In today’s highly developed manufacturing industry, external broaching machines have become indispensable and important equipment in the field of mechanical processing due to their unique processing capabilities and excellent performance.
Whether it is aerospace parts pursuing high precision or automobile manufacturing focusing on production efficiency, external broaching machines play a key role. It provides reliable solutions for external surface processing of various complex shapes, leading the continuous development of modern machining.
What is External Broaching Machine?
An external broaching machine is a machine tool that uses a broach to cut the outer surface of the workpiece. Its working principle is that through the linear or rotational motion of the broach, multiple cutting teeth on the broach sequentially cut the outer surface of the workpiece, thereby achieving the processing of the outer surface. During the movement of the broach, the cutting teeth gradually cut into the workpiece, removing excess material, and finally obtaining the required outer surface shape and size.
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Structural Composition Of External Broaching Machine
1.Lathe bed
The bed of the external broaching machine is the foundation of the entire equipment. It provides stable support for other components. The bed is usually made of high-strength cast iron, which has good rigidity and shock-absorbing properties
2.Broach
The broach is the core tool of the external broaching machine. It is made of high-speed steel or carbide and other materials, and has high hardness and wear resistance. The shape and size of the broach are designed according to the requirements of the workpiece, and there are multiple cutting teeth distributed on it.
3.Broach chuck
used to fix the broach to ensure the stability of the broach during processing.
4. Broach guide device
guides the movement direction of the broach to ensure processing accuracy.
5. Workbench
used to install and fix workpieces. The surface of the workbench is usually precision machined to ensure the installation accuracy of the workpieces.
6. Fixture
Select the appropriate fixture according to the shape and size of the workpiece to ensure that the workpiece will not be displaced or deformed during processing.
7. Transmission device
The transmission device provides power for the movement of the broach and is usually composed of motors, reducers, screws and other components. The transmission device can realize linear motion or rotational motion of the broach to meet different processing needs.
8. Cooling and lubrication system
During the processing process, the cooling and lubrication system can reduce the cutting temperature, reduce tool wear, and improve processing quality. The cooling system usually uses coolant spray or cooling oil circulation for cooling, and the lubrication system uses lubricating oil or grease to lubricate the broach and workpiece.
9. Chip removal system
The external broaching machine will produce a large amount of chips during the machining process. The chip removal system can promptly discharge the chips out of the processing area to prevent chip accumulation from affecting processing accuracy and equipment operation. Chip removal systems usually use spiral chip conveyors, magnetic chip conveyors, etc. to remove chips.
Advantages Of External Broaching Machine
High Precision Machining
The main reasons why external broaching machines can achieve high-precision external surface processing are as follows:
- The broach has high precision: The broach has been precision processed, and the shape and size of the cutting teeth are highly accurate, which can ensure the accuracy of the machined outer surface.
- High movement precision: The transmission device and guide device of the external broaching machine have high precision, which can ensure the movement precision of the broach, thereby achieving high-precision processing.
- Stable processing process: The cutting force of the broach is uniform during processing, and the processing process is stable, which is beneficial to improving processing accuracy.
In the field of precision machining, external broaching machines are widely used in the processing of aerospace parts, precision instrument parts, etc., and can meet the requirements for high-precision outer surfaces in these fields.
Efficient Production
- Complete multiple processes in one broaching: The external broaching machine can complete rough machining, semi-finishing and finishing machining of the outer surface at one time, greatly shortening the processing time and improving production efficiency.
- Fast processing speed: The broaching tool of the external broaching machine moves quickly and can complete the processing task in a short time.
- Compared with other processing methods, external broaching machines have obvious advantages in production efficiency and are especially suitable for mass production.
Adaptable To A Variety Of Materials And Shapes
- There are many types of materials that can be processed: external broaching machines can process various metal materials, such as steel, cast iron, aluminum alloys, etc., and can also process some non-metal materials, such as plastics, rubber, etc.
- Strong ability to process workpieces of different shapes: The external broaching machine can process workpieces of various shapes such as planes, cylindrical surfaces, conical surfaces, etc., and has strong adaptability.
