Indexable Circular Cutting Insert

An indexable cutting insert having a generally cylindrically shaped body with a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough, wherein the insert body has:

• a) a front face, an opposing back face, and a side wall therebetween;
• b) a front cutting edge at the intersection of the sidewall and the front face;
• c) a back cutting edge at the intersection of the sidewall and the back face;
• d) a plurality of front positioning segments on the front face, wherein the front segments have centerlines and, wherein the centerlines of adjacent segments define evenly spaced radial angles RA about the central longitudinal axis for indexing the insert within a toolholder;
• e) a plurality of back positioning segments on the back face, wherein the back segments have centerlines and wherein the centerlines of adjacent segments define evenly spaced radial angles RB about the central longitudinal axis for indexing the insert within a toolholder;
• f) wherein the front positioning segments and the back positioning segments are projections extending from or indentations extending into the respective faces intended to engage the pocket of a toolholder;
• g) wherein the centerlines of the back positioning segments, when projected along the central longitudinal axis through the body onto the front face, bisect the radial angles RF defining the front positioning segments;
• h) wherein distinct cutting sections are defined between the positioning segments such that the cutting sections on the front side of the insert are radially shifted about the longitudinal axis from the cutting sections on the back side of the insert;
• and
• wherein the positioning segments include indicia thereupon to uniquely identify each distinct cutting section for the purpose of indexing the insert within a holder to avoid reusing a previously used cutting section.