Marking Broach creates letters or numbers in metal parts

Polygon Solution’s innovative letter broach is a unique on-machine alternative to present day stamping and punching techniques for marking parts.

Fort Myers, FL – Polygon Solution’s Letter Broach is a new cutting tool used to create letters or numbers in metal parts. The Letter Broach is used in a rotary broach tool holder and is driven in a rotary motion around a fixed pivot point. This rotary motion reduces wear on the cutting tool, and eliminates secondary operations. Letter Broaches may also improve tooling costs and quality systems.

Typical methods of marking parts with letters or numbers include stamping presses, hand punches and automated methods which forcefully press a stamp into the metal part. This new method of marking eliminates the impact of a high powered press or hammer, and gently displaces the material until the desired depth is achieved. The reduced impact will improve life for the cutting tool, tool holder and machine.

Using the Letter Broach within the machine eliminates secondary operations and reduces opportunities for operator error. Cost savings can include less machines, manual labor and tooling costs. The Letter Broaches are designed to fit inside most industry standard rotary broaching tool holders.

A benefit of using letter marking broaches in modern CNC machines with a tool holder carousel is the opportunity to mark mixed batches of parts. For example, if one machine is programmed to run three different parts, each can have a dedicated Letter Broach. Parts can be clearly marked A, B or C. Parts with similar features not easily seen by the naked eye can be marked with characters for improved quality. Parts marked this way can also be sorted faster.

Soft materials including aluminum and brass are ideal for rotary broaching. Various characters and symbols can be made, sometimes including multiple characters or custom designs.

Polygon Solutions Inc. is an innovative manufacturer of rotary broaching tools. Polygon’s Letter Broaches are the same size as standard hexagon and square rotary broach tools, and will fit into the popular GT Series rotary broaching tool holder.

The Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday donated a firearm marking machine to the government of the Dominican Republic to be used by the Ministry of Interior and Police to combat the illicit trafficking of firearms.

This initiative, implemented in 25 countries of the region, forms part of the efforts outlined by the secretary general of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, and defines the organization as a strategic actor in the fight against crime.

The donation -- funded by the government of the United States -- is part of the program “Promoting Firearms Marking in Latin America and the Caribbean,” following the Inter-American Convention against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), and seeks to strengthen national capabilities on matters of firearms marking.

The OAS presented to the government of the Dominican Republic a special computer to facilitate the process of record-keeping on marked firearms. Among the organization’s principal goals is the strengthening of national capabilities of the member states to respond, in an effective and efficient way, to the growing levels of crime and violence caused by the illicit trafficking in firearms.

In this sense, the OAS cooperates with the countries of the region with the objective that, in the shortest time possible, all the member states will have established policies, as well as relevant legislation, to mark firearms at the time of manufacturing and/or import.