Disadvantages Of External Broaching Machine
1.High cost
- The manufacturing and maintenance costs of external broaching machines are relatively high, which may not be cost-effective especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- High cost is a major obstacle to the popularity of external broaching machines, especially for companies with limited budgets, which may need to consider other more economical processing options.
2.High technical requirements
- Operating an external broaching machine requires experienced technicians, the operation is complex and requires training time
- High technical requirements mean that companies need to invest a lot of resources in operator training and technical support, which increases operating costs.
3.Covers a large area
External broaching machines usually occupy a large area, especially when processing large workpieces, which require a larger working space.
The large footprint may limit its use in small spaces, especially in compact factory environments.
External broaching machines have significant advantages in high precision, high efficiency and versatility, and are especially suitable for processing large flat surfaces and high margin external surfaces. However, its high cost, technical requirements and large footprint are also factors to consider. When choosing an external broaching machine, companies should make comprehensive considerations based on specific production needs, budget and technical capabilities.
Operation Process Of External Broaching Machine
1. Workpiece preparation and installation
Select the appropriate fixture according to the shape and size of the workpiece, install the workpiece on the workbench, and fix it. When installing, ensure the position accuracy and clamping force of the workpiece are moderate to avoid displacement or deformation during processing.
2.Broach selection, installation and debugging
Select the appropriate broach according to the outer surface shape and size of the workpiece, and install the broach on the broach chuck. Then debug the broach to ensure the position accuracy of the broach and the sharpness of the cutting edge.
3.Set processing parameters and start processing
According to the material and processing requirements of the workpiece, set appropriate processing parameters, such as broaching speed, pulling force, feed amount, etc. Then start the external broaching machine for processing.
4.Monitoring and adjustment during processing
During the processing, pay attention to the processing status, such as cutting force, temperature, sound, etc. If there are any abnormalities, stop the machine in time for inspection and make adjustments.
Development Trends Of External Broaching Machines
1.Technological Innovation
- Innovation in tool materials and design: As materials science continues to advance, new tool materials are emerging. These new tool materials have higher hardness, strength and wear resistance, which can improve the processing efficiency and tool life of external broaching machines. At the same time, the design of cutting tools is also constantly innovating, such as the use of multi-edge broaches, indexable broaches, etc., to improve processing efficiency and accuracy.
- Intelligent development of the control system: The control system of the external broaching machine is developing in an intelligent direction, using advanced sensor technology and automated control technology to realize real-time monitoring and adjustment of the processing process. For example, sensors can monitor parameters such as cutting force and temperature, and automatically adjust processing parameters to ensure processing quality and safe operation of equipment.
2.Green Processing
Application of energy-saving and emission-reduction measures in external broaching machines: With the continuous improvement of environmental awareness, external broaching machines are also constantly adopting energy-saving and emission-reduction measures. For example, efficient cooling systems and lubrication systems are used to reduce energy consumption; environmentally friendly cutting fluids are used to reduce environmental pollution.
3.Integration and automation
- Integration with other processing equipment: The external broaching machine can be integrated with other processing equipment to form an automated production line. For example, it can be integrated with CNC machine tools, robots and other equipment to realize automated processing and assembly and improve production efficiency and quality.
- Application prospects of external broaching machines in automated production lines: In future automated production lines, external broaching machines will play a more important role. It can realize unattended processing, improve production efficiency and quality, reduce production costs, and provide strong support for the development of the manufacturing industry.
Conclusion
As an important mechanical processing equipment, the external broaching machine has the advantages of high-precision processing, efficient production, and adaptability to a variety of materials and shapes. It has been widely used in automobile manufacturing, aerospace, mold manufacturing and other industries. With the continuous innovation and development of technology, the performance and functions of external broaching machines will continue to improve, making greater contributions to the development of the manufacturing industry. Looking to the future, external broaching machines will develop in the direction of intelligence, greenness, integration and automation, becoming an excellent choice in the field of modern mechanical processing.