Rotary slotting tool having staggered cutting elements

A rotary slotting tool, consisting of a circular tool body having a rotation axis, and an endless circular peripheral edge centered on said axis;

• an endless V cross-sectioned groove formed in said peripheral edge to define two convergent groove surfaces;
• individual cutter element holders seated in said groove at circumferentially spaced points therealong, each cutter element holder having two convergent mounting surfaces seated flatwise on the convergent groove surfaces whereby all of the cutter element holders are centered in the groove so that the midplane of each holder is coincident with the midplane of the groove;
• each holder having two side faces and a leading face measured in the direction of tool body rotation;
• a pocket formed in the leading face of each holder, each pocket having a rear face and a number of angulated side faces extending from the holder front face to the pocket rear face;
• a cutter element seated in each pocket;
• and a clamp screw extending through each cutter element into each cutter element's holder on an axis that is essentially normal to the pocket rear face;
• the angulated side faces of the pockets on successive holders being oriented differently in relation to the clamp screw axes, whereby successive cutter elements overhang different cutter elements of the holder side faces.