Ohio Broach helps European bearing manufacturer with custom-designed broach machine

The “Ohio” H218X horizontal broach machine by Ohio Broach helped a European producer of crankshaft thrust bearings.

With more than 60 years in the broaching business, it is no surprise that The Ohio Broach and Machine Company has a history paved with success stories. From broach machines to broaching tools and related services, this company has satisfied countless industrial clients.

One case, a few years ago, involved a European bearing manufacturer that required a customized broaching machine to produce engine crankshaft thrust bearings for the automotive sector. For this, the company turned to Ohio Broach.

A specialized horizontal machine

The company’s manufacturing process involves stamping parts from presses near a broach machine, then loading the parts into a double-station magazine that carries about 20 minutes of parts in the machine. Then the machine strips the bottom part of each magazine from the full stack of parts and pushes them through two broach tunnels. There, broach tools remove stock and hold parts flat while keeping a surface finish of no more than 1.2 Ra.

Next, the parts exit the tunnels to an unloading area and travel down chutes to a collection area. Then the fixtures are returned to the original station, and the cycle starts over, continuing until the magazines are low, the parts feed into the broach tools incorrectly, or nobody is removing the parts from the chute’s exit area.

As experts in broach machines, Ohio Broach built a specialized “Ohio” H218X horizontal machine. This piece of equipment has two tons of cutting force, 18 inches of cutting stroke, and tandem stations, all in one machine. The “Ohio” is hydraulically driven, with a dual parallel hydraulic system that allows one side to run separately from the other side. Another major feature is an integral coolant pump and reservoir, which supplies coolant to the broach cutters.

Controlled by a PLC, this machine can broach as many as 1,400 parts per hour – and up to 40,000 between broach sharpening, depending on size and material.

This is just one example of how Ohio Broach has improved a manufacturer’s competitiveness – and continues to do the same with its broach machines and other capabilities.

To learn more, contact Ohio Broach.

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