- Jai Bhavani Nagar, Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane West, Thane, Maharashtra 400604
The Finetech Engineering Notch Cutter is a motorised broaching machine designed for one critical purpose: cutting precise V-notches and U-notches into plastic specimens before Izod and Charpy impact testing. The quality of the notch directly determines the validity of the impact test result. A notch that is too deep, too shallow, has the wrong angle, or has an incorrect tip radius will produce unreliable data and fail audits.
Impact testing standards — ASTM D256 (Izod), ASTM D6110 (Charpy), ISO 179, and ISO 180 — specify exact notch geometry: a 45° included angle with a tip radius of 0.25 mm ±0.05 mm and a depth that leaves a specified remaining ligament. The Finetech notch cutter is engineered to produce notches that meet these dimensions consistently, specimen after specimen, with no operator variability.
The motorised broaching action removes material in controlled cuts rather than scraping or milling. This is important because the notching process must not introduce residual stresses, micro-cracks, or heat into the specimen — any of which would artificially affect the measured impact strength. The broaching cutter achieves a clean, stress-free notch profile that satisfies the most stringent quality requirements.
| Notch Defect | Effect on Impact Test | Root Cause |
| Tip radius too large (blunt notch) | Artificially high impact values — specimen appears tougher than it is | Worn cutter blade or wrong blade geometry |
| Tip radius too small (over-sharp) | Artificially low impact values — premature brittle fracture | Improper blade, or manual cutting with a razor/saw |
| Wrong notch angle (not 45°) | Non-standard stress field — results not comparable to standard data | Wrong cutter blade or uncalibrated machine |
| Notch too deep | Reduced remaining ligament — lower impact values | Depth stop not set correctly |
| Notch too shallow | Specimen may not break cleanly — invalid test | Depth stop not set correctly |
| Heat damage at notch tip | Altered polymer structure — unreliable results | Manual sawing, milling at high speed, or wrong technique |
| Stress whitening at notch | Pre-existing micro-damage — low impact values | Blunt blade or excessive cutting force |
| Notch Type | Geometry | Standard | Application |
| V-Notch (Type A) | 45° included angle, 0.25 mm ±0.05 mm tip radius | ASTM D256, ASTM D6110, ISO 179-1/eA, ISO 180 | The standard notch for most Izod and Charpy impact tests on plastics |
| U-Notch | 1.0 mm radius semicircular notch | ISO 179-1/eU | For materials where V-notch produces too brittle a failure, or when specified by product standard |
| Custom Notch | As specified by customer standard | Custom | Non-standard notch geometries for specialised testing or product standards |
| Parameter | Specification |
| Product Name | Motorised Notch Cutter (V-Notch Broaching Machine) |
| Operation | Motorised broaching — controlled reciprocating cutting action |
| Notch Type | V-notch (45°, 0.25 mm radius) standard; U-notch (1.0 mm radius) available |
| Notch Angle | 45° ±1° included angle (per ASTM D256 / ISO 179) |
| Notch Tip Radius | 0.25 mm ±0.05 mm (per ASTM D256 / ISO 179) |
| Notch Depth | Adjustable — standard depth leaves remaining ligament per specimen thickness specification |
| Cutter Blade Type | Single-tooth or multi-tooth broaching cutter (HSS or carbide) |
| Specimens per Cycle | 1 or 2 specimens simultaneously (model-dependent) |
| Maximum Specimen Width | 12.7 mm (ASTM) or 10 mm (ISO) standard; wider specimens accommodated on request |
| Maximum Specimen Length | Up to 127 mm |
| Specimen Clamping | Vice clamp with adjustable positioning |
| Drive | Electric motor with controlled feed rate |
| Feed Rate | Controlled to prevent heat generation or stress introduction |
| Power Supply | 230V AC, single phase, 50 Hz |
| Frame Construction | Rigid steel frame, powder coated |
