Patent Application
20230398613
The disclosure relates to metal workpiece cutting tools and cutting apparatus having portions which rotate in opposite directions, and to methods of their use to cut metal workpieces.
When metal workpieces are cut with cutting tools and cutting apparatus, large cutting forces are often created. This increases the bending moment and creates instability in the cutting tool and metal workpiece. This also reduces the speeds and feeds that can be used during the cutting process. As a result, firm clamping of the metal workpiece is required which can be challenging if the metal workpiece has a complex shape, is long and slender, or fragile.
A metal workpiece cutting tool, cutting apparatus, and method of use is needed to reduce one or more issues associated with current metal workpiece cutting tools, cutting apparatus, and methods of cutting metal workpieces.
In one embodiment, a cutting tool for cutting a metal workpiece includes a first portion, and a second portion. The first portion includes a first outer surface, a first shaft, and at least one cutting insert attached to the first outer surface. The second portion includes a second outer surface and a second shaft. The first and second shafts are disposed coaxially around an axis. The first and second outer surfaces are disposed adjacent to one another. The first and second outer surfaces are configured to rotate around the axis in opposite directions.
In another embodiment, a cutting apparatus for cutting a metal workpiece includes a first portion, a second portion, a first driving device, and a second driving device. The first portion includes a first outer surface, a first shaft, and at least one cutting insert attached to the first outer surface. The second portion includes a second outer surface and a second shaft. The first and second shafts are disposed coaxially around an axis. The first and second outer surfaces are disposed adjacent to one another. The first driving device is connected to the first shaft. The first driving device is configured to rotate the first outer surface in a first direction around the axis. The second driving device is connected to the second shaft. The second driving device is configured to rotate the second outer surface in a second direction around the axis opposite the first direction.
In still another embodiment, a method of cutting a metal workpiece with a cutting apparatus is disclosed. In one step, a first outer surface of a first cutting portion is rotated with a first driving device in a first direction around an axis to cut the metal workpiece. In another step, a second outer surface of a second portion is simultaneously rotated with a second driving device in a second direction around the axis opposite the first direction to cut the metal workpiece or to provide a counter-rotating mass to reduce a bending moment.
The scope of the present disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected by the statements within this summary.
The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure.
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The second portion 16 is rotatably attached to the shaft 28 between the opposed surface 20 and the shank 36 so that the second portion 16 is configured to rotate relative to the first portion 14. The second portion 16 comprises opposed surfaces 40 and 42, and an outer surface 44 extending between the opposed surfaces 40 and 42. A second plurality of cutting inserts 46 are attached to a second plurality of pockets 48 disposed within the outer surface 44. In other embodiments, one or more second cutting insert 46 may be attached to one or more second pocket 48. A shaft 50 of the second portion 16 extends perpendicularly from opposed surface 42 coaxially around axis 30. The shaft 28 extends completely through an inner cavity 52 in the second portion 16. The inner cavity 52 extends from opposed surface 40, through opposed surface 42, through the shaft 50. Outer surface 22 of the first portion 14 is disposed adjacent to outer surface 44 of the second portion 16. Gap 56 is disposed between opposed surface 20 of the first portion 14 and opposed surface 40 of the second portion 16, and between outer surface 22 of the first portion 14 and outer surface 44 of the second portion 16. Gap 58 is disposed between an end 60 of the shaft 50 of the second portion 16 and shank 36. The end 60 of the shaft 50 comprises teeth 62.
The second portion 16 is configured to be rotated by driving device 63 relative to the first portion 14 around axis 30 in direction 64 which is opposite to direction 38. Driving devices 37 and 63 can comprise any type and number of driving devices such as one or more portions of one or more motors, one or more gearboxes, or one or more additional types of driving devices. In other embodiments, the first portion 14 may be configured to be rotated by the driving device 37 around axis 30 in direction 64 and the second portion 16 may be configured to be rotated by the driving device 63 relative to the first portion 14 around axis 30 in direction 38. The cutting tool 10 is configured to move relative to the metal workpiece 12 along a feed axis 66. The feed axis 66 is disposed non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the axis 30. In other embodiments, one or more components of the cutting tool 10 of
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Step 112 comprises rotating, with a first driving device, a first outer surface of a first cutting portion in a first direction around an axis to cut the metal workpiece. Step 114 comprises simultaneously rotating, with a second driving device, a second outer surface of a second portion in a second direction around the axis opposite the first direction to cut the metal workpiece or to provide a counter-rotating mass to reduce a bending moment.
In one embodiment, the simultaneously rotating comprises simultaneously rotating the second outer surface of the second portion in the second direction around the axis opposite the first direction to cut the metal workpiece. In another embodiment, the simultaneously rotating comprises simultaneously rotating the second outer surface of the second portion in the second direction around the axis opposite the first direction to provide the counter-rotating mass to reduce the bending moment.
In one embodiment, the method 110 further comprises simultaneously feeding the metal workpiece relative to a tool along a feed axis. The tool comprises the first cutting portion and the second portion, and the feed axis is disposed non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the axis.
In another embodiment, the first driving device comprises a first motor and the second driving device comprises a second motor.
In yet another embodiment, the first and second driving devices comprise different portions of a gearbox powered by a motor.
In other embodiments, one or more steps of the method 110 may be varied in substance or order, one or more additional steps may be added, and/or one or more steps of the method 110 may not be followed.
The cutting tools, cutting apparatus, and methods of cutting disclosed in the instant disclosure result in reduced cutting forces being placed on metal workpieces during cutting. This is due to the contrary rotating direction cutting portions, and or opposed direction counter-rotating mass, canceling out force components in the opposite direction. As a result, the resulting surface pattern on the metal workpiece is improved. Moreover, this results in less clamping force being required to be placed on the metal workpiece. This reduces bending moments on the cutting tool and metal workpiece. The gained stability can be used to increase the speeds and feeds associated with cutting the metal workpiece. The resulting crisscross pattern on the surface of the metal workpiece is beneficial for many applications especially those that involve friction.
The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents.
