Shim having a lower surface provided with protrusions for use in a toolholder

Abstract

A cutting tool assembly comprising a tool holder formed with an insert retaining pocket having a pocket base wall and in which is releasably mounted a cutting insert and a shim. The cutting insert is of a substantially prismatic shape having an upper surface, a lower surface and side relief flank surfaces and at least one cutting corner defined therebetween and presenting at least one cutting edge formed by the intersection of the upper surface and a corresponding number of the side relief surfaces adjacent thereto. The shim generally corresponds in shape and size to the cutting insert, the insert and the shim being releasably mounted in the pocket by clamping means so that an upper supporting surface of the shim supports the lower surface of the cutting insert and a lower bearing surface of the shim bears against the pocket base wall, at least a portion of the shim's lower bearing surface being formed, substantially in the region supporting the cutting corner, with a pattern of protrusions adapted to indent the pocket base wall.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.