Polygon Solution Inc.’s new ‘Made in USA’ broach is a rotary broach with multiple text letters allowing machinists to stamp or mark their part in a lathe or milling machine without removing the part from the machine. The rotary broaching system is usually used for making hexagon, square or gear shape holes in precision machined products. It will have its official debut at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), September 8-13, 2014 in Chicago, Ill.
Polygon Solutions first introduced an innovative and award winning adjustment free Rotary Broach Tool Holder in 2010, ideal for CNC machines because of maintenance-free sealed bearings and a new pressure relief system. The company later announced a series of letter broaches in 2012. The broaches have letters or numbers and are inserted into Polygon’s broach holder to mark parts. The different identifying marks improve quality to distinguish between mixed lots of parts made in the same machines.
The ‘Made in USA’ broach was first tested during Polygon’s annual National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Manufacturing Day tour in 2013. Lee Virtual School students in Fort Myers, Fla. were taught about product development and how the new rotary broach ‘wobbles’ or displaces material to create the text. Polygon showcases new products to students in hopes of promoting the desire for STEM education in a new generation of engineers and machinists.
“‘Made in America’ is one of the strongest selling points we have, even for our U.S. customers,” says Matt Chambers of Marine Concepts in Cape Coral, Fla. “The quality of the overseas product has been, from the start an inferior product, and as the cost of quality is more than ever being taken into account, not only are we sought after for quality but our total cost for our customer is less.” Marine Concepts and Polygon Solutions Inc. actively work together as members of Florida’s Southwest Regional Manufacturing Association (SRMA).
Polygon’s new broach is not limited to the ‘Made in USA’ mark. The company sells its tools worldwide and is also developing the system to mark logos, slogans, and symbols. “We’ve had a few challenges to get it to work perfectly,” says Peter Bagwell, product engineer at Polygon. “But we keep working with our customers and our partners to get it right. Customers re-shoring their parts want to show they are now made in the United States.”
Bagwell adds “We’ve learned from our customers that our rotary broach holder is very easy to set up in the machine and very easy to use for making small hexagon and square holes. We hope the new ‘Made in USA’ broach helps them achieve an even higher level of satisfaction in both their parts and ours.”
Partners include the Precision Machined Product Association and National Tooling & Machining Association.
For more information on Polygon Solutions, visit www.polygonsolutions.com.
