Union Butterfield 4537 High-Speed Steel Chucking Reamer, Right Hand Spiral Flute, Taper Shank, Uncoated (Bright), 1/4 inch

The Union Butterfield 4537 uncoated high-speed steel right-hand spiral flute chucking reamer (also called a machine reamer) has a Morse taper shank tool with a 45-degree bevel lead, commonly used for general-purpose reaming; it is also chosen for reaming interrupted cuts and blind holes (with only one opening). Right-hand spiral reamers are useful for interrupted cuts and blind holes. Spiral construction prevents whole-flute contact with the leading edge in an interrupted cut, as in a keyway. This reduces the possibility of damage to the interruption and to the reamer flute. Right-hand spiral tools pull chips away from the tip of the tool, instead of driving chips in front of the tool. As a result right-hand spiral reamers are useful when reaming blind holes, since pulling chips out of the hole prevents clogging as well as tool damage that can result from clogging.

High-speed steel (HSS) is a common, general-purpose steel for cutting tools and is compatible with a variety of materials. With no coating or surface treatment, this uncoated tool can be used on a broad range of materials and provide an economical alternative to coated tools. Taper shank tools can be self-holding or self-releasing based on the degree of taper: Small tapers are self-holding within a tool holder, while large tapers are self-releasing and will easily release from the tool holder. The shank end of a Morse taper shank tool is self-holding because friction between the tool and the tool holder prevents slippage. It is tapered to ensure accurate alignment of the tool in the socket of the tool holder. This reamer has a 45-degree bevel at the cutting tip to facilitate entry to pre-drilled holes.

In the Union Butterfield 4537 series, reamers 0.2500” to 0.5000” in diameter have six flutes, 0.5625” to 1.0625” in diameter have eight flutes, and 1.1250” to 1.5000” in diameter have 10 flutes. Tolerances for reamers up to 0.5000” are +0.0002” to -0.0000”; larger than 0.0500” and up to 0.7500” are +0.0003” to -0.0000”; and larger than 0.7500” up to 1.5000” are +0.0004” to -0.0000”. There is an exception for reamers that are dowel-pin sized; their tolerances are +0.0000” to -0.0002”.

Reamers are used to finish existing holes. When holes are created using common applications such as drilling or punching they often have minute imperfections. Their roundness may be flawed, or their diameters may be slightly smaller than required. Reamers are made to exacting tolerances so they can correct such errors and create precisely round holes with exact dimensions. Reaming is often used before tapping screw threads.

Dormer Pramet manufactures cutting tools under the following brands: Precision Twist Drill, Dormer, Union Butterfield and Pramet. The company has locations around the world, and provides tools adhering to ANSI, NAS, and DIN standards.