Keyseaters are also known as keyway broaching machines, keyway cutters and keyseat cutters. They are a subcategory of internal broaching, which is a specific type of broaching that puts a hole from one surface side of a material through to the other side of the material, unlike blind broaching, which only involves surface work. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Isotech, Inc.
Hatfield, PA | 800-314-3332Since 1982, Isotech has been a leader in the broaching industry. You can trust the accuracy of these solutions, and the experts at Isotech are always available to assist you with your needs. Feel free to contact them today to learn more information!

Ohio Broach & Machine Company
Willoughby, OH | 440-946-1040For decades Ohio Broach has put back the cutting edge on dulled, unproductive broaches of every size and shape — keyways, splines, squares, hexagons, rounds, serrations and special forms — for companies worldwide. Our experience in every phase of broaching — design, manufacture, production and sharpening — has made Ohio Broach one of the most trusted names in broaching.

American Broach & Machine Company
Ypsilanti, MI | 734-961-0300American Broach and Machine Company has been a leader in the broaching industry since were founded in 1919, supplying quality products to innumerable customers. We have always offered superior services, like internal broaching, at competitive prices. Our dedicated employees are highly knowledgeable and would love to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Broaching Machine Specialties Co.
Novi, MI | 248-471-4500Broaching Machine Specialties (BMS) offers broaching solutions to meet any requirement, budget or need. Including: New, remanufactured or used broaching machines, turnkey broaching systems, production broaching services & parts and service for nearly every broaching machine made in the US since the 1940s.

Orange County Broaching
Anaheim, CA | 714-630-2622As a leading broaching company in the world, we do it all. We offer services to customers in every industry. We believe in offering superior service, a commitment to quality, and dedication to customers every day they work with us. Our goal is to ensure you can build a trusting relationship with us throughout your years in business. Learn more when you visit our website today!

These machines function by way of a topside support and guiding system, which ensures that the cuts are clean and precise. The cut comes from below the work-piece and cuts on the down stroke. The guiding system, usually a vise or clamp, keeps the material in place, and is either fed through the cutter manually, if the table is permanent, or if the table is moveable this happens automatically.
The piece being cut moves horizontally, while the keyseater cutter moves vertically. Although keyseaters are best known for cutting key holes, they are also capable of making other cuts, including cuts that do not fully penetrate. Examples of other products are tools like wrenches, fasteners and bushings.
The materials keyseaters commonly pierce through are metal, wood and plastic. Keyseating machines are almost always CNC run machines. Any object that has a lock requires the skills and operations of a keyseater.
Because of the varied materials that keyseaters must cut through, the material that they are made out of must be equally tough, if not more so. Diamond, cobalt, carbide and steel are all common materials for keyseaters, the first three being particularly effective for high speed machines. Coating is another necessity for keyseating machines, since the material is not about being corrosive resistant but doing the best job of keyseating consistently.
Therefore, coating processes such as anodizing, plasma spraying, ion plating, thermal spraying and electroless plating all increase the tool's hardness and resistance to abrasion, as well as making them sleeker. All of these characteristics contribute to the workable life of the keyseater.