Cutting insert for grooving operations

A grooving insert comprising:

• a clamping portion and at least one cutting portion;
• top and bottom opposing surfaces;
• a peripheral side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces;
• the top surface and peripheral side surfaces meeting at an upper edge, at least a portion of which comprises a cutting edge;
• the at least one cutting portion comprising a forward main cutting edge and two opposing side cutting edges extending rearwardly from the forward main cutting edge towards the clamping portion on opposing sides of a center line of the grooving insert;
• wherein
• each side cutting edge comprises a plurality of steps;
• each step, after the first step, has a forward section presenting a width of cut in a feed direction of the grooving insert;
• and
• no two of said forward sections lie on the same line, in a top view of the grooving insert.

A double-ended grooving insert comprising:

• first and second cutting portions arranged at opposite ends of the grooving insert along a center line thereof;
• each cutting portion comprising a forward main cutting edge and two opposing side cutting edges extending rearwardly from the forward main cutting edge on opposing sides of the center line;
• wherein
• each side cutting edge comprises a plurality of steps;
• each step, after the first step, has a forward section presenting a width of cut in a feed direction of the grooving insert;
• and
• no two of said forward sections lie on the same line, in a top view of the grooving insert.