Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23C—MILLING
  • B23C5/00—Milling-cutters
  • B23C5/16—Milling-cutters characterised by physical features other than shape
  • B23C5/20—Milling-cutters characterised by physical features other than shape with removable cutter bits or teeth or cutting inserts
  • B23C5/22—Securing arrangements for bits or teeth or cutting inserts
  • B23C5/2265—Securing arrangements for bits or teeth or cutting inserts by means of a wedge
  • B23C5/2278—Securing arrangements for bits or teeth or cutting inserts by means of a wedge for plate-like cutting inserts fitted on an intermediate carrier, e.g. shank fixed in the cutter body
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23C—MILLING
  • B23C5/00—Milling-cutters
  • B23C5/16—Milling-cutters characterised by physical features other than shape
  • B23C5/20—Milling-cutters characterised by physical features other than shape with removable cutter bits or teeth or cutting inserts
  • B23C5/202—Plate-like cutting inserts with special form
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23C—MILLING
  • B23C2200/00—Details of milling cutting inserts
  • B23C2200/04—Overall shape
  • B23C2200/0422—Octagonal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23C—MILLING
  • B23C2200/00—Details of milling cutting inserts
  • B23C2200/20—Top or side views of the cutting edge
  • B23C2200/201—Details of the nose radius and immediately surrounding areas

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to milling cutters having replaceable inserts, and more particularly to a milling cutter having replaceable adapters for receiving inserts of different shapes and sizes.
• a typical milling insert comprises a cylindrical body having a plurality of slots or recesses formed in its outer periphery. Each slot is formed with an insert seat which holds a replaceable cutting insert.
• the cutting insert has one or more cutting edges which are adapted to engage a work piece during the milling operation. When the cutting insert becomes worn or damaged, the insert can be replaced by a new insert.
• This type of milling insert is limited in that it can only be used to receive and hold a cutting insert of a predetermined size and shape. Thus, a separate cutter body must be kept available for each different shape or size cutting insert which may be needed. Because the cutter body itself is the most expensive component of the milling cutter, maintaining a large inventory of different cutter bodies for different types of inserts is expensive.
• the surfaces surrounding the insert seat in the cutter body are sometimes subject to damage during the milling operation. Damage to the insert seat usually occurs when the insert breaks. If these surfaces become damaged, replacement of the entire cutter body may be required.
• the present invention is a milling cutter which is capable of receiving and holding multiple shapes and sizes of cutting inserts.
• the milling cutter includes a generally cylindrical cutter body having a plurality of slots formed in its outer periphery. Each slot includes a bottom and a pair of side walls. A first seat is formed in one of the side walls of each slot for receiving a cutting insert of a first predetermined shape and size.
• An adapter may also be received into the first insert seat in the cutter body.
• the adapter includes a second insert seat which receives a cutting insert of a second predetermined shape and size.
• a wedge clamp is disposed in the slot of the cutter body for clamping the cutting inserts in their respective pockets.
• the adapter enables the cutter body to be used with a plurality of inserts of different shapes and sizes.
• the milling cutter can be converted for use with different styles of inserts by simply changing the adapters.
• the adapters provide protection for the cutter body when the cutting insert breaks, thereby possibly avoiding damage to the cutter body.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for a milling cutter which enables the cutter body to accept, in addition to a first cutting insert of a first predetermined shape and size, at least one other differently shaped or sized cutting insert.
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for a milling cutter which minimizes the risk of damage to the milling cutter as a result of tool breakage.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for a milling cutter which can be replaced relatively easily and which will accurately position the cutting insert.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the milling cutter of the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the milling cutter.
• Figure 3 is a detail perspective of the milling cutter showing the insert seat in the cutter body.
• Figure 4 is a section view through the slot of the cutter body.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating various types of adapters.
• the milling cutter 10 comprises a generally cylindrical cutter body 12 and a plurality of adapters 40 mounted on the periphery of the cutter body 12 for receiving and holding cutting inserts 70.
• the cutter body 12 has an axial opening 14 for mounting the cutter body 12 on a spindle adapter (not shown) .
• the spindle adapter typically includes a tapered rear portion that fits into a tapered cavity in the spindle of a milling machine.
• the cutter body 12 is typically held on the spindle adapter by a large screw (not shown) which threads into the end of the spindle adapter. Since spindle adapters are well known to those skilled in the art, further description of the same is omitted.
