Broaching and keyway cutting job work makes keyways, splines and shaped holes that a lathe or drill cannot make. A broach is a long multi-tooth tool pushed or pulled through the part; a slotting machine cuts the same shapes one stroke at a time for smaller quantities.
Quick facts
- Common work
- Internal keyways, splines, square and hex holes
- Methods
- Push or pull broaching, slotting, keyway milling
- Typical width tolerance
- Keyways usually to JS9 or P9 fits
- Speed
- Broaching makes a feature in one pass
- Usually priced
- Per piece, by size
- Input
- Drawing with bore size, keyway width and depth
Broaching or slotting?
- Broaching: fastest and most consistent, needs a broach for each size; best for repeat batches and standard keyways
- Slotting: no special tool, slower; good for few pieces, large or special sizes
- Keyway milling: for external keyways on shafts, done on a milling machine or VMC
How to specify a keyway
- Bore diameter with tolerance (e.g. Ø40 H7)
- Keyway width and its fit (e.g. 12 JS9)
- Depth, usually given as the size from the opposite side of the bore
- Spline type and size from the standard, if splined
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Related job work
Materials
Questions
- What is broaching used for?
- Making internal shapes such as keyways, splines, square and hexagon holes, quickly and accurately in one pass.
- How is keyway depth shown on a drawing?
- Usually as the dimension from the bottom of the keyway to the opposite side of the bore, which is easy to measure.
The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 9 October 2026.