Granted Patent B2

US 7,681,300 · App. 11/936,146 · Granted Mar 23, 2010

Abstract

Claims (13)

1. A method of broaching a work piece having an inner diameter and an outer diameter comprising:

machining the outer diameter;

after machining the outer diameter, applying circumferentially-distributed radial force to the inner diameter or the machined outer diameter of the work piece to thereby center the work piece with respect to a broach tool; and

after the applying step, broaching the inner diameter of the work piece using the broach tool.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is characterized by an absence of turning the inner diameter to be concentric with the outer diameter after the machining step and before the broaching step.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying step occurs automatically as a result of axially aligning a centering device with the work piece.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

centering a centering device with respect to the broach tool, wherein the radial force is applied by the centering device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

prior to said applying step, axially aligning the centering device with the work piece.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the machining step is one of pot broaching, castellating, hobbing or turning.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after the applying step, clamping the centered work piece prior to the broaching step.

Assignments (11)