A broaching machine uses a broach to cut holes and shapes in metal. Broaches are specific to size and shape, and the machines can be hydraulic or mechanical. There are two types of machines, vertical and horizontal, with an average stroke of 60 inches.
A broaching machine is a metalworking tool designed to finish metal by scraping off portions of it. The machine’s namesake broach is a tool with ascending teeth that cut holes, like circles and keyholes, in metal. Most broaching machines run on hydraulic power and are very simple, but some machines use mechanical parts for complex broaching. The machines can be horizontal or vertical; both perform roughly the same tasks, but upright machines tend to be more popular because they take up less space.
The most important part of the broaching machine is the broach itself. A broach is similar to a saw, except that its teeth are usually larger and increase in size from side to side. There are typically several types of teeth on a broach: those that initiate the cut, those that begin finishing the metal, and those that complete the finish. Broaches are used to cut holes in metal, usually inside shapes such as a circle, square, hexagon, rectangle, or keyhole. They can also create external shapes, such as an entire gear, but this is rare.
While the broaching machine is versatile, as it can be used with many different broaches, the broach itself can only be used for one purpose. Each broach is made to a specific size and shape and cannot be used for any other purpose, size or shape. This, and the expense of the broaches, means that manufacturers only create new broaches if the shape is going to be mass-produced.
Most broaching machines work with simple hydraulic power. This moves the broach back and forth across the metal surface, creating the shape in seconds; a broaching machine is only made for linear broaching, not rotary broaching. If the operator has a complex requirement, specialized broaching machines can be made that use mechanical power and have moving parts to help create any shape the operator needs. Mechanical broaches tend to have more power, so they can cut through harder metals in less time.
There are two main types of broaching machines: vertical and horizontal. Vertical machines stand upright and therefore take up less space, while a horizontal broaching machine is laid down. Both are relatively the same in terms of what broaches they can use and how the machine handles the broach, but vertical machines tend to be more popular because they use less workspace. Both broaching machines have an average stroke of 60 inches (1.5 meters), which is sufficient for most metal workpieces unless they are being used for large industrial purposes.
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