Cutting insert with chip control

A cutting insert comprising:

• a block of hard metal cutting material having
• a first major plane face, having a depressed edge portion which constitutes a rake surface,
• a second major plane face parallel to said first-mentioned major face and defining a seating surface for said insert, and
• a minor face intersecting both major faces to define a cutting edge along said rake surface and a clearance face extending from said cutting edge to said seating surface,
• said rake surface sloping inwardly from said cutting edge toward said seating surface to make a positive rake angle with respect to said seating surface,
• said rake surface receding from said cutting edge to a ledge on said block rising above said rake surface and cutting edge as an uninterrupted barrier parallel to said cutting edge,
• said rake surface having therein a series of spaced depressions along and adjacent to said cutting edge and shaped to increase said positive rake angle within said depressions,
• said depressions extending away from said cutting edge toward said ledge for a major portion of the rake surface and each providing an upwardly sloped surface therein remote from said cutting edge and terminating in front of said ledge,
• said ledge receding upwardly and rearwardly from said rake surface so as to deflect a chip of rigidity sufficient to override said depressions,
• the height of said ledge relative to said cutting edge being at least as great as the depth of said depressions relative to said edge.