CNC Broaching Nickel Silver is a core capability at VT machining. We combine controlled machining with material-aware setup for Nickel Silver — an alloy that is corrosion resistant with a bright silver-white finish — to produce parts that meet your specification first time.
Process Data for CNC Broaching Nickel Silver
| Broaching speed (HSS-E) | 8-16 m/min |
|---|---|
| Rise per tooth | 0.05-0.10 mm |
| Lubricant | Sulphurised broaching oil |
Shown for Nickel Silver (C752 / CuNi18Zn20), the most common Nickel Silver grade we see for CNC Broaching. Typical values for Nickel Silver (C752 / CuNi18Zn20), Half-hard or spring temper; confirmed on the first part.
CNC Broaching Capability for Nickel Silver
- Keyways & splines
- Internal profiles
- One-pass forming
- High repeatability
Nickel Silver material properties, finishing options and grade notes are on our CNC Milling Nickel Silver page.
How CNC Broaching Nickel Silver Works
Rotating multi-flute cutters remove material as the Nickel Silver workpiece is driven through programmed tool paths on 3-, 4- or 5-axis machining centres. Climb milling, step-over and depth-of-cut are set so chip load stays in the ideal band for the alloy.
Every job begins from your CAD model or 2D drawing. Fixturing and tool paths are planned so the most critical dimensions are produced in the most rigid, repeatable setup. Critical dimensions are checked on the first part and monitored through the run.
Achievable Tolerances for CNC Broaching Nickel Silver
| Feature | Standard | Precision |
|---|---|---|
| Linear dimension (< 100 mm) | ±0.05 mm | ±0.010 mm |
| Linear dimension (100–300 mm) | ±0.10 mm | ±0.025 mm |
| Hole diameter (reamed) | H9 | H7 |
| True position of hole pattern | ±0.10 mm | ±0.025 mm |
| Flatness over 100 mm | 0.05 mm | 0.015 mm |
| Perpendicularity | 0.10 mm | 0.020 mm |
| Surface finish, as machined | Ra 1.6 µm | Ra 0.4 µm |
Standard is what a normal quotation assumes. Precision is available on nominated features and is priced separately, because it needs extra setups, in-process gauging and CMM verification. Call out only the features that need it — blanket-tightening a drawing is the single most common reason a quote comes back expensive.
Design Tips for CNC Broaching Nickel Silver
A few design choices make a real difference to cost and quality. Generous internal radii, sensible pocket depth-to-width ratios and avoiding very thin unsupported walls all reduce cost and improve accuracy in Nickel Silver. If you send your model early, we will return practical DFM feedback before you commit to production.
CNC Broaching Tolerances & Surface Finish
For CNC Broaching, dimensional and positional tolerances around ±0.01 mm are routine, tightening toward ±0.005 mm on precision setups. Surface finish on machined faces typically falls in the Ra 0.4–1.6 µm range depending on tooling and pass strategy.
Final tolerances are governed by the material's behaviour, wall thickness and overall stiffness. We give honest DFM feedback if a callout would be costly or better achieved another way.
Applications of CNC Broaching Nickel Silver
CNC Broaching of Nickel Silver supports parts across aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics, semiconductor, energy and general industrial sectors. We scale from one-off prototypes to ongoing production while holding the same quality.
Typical Nickel Silver Parts for CNC Broaching
Illustrative examples of CNC Broaching Nickel Silver parts and the callouts that usually drive the process plan. They show the kind of work that fits this process; they are not specific customer orders.
Manifold block
- Material
- Nickel Silver
- Size
- 120 × 60 × 45 mm
- Key callouts
- Cross-bore intersection ±0.05 mm, ports G1/8", leak-tested to 10 bar
- Batch
- 80 pcs
Deburred internally with a brush tool; a burr at a cross-bore is what fails the leak test.
Heat sink base
- Material
- Nickel Silver
- Size
- 200 × 100 × 8 mm
- Key callouts
- Fin thickness 1.2 ±0.05 mm, base flatness 0.03 mm
- Batch
- 500 pcs
Fins cut with a slotting cutter in one pass to avoid the deflection a step-over leaves.
Optical mount plate
- Material
- Nickel Silver
- Size
- 160 × 160 × 12 mm
- Key callouts
- Hole pattern true position ±0.02 mm, flatness 0.01 mm
- Batch
- 40 pcs
Roughed, stress-relieved overnight, then finished — the plate is too thin to hold flatness in one hit.
No drawing yet? Build one in the browser.
Set the metal, dimensions and features, watch the 3D model update as you type, then switch to the 2D sheet to add dimensions and tolerances. Download it or send it straight to us with your RFQ.
What We Need to Quote CNC Broaching Nickel Silver
- GeometrySTEP or IGES for the 3D model, plus a PDF drawing if you have tolerance callouts. A dimensioned sketch is enough to start.
- MaterialThe exact Nickel Silver grade and condition — temper, heat-treat state or hardness. If you are not sure, tell us the function and we will suggest one.
- QuantityPrototype count and the expected annual volume. Both change how the part is made and therefore what it costs.
- TolerancesWhich features are critical. Everything else runs to our standard tolerance, which is what keeps the price sensible.
- FinishSurface treatment, cosmetic requirements, and any faces that must be masked.
- DocumentsWhether you need a material certificate, dimensional report, FAIR or PPAP with the shipment.
Missing something from the list is not a problem — send what you have. We will come back with the specific questions rather than a generic form.
Other Metals for CNC Broaching
Other Processes for Nickel Silver
Send the drawing, the Nickel Silver grade and the quantity. You get pricing, lead time and any DFM notes back — usually within one business day.
Request a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Why is Nickel Silver a good choice for CNC Broaching?
Nickel Silver is corrosion resistant with a bright silver-white finish, which makes it well suited to CNC Broaching. We tune the process to the alloy so the finished Nickel Silver machining part meets your dimensional and functional requirements.
How clean are the edges produced by CNC Broaching on Nickel Silver?
Machined Nickel Silver edges are clean and to specification; edge-break or deburring is added when your drawing calls for it.
Which industries use CNC Broaching Nickel Silver parts?
CNC Broaching Nickel Silver parts are used across aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics, semiconductor and general industrial sectors — anywhere precise Nickel Silver components are required.
What material thickness or size range suits CNC Broaching Nickel Silver?
We machine Nickel Silver across a broad size range; share your part envelope for confirmation.
Can VT machining make custom Nickel Silver parts to my drawing?
Yes. Nickel Silver machining is made to order from your CAD/2D drawing. Share your geometry, material grade, tolerance and quantity and we will confirm feasibility, lead time and pricing.
Does CNC Broaching Nickel Silver require dedicated tooling?
Most Nickel Silver machining work uses standard cutting tools and CNC programs; dedicated fixtures are made only when geometry or volume requires them.