Anyone bought Arc Euro Trade’s metric Keyway Broach Sets

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

I just wondered if anyone had purchased any of the Metric Keyway Broach Sets from Arc Euro Trade or could recommend anyone elses- I'm thinking of taking the plunge on their £200 set for cutting aluminium pulleys – and I might even try brass/steel depending on how it performs

Thanks to all in advance,

Russ

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I bought a small set from Shars in the US of 1/16, 3/32 and 1/8 with half a dozen bushes, they also do larger sizes and work out a lot cheper than the named brand broaches though being US based may not do metric. They seem fine for our occasional use. E-mail for postage as the one on the shopping basket is way too expensive

I have also bought a coupel of singles from Steelman, again they have worked fine on CI flywheels

Its easy enough to make up your own bushes, I've made several.

Edited By JasonB on 25/03/2014 14:45:23

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Thanks Jason,

It is just metric I'm after, I have noticed they cost almost 50% more than an imperial set of similar sizes – although only ArcEuro seems to sell them as a (budget) set.

I've been on Steelmans website this morning, and after going around and around the net I landed on Rotagrip at around £30 a broach delivered (I'll take some of their metric 123 blocks too since they're so well priced) although their ebay customer service did tell me that they are out of stock and do not know how long resupply will take, so I suspect purchasing on their website will yield a similar result.

I need to key a 10mm hole with a 4mm key, and I'm not sure if this is even possible – Arc's set only goes down to a 12mm bush and it looks like that could be the limit without getting creative. – I will have to double check that size tonight.

Edited By Russ B on 25/03/2014 15:32:29

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

I had a keyway broached into a pulley by a local engineering firm. It was a non prefered size so I had to make up the bush – and it came out fine.
There was also an article in MEW on how to make your own broaches a while back.

W.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by Graham Meek on 25/03/2014 16:59:06:

Having used push broaches in industry, the Arc set was used for a project I am working on they work very well, if you want to know more read the article on the Arc site it has some interesting tips and ideas.

Gray,

As a matter of fact Graham that is very good advice, I read this article just last night and it does give some good tips.

I was considering buying a set myself as I have a couple of keyways to cut for my Mill Powered X-Axis project but I have worked out that the boss of the local engineering firm goes away early on Friday afternoons………..

graham.

[WorkshopPeteParticipant @workshoppete]

Hi All

A simple dodge if you are only going to do a couple of keyways is to use the tool slide on your lathe – remove the feed screw and replace with a lever assembly. Grind a tool the width of the keyway required and mount in a boring bar like tool and use the tool slide as a shaper. In aluminum it takes only a few minutes to cut say a 3/16" keyway in steel a little longer. I recently cut a 3/16" keyway in a tapered bore of a sprocket for an old Matchless motor bike. If you have a number keys to cut in a parallel bore the push broach is without doubt the best way.

Peter

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

I have been busy putting 8 mm keyway in a number of steel sprockets and capping bushes. I had 52 to do and decided that a broach would be the fastest method (I do have a slotting head but 52 – would you?). I have done about half so far and they work a treat once you get to grips with the "feel" of the cutter and work out the sweet spot on the press -I also bought a 3t press from MSC. I got mine from Amadeal and it came in a nice wooden box with all you need – apart from a 30 mm bush which is at the top end of the keyway spec. I bought the 30 mm bush from MSC as Amadeal did not have it. The broach set was circa £130 and the press was £126 so the whole lot works out at £5 a part and I have a set of broaches for all the common metric keys and an 3t press (ratchet) to boot that has come in very handy for assembly all ready!

The keys I am cutting are 32 mm long and the sprockets are in EN202 – the one thing I noticed at first was there is a tendency to push the broach back against the bush/shim, and this makes the broach cut deep at the bottom of the bore.

​Mark

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Mark,

A little EP 90 gear oil helps things along too, it makes the whole job easier and preserves the edges of the teeth, as well as reducing the frictional drag on the rear face of the broach as it runs down the bush.

Rinse the parts afterwards in paraffin to get rid of the stink of cat pee.

Brian

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Brian, I had meant to add that I used Ambersil Tufcut spray but forgot! It's really good for tapping which is why I keep it but it also works on most cutting jobs if things are getting heavy and it smells pleasant as well.

Mark

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Some great information on here, thanks to everyone involved.

I think I'm going to hold out for Amadeal to get their metric sets back in stock (sub £140 delivered – same as Arc's £200+delivery set – most unlike ArcEuro to be beaten on price but so be it)

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

Have you considered alternatives? £200 is around half of what you might pay for a used Bridgeport Slotting Head which is a lot more versatile, and a used shaper might set you back around £200 both will cut slots/keyways.

Paul

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

I'm downsizing to just model engineering scale kit, someone is collecting my Bridgeport this weekend =(

I had considered a hand shaper – but a broach sets fits nicely in a draw and takes minutes from start to finish with excellent results and very little setup and measuring etc.

I can't think of any scenarios where I'd need to key or shape a blind hole that I couldn't design around – and in the rare cases, I could probably engineer an attachment for the lathe or arbor press that would get the job done if I didnt wan't to send it away to have it done.

Edited By Russ B on 27/03/2014 12:26:52

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

ETW designed a slotting head for the Myford that was basically a large angle plate to which the topslide was attached so that a connecting rod from a driving plate on the spindle could work it up and down.

Neil

[IDPParticipant @idp]

I made a slotting machine for my Myford some years ago to a similar design that I now believe is marketed by Hemmingway Kits [I may be mistaken], the original design no doubt is somewhere in a model engineer magazine.

The machine works very well and has cut numerous keyways mainly cast iron locomotive wheels, tapered keyways can also be cut, a bounus is it also provides a workout so saves going to the gym.

Regards

IDP

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

IDP, if you don't push the broach square, you can get tapered keyways with these as well…

Mark

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