Mehod for the manufacture of a cutting tool

Abstract

A method for the manufacture of a cutting tool provided with a tool holder (1) to which a cutter (2) is separably attached, includes applying a generative production process to a tool base body (3) to create the tool holder (1) with a desired finished shape.

Description

The invention is more fully described in light of the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of a first embodiment of a cutting tool in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the cutting tool shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of a further embodiment of a cutting tool in accordance with the present invention.,

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the cutting tool shown in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a milling tool with branched, flow-optimized coolant ducts.

In the embodiments shown, identical parts are identified by the same reference numerals.

The tools comprise a standardized machine interface 4 which connects to a tool base body 3. The tool base body 3 forms one-piece with a tool holder 1 to which a cutter 2 (for example, an indexable insert) is separably attached.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show that the geometry of the tool holder 1, in particular, can be highly complex. This applies equally to the geometry of a coolant supply duct 5 that extends through the tool base body 3 and the tool holder 1 and is provided with an inlet 6 and an outlet 7. The Figures illustrate that highly complex forms of coolant supply ducts 5 are possible. See FIG. 5 especially. These are produced by not melting powderous material positioned in the desired coolant supply duct path and subsequently removing such non-melted powderous material to form the coolant supply ducts.

In the example in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cavity 8 is provided for dampening tool vibration. It is at least partially filled with non-solidified (non-melted) powderous material that was encapsulated either during the cavity creation process, or subsequently, and which non-solidified powderous material has a dampening effect under vibration excitation.

The tool holder can be further processed after the generative production process including processing by a machining process and/or an erosive machining process (e.g., electrochemical machining or wire erosion). The tool base body can also be subsequently heat treated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 Tool holder
• 2 Cutter
• 3 Tool base body
• 4 Machine interface
• 5 Coolant supply duct
• 6 Inlet
• 7 Outlet
• 8 Cavity

Claims

1. A method for the manufacture of a cutting tool provided with a tool holder to which a cutter is separably attached, comprising: applying a generative production process to a tool base body to create the tool holder in a desired finished shape.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising: applying at least one of a machining process and an erosive machining process to the tool base body after the generative production process.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, and further comprising: subsequently applying a heat treatment to the tool base body.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the tool base body is provided with a standardized machine interface.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the tool base body is provided with at least one of a continuous coolant supply duct and a branched coolant supply duct.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, and further comprising: producing at least one cavity in the tool base body with the generative production process.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cavity is at least partly filled with non-solidified material.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cavity is provided for weight reduction.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cavity is provided for vibration dampening.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cavity is provided for coolant supply.

11. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the generative production process is a selective laser melting process.

12. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the generative production process is a direct metal melting process.

13. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cavity is provided for carrying at least one of signal and power leads.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising: subsequently applying a heat treatment to the tool base body.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tool base body is provided with a standardized machine interface.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tool base body is provided with at least one of a continuous coolant supply duct and a branched coolant supply duct.

17. A method in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising: producing at least one cavity in the tool base body with the generative production process.

18. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the cavity is provided for weight reduction.

19. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the cavity is provided for vibration dampening.

20. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the cavity is provided for coolant supply.