Stepped rotary broaches and methods and systems employing same

Abstract

Stepped rotary broaches, and systems and methods employing such broaches, are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, a stepped rotary broach includes a contact portion integrally formed with or coupled to a support portion. The contact portion includes a face and a periphery. The periphery includes an outer surface and a plurality of step formations, where each of the step formations extends between the face and a respective location along the periphery at which the respective step formation adjoins a respective portion of the outer surface. Each of the step formations includes a respective step including a respective surface region extending in a respective direction about a central axis of the stepped rotary broach. The respective surface regions of the respective steps are respectively positioned more closely to the central axis than are the respective portions of the respective outer surface that respectively adjoin the respective step formations.