Slotting tool body having insert receiving slots connected by flexibility recess and rotary slot cutting tool having same

A slotting tool body (22), having a body central axis (B) that defines opposite forward and rearward directions (DF, DR) and about which the slotting tool body (22) is rotatable in a rotational direction (R), the slotting tool body (22) comprising:

• a disc-like cutter portion (26), comprising:
• opposing forward and rearward cutter portion side surfaces (28a, 28b) and a cutter portion peripheral surface (30) extending therebetween;
• and
• a number N of angularly spaced apart clamping portions (32), where N is an integer greater than 1, each clamping portion (32) having:
• a peripherally disposed insert receiving slot (38) which opens out to the forward and rearward cutter portion side surfaces (28a, 28b) and the cutter portion peripheral surface (30);
• and
• a resilient clamping member (34) and a lower jaw member (36) which oppose each other and which are spaced apart by the insert receiving slot (38), the resilient clamping member (34) being configured to resiliently retain a cutting insert (24) in the insert receiving slot (38);
• and
• a shank portion (56) projecting rearwardly from the rearward cutter portion side surface (28b), the shank portion (56) comprising a shank peripheral surface (58) which extends circumferentially about the body central axis (B);
• wherein:
• the cutter portion (26) further comprises a single flexibility recess (64) recessed in the forward cutter portion side surface (28a) and extending to each and every one of the insert receiving slots (38);
• the flexibility recess (64) is intersected by the body central axis (B);
• the cutter portion (26) and the shank portion (56) are integrally formed so that the slotting tool body (22) has a unitary, one-piece construction and, at the body central axis (B), the flexibility recess (64) extends into the shank portion (56), is blind, and opens out only to the forward cutter portion side surface (28a);
• the flexibility recess (64) transitions into each insert receiving slot (38) at a respective narrowing neck portion (72);
• and
• the flexibility recess (64) is spaced apart from a chip gullet (33) formed on the cutter portion peripheral surface (30).

A slotting tool body (22), having a body central axis (B) that defines opposite forward and rearward directions (DF, DR) and about which the slotting tool body (22) is rotatable in a rotational direction (R), the slotting tool body (22) comprising:

• a disc-like cutter portion (26), comprising:
• opposing forward and rearward cutter portion side surfaces (28a, 28b) and a cutter portion peripheral surface (30) extending therebetween;
• and
• a number N of angularly spaced apart clamping portions (32), where N is an integer greater than 1, each clamping portion (32) having:
• a peripherally disposed insert receiving slot (38) which opens out to the forward and rearward cutter portion side surfaces (28a, 28b) and the cutter portion peripheral surface (30);
• and
• a resilient clamping member (34) and a lower jaw member (36) which oppose each other and which are spaced apart by the insert receiving slot (38), the resilient clamping member (34) being configured to resiliently retain a cutting insert (24) in the insert receiving slot (38);
• and
• a shank portion (56) projecting rearwardly from the rearward cutter portion side surface (28b), the shank portion (56) comprising a shank peripheral surface (58) which extends circumferentially about the body central axis (B);
• wherein:
• the cutter portion (26) further comprises a single flexibility recess (64) recessed in the forward cutter portion side surface (28a) and extending to each and every one of the insert receiving slots (38);
• the cutter portion (26) is divided into a number N of cutter sub-portions (70),
• each clamping portion (32) comprises a stop member (39) which is located circumferentially between the resilient clamping member (34) and the lower jaw member (36);
• in a median cutter radial plane (P) through both the flexibility recess (64) and the cutter portion peripheral surface (30), the cutter sub-portions (70) are spaced apart from each other;
• and
• the stop member (39) and the resilient clamping member (34) are located on the same cutter sub-portion (70).