INSERT WITH A MOUNTING HOLE AND TOOLHOLDER INCLUDING A CUTTING INSERT

Abstract

The present invention relates to cutting tools with cutting inserts and, more particularly, to cutting tools with cutting inserts that have mounting recesses. The cutting insert includes a body having a mounting hole having an axis extending therethrough, and a surface portion in the mounting hole. The surface portion is substantially circular when viewed in a direction of the axis and is non-parallel to the axis and including at least two contact points disposed at a lesser distance from the axis than a region between the at least two contact points. A cutting tool is also disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention are well understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of a cutting insert according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of a cutting insert according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side, partially cross-sectional view of a portion of a cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side, partially cross-sectional view of a portion of a cutting tool according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the insert of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6-7 are schematic views of points of contact between a clamp and contact points in a mounting hole of a cutting insert according to different embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of part of the cutting tool of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are partial views of cutting tools according to embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cutting insert, comprising: a body having a mounting hole having an axis extending therethrough; anda surface portion in the mounting hole, wherein the surface portion is substantially circular when viewed in a direction of the axis and is non-parallel to the axis and comprises at least two contact points disposed at a lesser distance from the axis than a region between the at least two contact points.

2. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cutting insert is indexable between a plurality of positions.

3. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 2, comprising a plurality of contact points, a number of contact points corresponding to two times a number of positions to which the cutting insert is indexable.

4. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, comprising a plurality of contact points, a number of contact points corresponding to two times a number of positions to which the cutting insert is indexable.

5. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole is substantially circular.

6. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 5, wherein the axis is a central axis.

7. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 6, wherein the at least two contact points are disposed at substantially the same distance from the central axis.

8. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 6, wherein the at least two contact points are disposed at different distances from the central axis.

9. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 5, wherein the region between the at least two contact points comprises a recess in the surface portion.

10. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 5, wherein the at least two contact points comprise protrusions from the surface portion.

11. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the region between the at least two contact points comprises a recess in the surface portion.

12. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two contact points comprise protrusions from the surface portion.

13. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two contact points are disposed at substantially the same distance from the axis.

14. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two contact points are disposed at different distances from the axis.

15. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body is generally circular in shape.

16. The cutting insert as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole is a through hole extending from one side of the insert to another.

17. A cutting tool, comprising: a cutting insert comprising an insert body having a mounting hole having an axis extending therethrough, and a surface portion in the mounting hole,a toolholder; anda clamp for securing the cutting insert relative to the toolholder,

18. The cutting tool as set forth in claim 17, wherein the clamp comprises a screw that extends through the mounting hole.

19. The cutting tool as set forth in claim 17, wherein the clamp comprises a clamping arm comprising a forward nose portion that extends into the mounting hole.

20. The cutting tool as set forth in claim 19, wherein the clamping arm is attachable to the toolholder.