A cutting tool, having a flank infeed axis defining opposite front and back feed directions, the cutting tool comprising:
- an insert holder comprising:
- a holder pocket recess surface and a holder pocket opening surface intersecting the holder pocket recess surface;
- and
- an insert pocket having a pocket central axis, the insert pocket being recessed in the holder pocket recess surface and opening out to the holder pocket opening surface at a pocket opening, and comprising:
- a pocket peripheral surface extending partially circumferentially about the pocket central axis and forming a partial boundary of a pocket base surface, wherein:
- the pocket peripheral surface comprises first and second pocket side abutment surfaces which converge towards each other in the back feed direction and define first and second pocket side half-planes, respectively, which both extend from a half-plane axis;
- and
- the pocket base surface comprises three pocket base abutment surfaces, the three pocket base abutment surfaces being angularly spaced apart about the pocket central axis and comprising:
- at least one pocket support abutment surface;
- and
- at least one pocket wedge abutment surface formed on at least one male or female type pocket engagement member, the at least one pocket wedge abutment surface sloping with respect to the pocket central axis;
- wherein in a top the insert pocket, for any given contact point on the at least one pocket wedge abutment surface:
- an imaginary straight first line containing the given contact point intersects the first pocket side half-plane perpendicularly at a first intersection point;
- an imaginary straight second line containing the given contact point intersects the second pocket side half-plane perpendicularly at a second intersection point;
- the first and second intersection points subtend a main angle at the given contact point;
- an imaginary straight contact line oriented perpendicularly to the at least one pocket wedge abutment surface and containing the contact point intersects at least one of the first and second pocket side half-planes at a contact intersection point;
- the contact and second intersection points subtend a contact angle at the given contact point, the contact angle satisfying the condition:
- 0°<β<α;
- and
- a cutting insert having an insert central axis, the cutting insert (22) comprising:
- opposite insert upper and lower surfaces and an insert peripheral surface extending therebetween;
- a cutting edge formed at the intersection of the insert upper surface and the insert peripheral surface;
- wherein:
- the insert peripheral surface comprises at least three insert side surfaces and at least three insert corner surfaces alternating therewith, the at least three insert side surfaces comprising first and second insert side abutment surfaces, respectively;
- the insert lower surface comprises three insert lower abutment surfaces angularly spaced apart about the insert central axis, the three insert lower abutment surfaces comprising:
- at least one insert bearing abutment surface;
- and
- at least one insert wedge abutment surface formed on at least one male or female type insert engagement member, the male or female type insert engagement member being the opposite type to the at least one male or female type pocket engagement member, the at least one insert wedge abutment surface sloping with respect to the insert central axis;
- wherein:
- the cutting insert is removably retained in the insert pocket by a fastening member;
- the first and second pocket side abutment surfaces abut the first and second insert side abutment surfaces, respectively;
- the at least one pocket support abutment surface abuts the at least one insert bearing abutment surface;
- and
- the at least one male or female type insert engagement member engages with the at least one male or female type pocket engagement member, the at least one pocket wedge abutment surface abutting the at least one insert wedge abutment surface.