Method for Manufacturing a Rotatable Tool Body to Minimize Cutting Insert Runout, a Tool Body Produced Therefrom, and a Method of Using Such a Tool Body
AssigneeMakino, Inc.
InventorDavid Olvera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a rotatable tool body with pockets positioned circumferentially between flutes about a cylindrical body to accept removable cutting inserts and to distribute the circular runout in a fashion among all of the insert pockets to minimize impact on any particular insert and to increase tolerances. A rotatable tool body also includes these features and a method for utilizing such a rotatable tool body is disclosed.
Claims24
A method for manufacturing a rotatable tool body with pockets positioned circumferentially between flutes about a cylindrical body to accept removable cutting inserts, wherein the method is comprised of the steps of:
- a) beginning with a cylindrical blank having a longitudinal axis, identifying a plurality of concentric circles along the cylindrical blank, wherein the concentric circles are spaced along the longitudinal axis and define rows and wherein a plurality of insert pocket locations are spaced circumferentially about the cylindrical blank in each row and each pocket location is defined by a radial line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- b) machining a plurality of pockets at the pocket locations of each row, wherein all of the pockets associated with one row are machined before proceeding to machine all of the pockets associated with another row and wherein machining a pocket comprises the steps of machining a radial side wall surface and a back wall surface upon which a cutting insert contacts when secured within the pocket.
A rotatable tool body comprising:
- a) a cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
- b) pockets arranged between flutes in rows along concentric circles spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, wherein each pocket has a radial side wall surface and a back wall surface upon which a cutting insert contacts when secured within the pocket;
- c) wherein the pockets are spaced circumferentially in rows defined by each concentric circle;
- d) wherein the radial side wall of a primary pocket has a value X for circular runout;
- and
- e) wherein the radial side wall circular runout for each pocket is progressively greater than the value of X as pockets extend circumferentially away from the primary pocket.
A method of machining a workpiece with a tool body with inserts, wherein the tool body has:
- a) a cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
- b) pockets arranged between flutes in rows along concentric circles spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, wherein each pocket has a radial side wall surface and a back wall surface upon which a cutting insert contacts when secured within the pocket;
- c) wherein the pockets are spaced circumferentially in rows defined by each concentric circle;
- d) wherein the radial side wall of a primary pocket has a value X for circular runout;
- and
- e) wherein the radial side wall circular runout for each pocket is progressively greater than the value of X as pockets extend circumferentially away from the primary pocket, and wherein the method of machining is comprised of the step of:
- rotating the tool body in a direction from the primary pocket where the runout is the least to an adjacent second pocket where the runout is greater than but not as great as the runout of a third pocket adjacent to the primary pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.