Tool holder with patterned hard shim forming indented seat and method

A method for seating a cutting insert in a tool holder, said cutting insert having a substantially prismatic shape with an upper surface, a lower surface, side relief flank surfaces and a cutting corner defined therebetween, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the tool holder with a substantially smooth, planar pocket base wall;
• (b) disposing a shim generally corresponding in shape and size to said cutting insert atop said pocket base wall, said shim being of a material substantially harder than said tool holder and having an upper supporting surface and a lower bearing surface, said lower beating surface bearing against said pocket wall and being formed with a pattern of protrusions;
• (c) clamping the cutting insert atop the shim's upper supporting surface such that an operative cutting corner of said insert is disposed above said pattern of protrusions;
• and
• (d) applying a downward force on said cutting insert such that the protrusions penetrate the substantially smooth, planar pocket base wall and form an indented seating surface in at least a region supporting said operative cutting corner.