

Do you have access to an EDM machine? That might also be an option.

[Andrew Blair]

Thats a possibility I hadn't thought of. This is just for a potential prototype I'm thinking about, but I still haven't decided on spline shaft, which comes with bushings, or hex.

[Stephen Kowski]

they may be expensive, but they are more or less a one time cost especially if you design with the mindset that you only have one or maybe two broaches, which simplifies things. If there is another team in the area you could possibly borrow it, or share the cost (just agree on a size head of time).

[geo]

We made a hex broach this year our of a harden steel rod for our 2 speed gearboxes. We used a surface grinder to make the hex shape on the rod. I would 've taken a picture of it if we didn't loose it...LOL

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by geo

We made a hex broach this year our of a harden steel rod for our 2 speed gearboxes. We used a surface grinder to make the hex shape on the rod. I would 've taken a picture of it if we didn't loose it...LOL

I've heard of using a sharpened Allen wrench, after hardening it. Unfortunately, I doubt it would perfom on a high carbon or stainless steel.

[lupjohn]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

I've heard of using a sharpened Allen wrench, after hardening it. Unfortunately, I doubt it would perfom on a high carbon or stainless steel.

Andrew;
here is an article supporting your idea.
It is from the Home Shop Machinist, 2002 Sept.-Oct. Issue page 36
titled:
"Make Your Own Socket Head Fasteners with the Brinkerhoff Rotary Broach".

It is an interesting approach and does use a hex key that is sharpened and hardened. Unfortunately the magazine does not provide online copies of the article. Enjoy Larry Upjohn.

[Travis Covington]

If this is for a school or robotics project, how about calling all of the shops within a 1hr drive and asking them to wire EDM or broach the parts for you? I bet you'd be able to find someone to do it for free within a weeks time of when you call. That is a conservative estimate, too.

[Greg Perkins]

*cough* waterjet *cough*

If you can find a shop locally that has one that may be able to waterjet your parts for free, look into it. You might not always get the friendly shops, so another option would be www.dcwaterjet.com I believe you can have your gears dropshipped to them and they do the cutting.

[sanddrag]

I don't think I'd waterjet something like that. I'd be worried about the draft.

[Dick Linn]

Here's one possible way:

"Make up a fixture to hold the [item] you want to broach the hole in. Ideally the end should be vertical but horizontal will do. Take a good quality allen key
and cut the short end off it. Drill a small hole about 4mm diameter through the
key about 1/2 inch from one end - you'll see why later. Then heat the other end to bright yellow and quench in boiling water to get a superhard tip. Grind the end to get sharp cutting edges.

Drill the hole in the piece to be broached at the size across the flats of the
allen key. Make it a bit deeper than you need so there is somewhere for the
swarf to go although if you want a bar magnet in there you'll have a smaller
deep hole anyway which will be fine.

Now you need a guide for the allen key to run in. Take a piece of steel about
3/4 inch thick and drill a hole through it just smaller than the size across
the corners (not the flats) of the allen key. Then tap the allen key through it
and you have just broached your first hole. Mount this piece of steel so the
hole in it is central to the part to be broached. You now have a guide which
will keep the allen key bang on centre all the time.

Now just tap the allen key into the workpiece a bit at a time and pull back to
blow out swarf. If the allen key sticks then use a small tommy bar in the hole
you drilled through one end of it. If you want the broached hole to be as dead
to size as possible then do this. Heat the workpiece in a flame to 200 degrees
C or so until you have broached to full depth. This will expand the workpiece
and the broached hole will be a tad undersize when cool. Then let it cool and
contract again and take a final cut in one hit to the full depth.

It's a lot of messing about to make one hole but you'll get it dead true and
dead to size if you do it this way.

Dave Baker at Puma Race Engines (London - England) - specialist flow
development and engine work. ."