"Minute Man"® Broaches are designed for fast, accurate, and convenient broaching with either arbor or hydraulic presses. A study of this Engineering Section will familiarize the operator with proper broaching procedures and troubleshooting practices.

If you have specific questions or problems not covered on these pages,
contact your "Minute Man"® distributor: Maryland Metrics.

Broaching with Keyway Sets or Individual Keyway Broaches
Bushings are required. Shims are required with all but the smallest broaches, and are provided with each individual keyway broach and broach set for cutting to standard depth.

1. Select the right bushing for the bore (sizes are plainly marked) and insert in the bore of work. 2. Insert broach (which is also plainly marked for size) for the desired width of keyway       into the bushing slot and check alignment. 3. Place this assembly in the press. 4. Lubricate. 5. Push Broach through. 6. Clean broach. 7. Insert shims as required to obtain exact keyway depth.

Broaching with One-Pass Keyway Broaches
No shims are necessary. "C" style bushings are required.

1. Insert bushing in part. 2. Insert broach and check alignment. 3. Lubricate. 4. Push broach through. 5. Clean broach.

Broaching with Production Keyway Broaches
No shims or bushings required.

1. Insert broach pilot into bore of part. 2. Lubricate. 3. Push broach through. 4. Clean broach.

Broaching with Internal Hole Broaches
Round, Square, Hexagon, and Special Shapes. No shims or bushings required.

1. Insert broach and check alignment. (The use of a ram adapter     is advised with all round, oval, D-hole broaches, and for square     and hexagon broaches 1/4" and smaller). 2. Lubricate. 3. Push broach through. 4. Clean broach. 5. Ram Speed: Always use proper ram speed to prevent chatter     marks and edge wear.              (See Metals Handbook--Vol. 3 "Machining".) 6. Pilot Holes: Properly drilled pilot holes are essential for a true and clean cut. Never use a dull or poorly sharpened drill to make pilot holes.

Ram Adapters
Ram adapters, or rear guides, provide support and guidance for the broach at the shank end, minimizing the possibility of deflection or breakage. Ram adapters are recommended for all standard round, oval, D-hole broaches, square and hexagon broaches 1/4" and smaller, and in certain other situations where an extraordinarily high degree of accuracy is required.

If a ram adapter is used as a rear guide for the broach, the hole in the ram adapter must be in alignment with the pilot hole in the workpiece. Whenever ram adapters are used they must provide a tight, true fit to both the press ram and the broach shank.

Ram Adapter to guide broach shank: When using special broaches, all D, Double-D, and most rectangular broaches have a tendency to deflect. To prevent this, the simple ram adapter, which can be fitted to either an arbor or hydraulic press, will guide the broach throughout the cut.

If you have specific questions or problems not covered on these pages,
contact your "Minute Man"® distributor: Maryland Metrics.