Precision boring tool and method of producing tool cartridge

A method of producing a boring tool cartridge of the type having a tool carrier mounted for limited axial adjustment in the bore of a cartridge housing via a rotatable adjusting screw, comprising the steps of:

• supporting the externally threaded shank of an adjusting screw in one end of an axial bore in a tool carrier so that the head of said screw projects out of said one end of said bore, and so that said shank is disposed in radially spaced coaxial relation to the inner peripheral surface of the bore in said carrier,
• sealing opposite ends of said bore in said carrier,
• injection molding a plastic material into the radial space in said bore in said carrier and around the outside of said shank, and
• rotatably supporting the head of said adjusting screw against axial movement in the bore of an annular bearing which is positioned in the bore in said cartridge housing so that an annular recess in the outer periphery of said bearing registers coaxially with and confronts upon an annular recess formed in the wall of said cartridge housing bore, and
• injection molding a plastic ring into the annular space formed by said confronting annular recesses in said bearing and said housing bore, respectively, thereby to secure said bearing against axial movement relative to the bore in said housing.

A boring tool comprising

• a head having thereon a shank for connecting the head to a machine arbor for rotation thereby about a first axis,
• a cartridge housing removably secured in a bore formed in said head to extend transversely of said first axis,
• a tool carrier mounted in an axial bore in said housing for limited adjustment axially thereof,
• a cutting insert holder secured to one end of said carrier and projecting therefrom into the bore in said housing adjacent one end thereof,
• an adjusting screw rotatably mounted adjacent one end thereof in the opposite end of said bore in said housing, and having thereon an externally threaded shank projecting coaxially and in radially spaced relation into an axial bore formed in the end of said tool carrier remote from said insert holder, and
• a plastic sleeve nut secured in and filling the radial spaced formed in said bore in said tool carrier between the threaded shank of said adjusting screw and the surrounding bore wall in said tool carrier,
• said sleeve nut having an internally threaded bore the threads of which are accurately and drivingly engaged with the threads on said screw shank, whereby when said screw is rotated said insert holder is adjusted axially of said cartridge housing,
• said cartridge housing being generally tubular in configuration and having formed through its annular wall an elongate slot forming in said wall intermediate the ends thereof a radially flexible tab one side of which confronts on said tool carrier, and the other side of which confronts the inner end of a first radial opening in said head, and
• a first set screw adjustably threaded in said first radial opening in said head selectively to have its inner end engage and flex said tab radially inwardly into locking engagement with said tool carrier.

A boring tool comprising

• a head having thereon a shank for connecting the head to a machine arbor for rotation thereby about a first axis,
• a cartridge housing removably secured in a bore formed in said head to extend transversely of said first axis,
• a tool carrier mounted in an axial bore in said housing for limited adjustment axially thereof,
• a cutting insert holder secured to one end of said carrier and projecting therefrom into the bore in said housing adjacent one end thereof,
• an adjusting screw rotatably mounted adjacent one end thereof in the opposite end of said bore in said housing and having thereon an externally threaded shank projecting coaxially and in radially spaced relation into an axial bore formed in the end of said tool carrier remote from said insert holder, and
• a plastic sleeve nut secured in and filling the radial spaced formed in said bore in said tool carrier between the threaded shank of said adjusting screw and the surrounding bore wall in said tool carrier,
• said sleeve nut having an internally threaded bore the threads of which are accurately and drivingly engaged With the threads on said screw shank, whereby when said screw is rotated said insert holder is adjusted axially of said cartridge housing,
• means for retaining said rotatable adjusting screw against axial movement relative to said housing,
• said means including an annular thrust bearing having an internal, circumferential flange projecting into an annular recess formed in said adjusting screw adjacent said one end thereof, and
• a plastic safety ring surrounding said thrust bearing and having an internal circumferential portion thereof seated in an annular groove formed in the outer periphery of said bearing, and having an outer circumferential portion thereof seated in an internal annular recess formed in the bore of said housing.

A cartridge for removably and adjustably mounting a cutting insert on the head of a boring tool, comprising

• a cylindrical cartridge housing disposed to be releasably mounted in a transverse bore in the head of a boring tool,
• a tool carrier mounted for axial adjustment in an axial bore in said housing,
• a cutting insert holder secured to one end of said tool carrier,
• an adjusting screw having at one end thereof, an externally threaded shank extending coaxially and in radially spaced relation into an axial bore formed in the opposite end of said carrier,
• means mounting said screw adjacent the opposite end thereof in said housing for rotation coaxially of the bore in said carrier, and operative to retain said screw against axial movement relative to said housing, and
• a plastic sleeve nut fixedly molded in and filling the radial space in said carrier around the outside of said screw shank,
• said nut having thereon internal threads accurately and drivingly connected with the external threads on said screw shank, whereby upon rotation of said adjusting screw said sleeve nut, and the attached tool carrier and insert holder are adjusted axially in said bore in said housing,
• said mounting means comprising an annular thrust bearing surrounding said adjusting screw adjacent said opposite end thereof, and having thereon an internal circumferential flange portion seated in an annular groove formed in the periphery of said adjusting screw externally of the bore in said carrier, and
• a plastic safety ring surrounding said thrust bearing coaxially thereof,
• said safety ring having an internal circumferential portion thereof seated in an annular groove formed in the outer periphery of said thrust bearing, and an outer circumferential portion thereof seated in a registering, internal annular recess formed in the bore in said housing.