Keyseating is a machining operation that uses a single-point tool to create shapes in interior areas of a work piece. The process involves clamping a keyseating tool in a cutter holder and then, in unison with a feed bar, it slides up and down vertically in the tool guide. In this operation, a keyseater enters the work piece through the bottom. A keyseater is the machine used to make keyways in a part.

Keyseating machining is common for the fabrication of internal keyways in gears. This method can provide good accuracy for these parts. Keyseaters and keyseating tools cut internal shapes and are a good option when broaching methods are unsuitable for certain jobs. Feel free to use keyseating cutting tools on a variety of materials.

When searching for keyseating services to meet your business needs, there are some options that you should consider:

1. Find keyseating services that can meet all your machining needs.

2. Choose a keyseater manufacturer that offers a good selection of machines.

3. Minimize keyseating tooling costs by buying quality tools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select keyseating machining services for various applications

Finding providers that can meet your machining needs, is important. Some machine shops may specialize in keyseating services for gears, while others may offer services that include different types of broaching, engineering design and others. Choose the right services that can meet your specific requirements.

I recommend: VW Broaching Service is a specialty machine shop that offers keyseating, broach tooling and many different types of broaching services. Good keyseating information is also available; use the contact page for quotes and to provide specs. Buffalo Gear offers both broaching and keyseating services for gears, which includes keyseating large keyways. Kramer Power Equipment also offers good services with many keyway combinations in inch and metric.

Purchase a quality keyseater for your business

If you provide keyseating services, you may at some time need to upgrade or replace equipment. Buying new, used or remanufactured keyseating machines can increase productivity and be a more economical way in which to produce irregular shapes when a broaching machine is not appropriate for some applications. Look for suppliers that offer a variety of new or used equipment at good prices.

I recommend: At D.C. Morrison, you can find Morrison keyseaters, cutters and broach kits for this equipment. MachineTools.com carries new and different brands of used keyseaters that include Mitt & Merrill and Fromag.

Buy the right keyseating tools and broaches for your machines

Good keyseating cutters, tooling and keyseating broaches are essential to produce quality parts with extreme accuracy. There are some vendors that offer cutter tools and tooling for specific brands of machines. Likewise, many suppliers also offer many types of keyseating broaches. Save time by choosing those suppliers with good inventories to meet all your tooling needs.

I recommend: Sharp-Rite Tool has keyseat cutters and tooling for different brands of keyseat machines like Morrison, Fromag, WGW and Mitt & Merrill. At duMONT, there is a variety of keyseating broaches in many sizes. MSC Industrial Supply also carries these items.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A keyseater is similar to a vertical shaper in that they both use a single-point tool but the difference is that a vertical shaper enters a work piece through the top.