Two-piece rotary metal-cutting tool and method for interconnecting the pieces

A rotary metal-cutting tool comprising, in combination, a tool body and a cutting portion attached to the tool body;

• the tool body including:
• a shank portion defining a longitudinal center axis, a front surface, and rear chip flutes formed in an external side surface of the shank for guiding chips rearwardly during a cutting operation;
• the cutting portion including:
• a rear support surface abutting the front surface, a front cutting surface, and front chip flutes formed in a side surface of the cutting portion and intersecting the cutting face to form cutting edges therewith;
• the tool body and cutting portion being interconnected by a bayonet coupling formed by projections disposed on one of the tool body and cutting portion, and recesses formed in the other of the tool body and cutting portion, the projections being circumferentially offset with respect to the flutes and extending generally longitudinally;
• the recesses extending circumferentially from respective flutes;
• the flutes sized to longitudinally receive respective projections during longitudinal insertion or removal of the cutting portion relative to the tool body;
• the cutting portion being rotatable about the center axis relative to the tool body to transfer the projections from the respective flutes into the recesses while bringing the front and rear flutes into mutual alignment.