Front-loaded, side-activated modular drill

A front-loaded, side-activated modular drill for conducting rotary cutting operations on a work piece comprising a shank and a replaceable cutting insert, the tool shank and the cutting insert having a common rotational axis and complimentary peripheral surfaces when assembled together;

• the shank having a pocket for supporting the cutting insert when the cutting insert is installed within the pocket, the pocket comprising a first centering wall and a second centering wall, the first centering wall having an aperture, the second centering wall having an aperture;
• a second member disposed within the first centering wall of the shank, the second member having an aperture with internal threads formed with a first pitch;
• a first member inserted through the aperture of the first centering wall and threaded into the second member;
• a third member disposed within the second centering wall of the shank, the third member having an aperture with internal threads formed with a second pitch, the first member threaded into the third member and extends through the aperture of the second centering wall;
• and
• a replaceable cutting insert inserted within the pocket of the shank, the cutting insert having a leading end and a trailing end, the trailing end having an opening for allowing the first member to pass therethrough,
• wherein rotation of the first member in a first direction causes the first centering wall and the second centering wall to move radially outward with respect to the rotational axis, thereby allowing the cutting insert to be removed from the pocket of the shank, and
• wherein rotation of the first member in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, causes the first centering wall and the second centering wall to move radially inward with respect to the rotational axis, thereby clamping the cutting insert securely in the pocket of the shank.

A replaceable cutting insert having a rotational axis, A, the cutting insert comprising:

• a leading end;
• a trailing end, the trailing end having a cutout opening formed therein;
• wherein the cutout opening is formed with at least two different radii, R1, R2, on opposite sides of the rotational axis such that the opening has a curved shape;
• and
• a plurality of drive surfaces, wherein the plurality of drive surfaces are oriented at an angle, D, with respect to centering walls of the cutting insert such that a driving force is transmitted generally in a tangential direction with respect to the rotational axis when viewed transversely with respect to the rotational axis.