Milling head for thread whirling

A milling head for thread whirling, the milling head including:

• a plurality of thread cutting elements evenly disposed around a center hole, each thread cutting element in the plurality of thread cutting elements including at least two cutting surfaces formed thereon, any one of the at least two cutting surfaces being selectable to extend within the center hole for contacting a work-piece to produce a thread form on the work-piece;
• wherein each thread cutting element in the plurality of thread cutting elements is aligned in a predetermined relationship with respect to the milling head by at least two walls contacting sides of the thread cutting element;
• wherein the at least two walls are formed by a recess disposed in the milling head, each thread cutting element is secured within the recess by a locking wedge, the locking wedge being disposed in a slot contiguous with the recess;
• and
• wherein the locking wedge is secured to the milling head by a threaded fastener, the threaded fastener including opposing thread directions on opposite ends thereof, rotation of the threaded fastener in a first direction forces the locking wedge toward the milling head, and rotation of the threaded fastener in a second direction opposite the first direction forces the locking wedge away from the milling head.

A milling head for thread whirling, the milling head including:

• a plurality of thread cutting elements evenly disposed around a center hole, each thread cutting element in the plurality of thread cutting elements including at least two cutting surfaces formed thereon, any one of the at least two cutting surfaces being selectable to extend within the center hole for contacting a work-piece to produce a thread form on the work-piece;
• wherein the plurality of thread cutting elements include:
• a first set of thread cutting elements evenly disposed around the center hole, the first set of thread cutting elements contacting the work-piece to produce a thread form on the work-piece, and
• a second set of thread cutting elements evenly disposed around the center hole, the second set of thread cutting elements contacting the work-piece to remove material proximate the outside diameter of the work-piece.