Keyways shouldn’t be a production bottleneck. But they still are. Not because they’re complicated— because the process around them is. The Problem Isn’t the Feature. It’s the Workflow. Need a keyway, slot, or internal feature? Now you’re choosing between: Broaching (if you even have the setup) Wire EDM (slow + expensive) Secondary ops on another machine Sending parts out So what happens? You break the workflow: Pull the part Re-fixture it Re-indicate it Hope alignment holds Now you’re stacking: Time Cost Risk All for a feature that should’ve been done in-cycle. What Shops Actually Deal With “We’ll just broach it later.” “That has to go to EDM.” “We don’t have that capability in this machine.” “We lost position when we moved it.” And the hidden one: You just turned a one-op part into a multi-op problem . duMONT CNC Slotting Brings the Operation In-Machine The duMONT CNC Motorized Slotter converts rotary motion into a controlled vertical reciprocating stroke. Meaning: Your machine can now slot, keyway, and shape internal features without ever removing the part. What That Actually Changes Single-Setup Machining No part transfer No re-indicating No alignment risk You cut the feature exactly where it belongs . CNC-Controlled Stroke Programmable positioning Controlled depth and feed Repeatable results No manual broaching variability. Live Tool Compatibility Runs on CNC lathes or mills with live tooling Integrates directly into existing programs No dedicated slotting machine required. Flexible Tooling Keyways Internal splines Slots Form features If it can be cut with a reciprocating tool—it can be done in-cycle. What That Means on the Floor No secondary operations No outsourcing No fixture changes No lost alignment You stop building workarounds… …and start finishing parts in one setup. The Result Reduced cycle time (no additional setups) Improved positional accuracy Lower cost per part Faster turnaround Increased machine utilization And most importantly: You keep the entire process under your control . Bottom Line If you’re moving parts to finish internal features… You don’t have a tooling problem. You have a workflow problem. The duMONT CNC Motorized Slotter fixes both. Let us show you how duMount Indexable Broaching can speed up your workflow
If you’ve drilled carbon fiber, you’ve seen it before. The entry looks clean. The top looks good. Then you flip the part… and the exit is gone. Delamination. Fuzz. Scrap. So what do you do? Slow it down. Add peck cycles. Reduce feed rates. Now a 3-second job takes 15 seconds plus. The Real Problem Isn’t Speed—It’s Force Most drills push through material. At breakthrough, CFRP has no support left—so instead of cutting cleanly, the tool forces fibers outward, separating them from the resin. That’s what destroys the exit. Now add stack materials: CFRP + Aluminum CFRP + Titanium And it gets worse—hot metal chips re-enter the hole, damaging walls and killing tolerances. You Know the Signs Crunching at breakthrough Bird nesting on the tool Peck cycles just to survive Fuzz that needs a second operation This isn’t just tooling. It’s physics. A Better Way to Cut The Wave-Point® Drill by Sharon-Cutwell changes how the cut happens. Instead of pushing through material, it pulls fibers into the cut . Its patented “wave” geometry: Breaks the cutting edge into stages Controls the material during breakthrough Distributes cutting forces across multiple points The result? A controlled, clean exit—every time. What It Means on the Floor Higher feed rates without delamination Clean entry and exit holes No fuzz or uncut fiber Stable performance in CFRP/Al and CFRP/Ti stacks Reduced or eliminated peck cycles Longer tool life with CVD diamond coating The Result No more programming around the problem. No more: Slowing feeds Adding peck cycles Secondary cleanup operations Stopping to clear chips Instead, you get: Consistent hole quality Predictable cycle times Faster throughput (as low as ~3 seconds per hole) Reliable performance in abrasive materials Bottom Line If your process is built around avoiding damage… you’re already losing time. Stop compensating. Start cutting. Learn How Custom tools from Sharon-Cutwell can improve your productivity and results.