| Certification | ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing |
| NABL Certification | NABL-traceable dimensional certification available for notch geometry |
| Standard | Test Type | Specimen Dimensions | Notch Specs | Notch Position |
| ASTM D256 | Izod (notched) | 63.5 × 12.7 × 3.2 mm (or 6.4 mm preferred) | 45° V-notch, 0.25 mm radius, depth leaves 10.2 mm remaining width | 28 mm from one end |
| ASTM D6110 | Charpy (notched) | 127 × 12.7 × 3.2 mm (or wider) | 45° V-notch, 0.25 mm radius, depth leaves 10.2 mm remaining width | Centre of specimen |
| ISO 179-1 (eA) | Charpy (V-notch) | 80 × 10 × 4 mm (Type 1) | 45° V-notch, 0.25 mm radius, 2 mm depth (remaining 8 mm) | Centre of specimen |
| ISO 180 | Izod (V-notch) | 80 × 10 × 4 mm | 45° V-notch, 0.25 mm radius, 2 mm depth | Per standard |
| ISO 179-1 (eU) | Charpy (U-notch) | 80 × 10 × 4 mm | U-notch, 1.0 mm radius, depth as specified | Centre of specimen |
Step 1: Specimen Preparation
Step 2: Notching (This Is Where the Notch Cutter Is Used)
Step 3: Conditioning
Step 4: Impact Testing
Equipment needed for complete impact testing: Notch Cutter (specimen prep) + Izod & Charpy Impact Tester (testing) + Humidity Chamber (conditioning). Finetech manufactures all three.
| Feature | Single-Tooth Cutter | Multi-Tooth (Broach) Cutter |
| Cutting Action | One blade removes material in a single pass per stroke | Multiple teeth of increasing depth progressively remove material |
| Finish Quality | Good — single clean cut | Excellent — progressive cuts produce a smoother notch surface |
| Speed | Faster per specimen | Slightly slower (multiple teeth engage sequentially) |
| Heat Risk | Low — minimal friction | Very low — each tooth removes a small amount |
| Stress Risk | Low with proper feed rate | Very low — gentler material removal |
| Best For | Standard QC testing, most plastics | High-precision work, NABL-accredited labs, brittle or sensitive materials |
| Blade Replacement | Simpler — single blade to replace | More complex — multi-tooth assembly |
Precision that passes audits. 45° angle ±1°, 0.25 mm tip radius ±0.05 mm, controlled depth. Every notch meets ASTM D256, ASTM D6110, ISO 179, and ISO 180 requirements. Verified with NABL-traceable dimensional certification.
Motorised, not manual. The broaching motor controls the cutting speed and feed. No manual scraping, no razor-blade shortcuts, no operator-dependent notch quality. Consistent results from specimen 1 to specimen 1000.
No heat, no stress. The controlled broaching action removes material without generating heat or introducing residual stresses at the notch tip. This is what separates a proper notch cutter from a saw cut or manual file — and it is what makes the difference between a valid and an invalid impact test.
Part of the complete impact testing workflow. Finetech manufactures the notch cutter, the Izod & Charpy impact tester, and the humidity chamber for conditioning. One supplier for the complete impact testing chain.
Replacement blades and AMC support. Cutter blades wear over time and must be replaced periodically. We supply replacement blades (single-tooth and multi-tooth) and offer AMC plans that include blade condition checks and periodic notch profile verification.
| Product | Why Related |
| Izod & Charpy Impact Tester | The testing machine that uses the notched specimens this cutter prepares |
| Humidity Chamber | For conditioning specimens at 23°C/50% RH before impact testing |
| Hydraulic Press | For cutting rectangular bar specimens from moulded plaques before notching |
| Pneumatic Press | Alternative press for cutting bar specimens from sheets |
| Dumbbell Specimen Cutter | For tensile specimens — often needed alongside impact specimens |
| Universal Testing Machine (UTM) | Complementary tensile and flexural testing |
| Specimen Cutters & Moulds (Full Range) | Browse all Finetech specimen preparation equipment |
Customisation available
