Milling cutter with insert having depression below cutting edge for axial/radial support

A rotary cutting tool assembly comprising a tool holder having an axis of rotation and formed with at least one insert receiving pocket and at least one replaceable cutting insert releasably mounted therein by clamping means;

• said cutting insert being a substantially prismoidal body having top, base and side surfaces, the top and side surfaces defining therebetween cutting edges;
• said insert receiving pocket comprising pocket base and side surfaces such that the base surface of the pocket supports the insert base surface and the side surfaces of the insert and the pocket bear against each other at their portions oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation, providing thereby a radial support of the cutting insert, and at their portions oriented substantially transversely to said axis of rotation, providing thereby an axial support of the insert;
• the insert side surface involved in said axial support having at least one depression formed symmetrically with respect to a center of the side surface length, the depression terminating at an upper portion extending transversely to said side surface and disposed substantially in the vicinity of said top surface below an associated cutting edge;
• the depression having a bottom wall substantially co-directional with said insert side surface, and side walls substantially transverse thereto, at least one wall of the depression being oriented generally co-directionally with said axis of rotation and
• the pocket side surface involved in said axial support of the insert being formed with at least one protrusion mating with said at least one depression, the protrusion having face and side surfaces and being received within said depression so that said at least one wall of the depression abuts the respective wall of the protrusion, whereby said axial support of the insert in the tool is achieved.

A rotary cutting tool assembly comprising a tool holder having an axis of rotation and a cutting insert mounted in the tool holder;

• said tool holder having at least one insert receiving pocket, said insert receiving pocket comprising a pocket base, a first pocket side wall oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation, and a second pocket side wall oriented substantially transversely to said axis of rotation, said second pocket side wall being formed with a protrusion having a face surface oriented substantially transversely to said axis of rotation and a pair of side surfaces oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation;
• said cutting insert having a substantially prismoidal body with top, base and side surfaces and cutting edges formed at intersections of the side surfaces with the top surface, a depression formed in each of at least two adjacent first and second insert side surfaces, each depression being formed symmetrically with respect to a length of its insert side surface, each depression comprising a bottom wall oriented substantially co-directionally with its insert side surface and a pair of side walls oriented substantially transversely to its insert side surface, an uppermost portion of said depression terminating at an upper portion extending transversely to said side surface and disposed below a cutting edge associated with its insert side surface, at a position more than halfway up a height of said insert, wherein
• the first insert side surface is oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation with the first pocket side wall abutting at least one non-recessed portion of the first insert side surface, and
• the second insert side surface is oriented substantially transversely to said axis of rotation with the protrusion being received into the depression formed in said second insert side surface, a face surface of the protrusion abutting the bottom wall of the depression.

A rotary cutting tool assembly comprising a tool holder having an axis of rotation and a cutting insert mounted in the tool holder;

• said tool holder having at least one insert receiving pocket, said insert receiving pocket comprising a pocket base and a single pocket side wall, said single pocket side wall being oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation, said single pocket side wall being formed with a protrusion having a face surface oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation and a pair of side surfaces oriented substantially transversely to said axis of rotation;
• said cutting insert having a substantially prismoidal body with top, base and side surfaces and cutting edges formed at intersections of the side surfaces with the top surface, a depression formed in at least one side surface of the insert, said depression being formed symmetrically with respect to a length of its insert side surface, said depression comprising a bottom wall oriented substantially co-directionally with its insert side surface and a pair of side walls oriented substantially transversely to its insert side surface, an uppermost portion of said depression terminating at an upper portion extending transversely to said side surface and disposed below a cutting edge associated with its insert side surface, at a position more than half-way up a height of said insert, wherein
• the insert side surface is oriented substantially co-directionally with said axis of rotation with a non-protruding portion of the single pocket side wall abutting a non-recessed portion of the insert side surface, and with the protrusion being received into said depression, at least one side surface of the protrusion abutting a corresponding side wall of the depression.