12 mm Round Shank Snap Ring Groove Cutter Kit HEI

12 mm Round Shank Snap Ring Groove Cutter Kit

The Heavy Equipment Ironworks 12 mm Snap Ring Groove Cutter Kit is designed for machining internal snap ring and retaining ring grooves using portable line boring equipment with 12 mm round tool ports.

The compact spring-loaded design allows grooves to be machined directly with the boring bar in position, making it particularly useful for on-site repairs and applications where access is limited.

How it works

A 3/16" Cobalt/HSS tool blank is ground to suit the required groove dimensions and fitted into the 12 mm round toolholder. The cutting bit is secured using the small side set screw.

A spring is inserted into the opposite end of the holder and preloaded using the rear set screw. This spring pressure provides the radial cutting force during machining.

The toolholder is installed into the boring bar and positioned at the required groove location. With the cutter positioned close to the bore surface, the toolholder is secured using the boring bar set screw.

The side set screw is then released — HEI recommends removing it completely — allowing the spring-loaded HSS cutter to feed radially into the bore as the boring bar rotates.

Once the groove has been completed, the side set screw is reinstalled to retract and secure the cutting bit. The toolholder can then be released and the boring bar withdrawn.

Working range

Three different toolholder lengths are supplied:

• 2"
• 2¾"
• 3½"

When used with a 2" boring bar, these provide an approximate working range of 2½" to 6" bore diameter.

Larger diameters can be accommodated by installing the groove cutter into a suitable extended toolholder.

The compact design can also allow grooves below 2½" diameter to be machined when used with smaller boring bars, subject to the particular bar and tool-port arrangement.

Spring selection

The kit includes different spring strengths to provide a choice of cutting pressure.

Spring selection and preload will depend on factors including groove width, material and cutting conditions. Some initial adjustment may therefore be required to determine the most suitable spring and preload for a particular application.

HSS cutting tools

The kit includes two 3/16" Cobalt/HSS tool blanks.

The blanks can be cut to approximately 1" length and ground to the profile and width required for the snap ring groove being machined.

This allows the same kit to be used for a wide range of groove dimensions rather than relying on a dedicated cutter for each size.

Kit includes

• 2" 12 mm round toolholder
• 2¾" 12 mm round toolholder
• 3½" 12 mm round toolholder
• 2 × 3/16" Cobalt/HSS tool blanks
• Selection of different-strength springs
• Required set screws plus spares
• Hex keys
• Compact storage case

Manufacturer: Heavy Equipment Ironworks LLC
Manufactured in: De Pere, Wisconsin, USA
UK stock and supply: Bory Tools