• the cutter body 12 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots 16 (Figure 2) disposed about the outer periphery of the cutter body 12. Each slot 16 has a flat bottom 18 and a pair of side walls 20 and 22. The side walls 20 and 22 diverge slightly from one another from the bottom 18 of the slot 16. Each slot 16 is angled in a positive direction in relation to the axis of the cutter body, and in a negative direction in relation to a radius of the cutter body. This is conventional in the milling cutter art.
• the walls 20, 22, and 26 of an insert seat 24 are angled such that the upper leading edge 78 of a respective cutting insert 70, when mounted within the insert seat 24, is angled towards the direction of rotation of the cutter body 12.
• This essentially means that the top face 72 of the cutting insert 70 lies in a plane that is slightly inclined upwardly and forwardly toward the direction of travel of the cutter body 12.
• This of course, means that the upper cutting edge 78 (Fig. 4) of the cutting insert 70 leads the lower base of the cutting insert 70 when mounted.
• This in conventional fashion, produces what is known in the art as a positive axial rake and negative radial rake which in turn produces what is known as shear-angled geometry.
• An insert seat indicated generally by the numeral 24 (Fig. 3) is recessed within the side wall 20 in each slot 16.
• the insert seat 24 includes a back wall 26 and a pair of side walls 28 and 30.
• the back wall 26 is parallel to the side wall 20 of slot 16 and includes a threaded opening 36 for securing the adaptor as described more fully below.
• the side walls 28 and 30 extend in generally perpendicular fashion from the back wall 26 and are disposed at approximately right angles relative to one another.
• the side walls 28 and 30 each include a bevel 32 adjacent the intersection with the side wall 20 of slot 16.
• a relief 34 is also formed at the intersection of each side wall 28 and 30 with the back wall 26.
• Each insert seat 24 in the cutter body 12 is adapted to receive a cutting insert 70 of a first predetermined shape and size.
• the cutting insert 70 typically includes a top face 72, a bottom face 74 and side walls 76 extending between the top and bottom faces 72 and 74.
• the intersection of the side walls 76 with the top face 72 defines one or more cutting edges 78.
• the side walls 76 are inclined to form an acute angle with the plane of the top face 72.
• a cutting insert 70 can be mounted directly into the insert seat 24 with the bottom surface 74 of the cutting insert 70 disposed against the back wall 26 of the insert seat 24.
• the cutting insert 70 is square in shape and has four side walls 76.
• the insert seat 24 has two side walls 28, 30 which engage two of the side walls 76 in the cutting insert 70.
• the cutting insert 70 can be indexed to present different cutting edges 78 to the work piece when other cutting edges 78 become worn.
• a cutting insert 70 can be mounted directly into the insert seat 24 without an adapter being required.
• an adapter 40 can be mounted in the insert seat 24.
• Each adapter includes a bottom surface 42 and a top surface 44.
• the top surface 44 includes a second insert seat 46 for receiving a cutting insert 70 of a different size and/or shape than the insert seat 24 in the cutter body 12.
• the insert seat 46 includes an insert support surface 48 and one or more side walls 50.
• a through- bore 52 extends from the support surface 48 through the adapter 40 to the bottom surface 42.
• the through-bore 52 aligns with the threaded opening 36 in the cutter body 12.
• a securing screw 54 passes through the through-bore 52 and is threadably engaged in the threaded opening 36 of the cutter body to secure the adapter 40 within the insert seat 24 of the cutter body 12.
• the cutting insert 70 is secured in the adapter 40 by a wedge clamping means 60.
• the wedge clamping means 60 in the disclosed embodiment comprises a wedge 62 and a wedge actuator 64.
• the wedge 62 includes first and second wedge surfaces 62a and 62b. Wedge surface 62a is adapted to engage the wall 22 of slot 16 which is opposite the insert seat 24. Wedge surface 62b is adapted to engage the top face 72 of the cutting insert 70.
• the wedge actuator 64 is a differential screw having right-hand threads at first end 64a and left- hand threads at a second end 64b.
• the first end 64a threadably engages with a first screw hole 66 in the bottom 18 of slot 16.
• the second end 64b of the screw 64 is threadably engaged with a second screw hole 68 in the wedge 62.
• the second end 64b has a socket which is engageable for rotation.
• the milling cutter can be used with an insert of a first predetermined shape and size as shown in Fig. 5.
