Force balanced irregular pitch reamer and associated reaming method

A reamer, comprising:

• a shank;
• a body defining a longitudinal axis, said body connected to one end of said shank and capable of being rotated about said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a plurality of teeth projecting outwardly from a longitudinally-extending portion of said body, said teeth having a cutting edge and a rake face and defining a rake angle between said rake face and an imaginary line extending between said longitudinal axis and the cutting edge, said rake angle at least partially establishing an associated cutting force vector for the respective tooth wherein said plurality of teeth includes at least one tooth having a rake angle of about 0°, at least one tooth having a rake angle of about 6°, and at least one tooth having a rake angle of about 7°.

A force balanced reamer, comprising;

• a shank;
• a body defining a longitudinal axis, said body connected to one end of said shank and capable of being rotated about said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a plurality of irregularly-spaced teeth projecting outwardly from a longitudinally-extending portion of said body, each of said irregularly-spaced teeth having a cutting edge and a rake face and defining a rake angle between said rake face and an imaginary line extending between said longitudinal axis and the cutting edge, said rake angle of each of said irregularly-spaced teeth establishing an associated cutting force vector, wherein at least some of said irregularly-spaced teeth have different rake angles that are selected so that said cutting force vectors are substantially balanced, wherein at least some teeth have rake angles that differ by at least 2°, and at least one of said rake angles is at least about 6°.

A force balanced reamer, comprising:

• a shank;
• a body defining a longitudinal axis, said body connected to one end of said shank and capable of being rotated about said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a plurality of irregularly-spaced teeth projecting outwardly from a longitudinally-extending portion of said body, each of said irregularly-spaced teeth having a cutting edge and a rake face and defining a rake angle between said rake face and an imaginary line extending between said longitudinal axis and the cutting edge, said rake angle of each of said irregularly-spaced teeth establishing an associated cutting force vector, wherein at least some of said irregularly-spaced teeth have different rake angles that are selected so that said cutting force vectors are substantially balanced, and at least one of said rake angles is about 9°.