Cutting insert

A cutting insert comprising:

• an insert body having an upper clamping surface and a lower clamping surface, through which passes an axis of symmetry about which the cutting insert is indexable;
• said insert body having first and second end portions, each end portion being disposed laterally with respect to said upper clamping surface, each end portion comprising a rake surface, a front cutting edge having a midpoint, and side cutting edges, said axis of symmetry being normal to an imaginary reference plane on which midpoints of said first and second end portions lay;
• the front cutting edges of said first and second end portions each being inclined at a non-zero angle .alpha. relative to said imaginary reference plane and being inclined at an angle of 2.alpha. relative to one another in an end view of the insert, taken along a line perpendicular to said axis of symmetry and passing through said midpoints;
• wherein
• each of said front cutting edges comprises at least two adjacent component cutting edges which overlap via a common bridging section to thereby present a continuous front cutting edge in said end view of the insert, each of said component cutting edges being associated with a corresponding depression formed in said rake surface.

A cutting tool assembly comprising

• a toolholder with a pair of curved clamping jaws;
• and
• a cutting insert retained in said pair of curved clamping jaws, said cutting insert comprising:
• an insert body having an upper central clamping surface and a lower clamping surface through which passes an axis of symmetry about which the cutting insert is indexable;
• said insert body having first and second end portions, each end portion being disposed laterally with respect to said upper clamping surface, each end portion comprising a rake surface, a front cutting edge having a midpoint, and side cutting edges, said axis of symmetry being normal to an imaginary reference plane on which midpoints of said first and second end portions lay;
• the front cutting edges of said first and second end portions each being inclined at a non-zero angle .alpha. relative to said imaginary reference plane and being inclined at an angle of 2.alpha. relative to one another in an end view of the insert, taken along a line perpendicular to said axis of symmetry and passing through said midpoints;
• wherein
• each of said front cutting edges comprises at least two adjacent component cutting edges which overlap via a common bridging section to thereby present a continuous front cutting edge in said end view of the insert, each of said component cutting edges being associated with a corresponding depression formed in said rake surface;
• wherein
• said upper and lower clamping surfaces of said cutting insert are each provided with at least one groove configured to mate with corresponding surfaces formed on said curved clamping jaws whereby said cutting insert is retained within said clamping jaws.