• the cutting insert 70 of Fig. 5 is sized appropriately to fit in the insert seat 24 of the cutter body 12.
• a shim S having a top surface 100 and a back 102, is placed between the cutting insert 70 and the support surface 26 of the insert seat 24.
• the shim S includes a threaded bore 53. Shim S can be securely stationed in the insert seat 24 by threading screw 54 through the threaded bore 53 and into threaded opening 36.
• the bottom face 74 of the cutting insert 70 abuts against the top surface of the shim S.
• Two of the side surfaces 76 abut respectively against the bevel 32 of the insert seat
• the cutting insert 70 of Fig. 5 is secured in the insert seat 24 by the wedge clamp 62.
• the adapter 40 allows the cutter body 12 to also be used with many other shapes and sizes of cutting insert 70 by various configurations of adapters 40 as shown in Figs. 6-8.
• Figure 6 illustrates an adapter for receiving a square cutting insert 70.
• Figure 7 shows an adapter for an octagonal style insert.
• Figure 8 shows an adapter for a circular-style insert.
• the adapter 40 (shown also in Fig. 3) is adapted to receive and support the square cutting insert 70.
• Adapter 40 includes an insert seat 46 having a pair of inclined side walls 50.
• the cutting insert 70 mounts within the insert seat 46 with the back face 74 of the cutting insert 70 being placed against the support surface 48.
• Two of the side walls 76 of the cutting insert 70 are placed against the side walls 50 of the adapter 40.
• the cutting inset 70 is secured by the wedge clamp 62 (Fig. 3).
• FIG. 7 another variation of the adapter is shown and indicated generally by 40a.
• Adapter 40a shown in Fig. 7 includes an insert seat 46a having a single side wall 50a. More particularly, the structure of the adapter 48 shown in Fig.
• the adapter 40a includes a bottom surface 42a and a top surface 44a.
• An octagonal cutting insert 70a is shown being used with the adapter 40a.
• the octagonal cutting insert 70a mounts in the insert seat 46a with the bottom face 74a being placed against the support surface 48a.
• One of the side walls 76a is placed against the side wall 50a of the adapter 40a.
• FIG. 8 shows another adapter design.
• the adapter shown in Fig. 8 is referred to by 40b and is adapted to receive and hold a round insert indicated generally by the numeral 70b.
• - Round insert 70b as shown in Fig. 8, includes a front face 72b, a back face 74b, and a round or curved side 76b.
• Adapter 40b includes an insert seat 46b that includes a bottom surface 42b and a top surface 44b.
• the insert seat 46b is formed by an insert support surface 48b and a pair of side walls 50b.
• a threaded opening 52b is formed in the adapter 40b for receiving the threaded screw 54.
• the circular insert 70b mounts within the insert seat 46b in such a fashion that the side walls 76b of the round inserts 70b engage each of the side walls 50b in tangential fashion.
• Figs. 6-8 are only representative embodiments of the adapter. It is to be understood that the exact configuration of the adapter will be dependent on the geometry of the cutting insert to be mounted therein. Further, it should be understood that in many cases, the adapter 40 can be designed to accommodate more than one style insert.
• the milling cutter of the present invention provides a convenient method for mounting cutting inserts of different shapes and sizes on a cutter body. This goal is accomplished in the present invention by providing an adapter which fits into the insert seat of the cutter body.
• the adapter has a second insert seat which accepts a cutting insert of a second predetermined size and shape. Since the cutter body of the present invention can be used with many different styles of inserts, the expense of maintaining a large inventory of cutter bodies for different inserts is eliminated.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Milling Processes (AREA)
• Adjustment And Processing Of Grains (AREA)
• Shovels (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22341688

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1994
  • 1994-07-11 EP EP94921489A patent/EP0715554A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-07-11 ES ES94921489T patent/ES2088841T1/es active Pending
  • 1994-07-11 DE DE0715554T patent/DE715554T1/de active Pending
  • 1994-07-11 KR KR1019960700715A patent/KR960703697A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-07-11 CN CN94193101A patent/CN1129415A/zh active Pending
  • 1994-07-11 WO PCT/US1994/007633 patent/WO1995005913A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-07-11 AU AU72200/94A patent/AU7220094A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-07-11 JP JP7507560A patent/JPH08508942A/ja active Pending
  • 1994-07-11 BR BR9407516A patent/BR9407516A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-07-11 CA CA002168661A patent/CA2168661A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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