Keyway Cutter

**LMMasterMariner** · Mar 12, 2018, 02:11 AM

Made keyway cutter which I needed to cut keyways in 14 gears and 2 pulleys for my present project (external lathe headstock gearbox - still in progress, but I can see the end).

Made from 16 mm dia stainless steel round bar. Very simple to make but some elbow grease was used when filling the square hole for 6 x 6 mm square HSS bit. It can be used in lathe and drill.

Cheers
LMMasterMariner

**rossbotics** · Mar 12, 2018, 02:47 AM

Looks great, cant' wait to see the finished product

**Paul Jones** · Mar 12, 2018, 07:59 AM

LM Master Mariner,

That is lot of special work steps and the finished broaches look very precise. I like the way you created the special rings for protecting the gear teeth during the boring and broaching operation.

Looking forward to seeing the lathe headstock gearbox when it is finished.

Thank you for the posting.

Regards,
Paul Jones

**Captainleeward** · Mar 12, 2018, 03:21 PM

Hello, LMMasterMariner , nice piece of work there my friend...Cap. I was just getting ready to make one you beat me to the punch
ha ha..

**petertha** · Mar 12, 2018, 05:19 PM

So in the lathe environment, do you set the tool, traverse across the keyway shaving a bit off, retract the tool using cross slide, rinse & repeat until final depth? If so, about how much per slice?

**aphilipmarcou** · Mar 12, 2018, 06:54 PM

Thanks for that- lots to observe there with good pictures too.. I like your brake caliper on the lathe!

**LMMasterMariner** · Mar 13, 2018, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by petertha

So in the lathe environment, do you set the tool, traverse across the keyway shaving a bit off, retract the tool using cross slide, rinse & repeat until final depth? If so, about how much per slice?

I was broaching keyways by moving the carriage (elbow grease again) back and forth and for the first cuts where I already had the hole, I could increase 0.06 mm for each pass and near the end I was able to increase 0.01 mm per pass. Also from time to time made several passes without increments due to elasticity of gear material. It took me about 5 minutes to make keyway in a gear (#45 steel, thickness 15 mm, hole I.D. 20mm, key 6 x 6 mm; little bit more than 3 mm in gear keyway)

Cheers
LMMasterMariner

**DIYer** · Mar 14, 2018, 06:21 AM

Thanks LMMasterMariner! We've added your Keyway Cutter to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: LMMasterMariner's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Keyway Cutter by LMMasterMariner

tags: keyway, cutter