Milling tool with precisely positionable inserts

A method of assembling a milling tool, the tool comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal axis of rotation and including:
• axially spaced end surfaces interconnected by a peripheral envelope surface, and
• a plurality of radially outwardly opening recesses formed in the envelope surfaces, each recess defined by a generally radially extending front wall, a generally radially extending rear wall, and a bottom wall interconnecting radially inner ends of the front and rear walls,
• the rear wall of each recess including first serrations extending substantially parallel to the axis,
• each bottom wall divided into first and second wall parts located at different respective distances from the axis to form a generally axially facing first abutment surface;
• a plurality of machining elements mounted in respective ones of the recesses, each machining element including:
• a front side having an insert seat, and a contact surface adjacent the insert seat,
• a rear side disposed opposite the front side and having second serrations meshed with the first serrations, and
• a generally axially facing second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, whereby engagement between the first and second abutment surfaces defines a precise axial position of the machining element relative to the tool body;
• a plurality of clamping wedges arranged in respective ones of said recesses for retaining respective machining elements, each clamping wedge including:
• a front contact surface engaging the front wall of the respective recess, and
• a rear contact surface engaging the front contact surface of the machining element;
• and
• clamping screws for forcing respective clamping wedges between the front wall and the front contact surface;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) installing each machining element into its respective recess by sliding the first serrations along the second serrations in a direction generally parallel to the axis until the first abutment surface contacts the second abutment surface, (b) effecting a moderate tightening of the respective clamping wedge, (c) moving the respective machining element relative to the body in the direction of the first and second serrations with the first and second serrations meshed together to move the second abutment surface away from the first abutment surface for effecting a fine adjustment of the insert seat relative to the body, and then (d) effecting a final tightening of the respective clamping wedge.

A milling tool comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal axis of rotation and including:
• axially spaced end surfaces interconnected by a peripheral envelope surface, and
• a plurality of radially outwardly opening recesses formed in the envelope surface, each recess defined by a generally radially extending front wall, a generally radially extending rear wall, and a bottom wall interconnecting radially inner ends of the front and rear walls,
• the rear wall of each recess including first serrations extending substantially parallel to the axis,
• each bottom wall divided into first and second wall parts located at different respective distances from the axis to form a generally axially facing first abutment surface;
• a plurality of machining elements mounted in respective ones of the recesses, each machining element including:
• a front side having an insert seat, and a contact surface adjacent the insert seat,
• a rear side disposed opposite the front side and having second serrations meshed with the first serrations, and
• a generally axially facing second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, whereby engagement between the first and second abutment surfaces defines a precise axial position of the machining element relative to the tool body;
• a plurality of clamping wedges arranged in respective ones of said recesses for retaining respective machining elements, each clamping wedge including:
• a front contact surface engaging the front wall of the respective recess, and
• a rear contact surface engaging the front contact surface of the machining element;
• clamping screws for forcing respective clamping wedges between the front wall and the front contact surface;
• and
• a fine adjustment device for adjusting the location of each insert seat relative to the tool body by displacing the respective second abutment surface away from the respective first abutment surface, the fine adjustment device comprising a shaft extending through a bore in the respective machining element and received in a countersink formed in the one of the respective first and second wall parts situated farther from the axis, a portion of the shaft engaged in the countersink being eccentric to a center axis of the shaft, whereby rotation of the shaft about the center axis causes the machining element to move relative to the tool body in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

A milling tool comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal axis of rotation and including:
• axially spaced end surfaces interconnected by a peripheral envelope surface, and
• a plurality of radially outwardly opening recesses formed in the envelope surface, each recess defined by a generally radially extending front wall, a generally radially extending rear wall, and a bottom wall interconnecting radially inner ends of the front and rear walls,
• the rear wall of each recess including first serrations extending substantially parallel to the axis,
• each bottom wall divided into first and second wall parts located at different respective distances from the axis to form a generally axially facing first abutment surface;
• a plurality of machining elements mounted in respective ones of the recesses, each machining element including:
• a front side having an insert seat, and a contact surface adjacent the insert seat,
• a rear side disposed opposite the front side and having second serrations meshed with the first serrations, and
• a generally axially facing second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, whereby engagement between the first and second abutment surfaces defines a precise axial position of the machining element relative to the tool body;
• a plurality of clamping wedges arranged in respective ones of said recesses for retaining respective machining elements, each clamping wedge including:
• a front contact surface engaging the front wall of the respective recess, and
• a rear contact surface engaging the front contact surface of the machining element;
• clamping screws for forcing respective clamping wedges between the front wall and the front contact surface;
• and
• a fine adjustment device for adjusting the location of each insert seat relative to the tool body by displacing the respective second abutment surface away from the respective first abutment surface, the fine adjustment device including a support element mounted on the respective machining element and forming an extension thereof in a direction parallel to the axis, the support element including third serrations meshing with the first serrations of the respective recess, an additional clamping wedge mounted in each recess for holding the third and first serrations in mesh with one another, and an adjusting screw threadedly mounted in one of the machining element and the support element and abutting against the other of the machining element and the support element, whereby rotation of the adjusting screw produces relative axial movement between the machining element and the support element.