Milling cutting tool having cutter body mated to an adapter

A method for assembling a milling cutting tool comprising an adapter and a cutter body,

• wherein the adapter has previously been mounted in an inverted position, the adapter having a male locating member provided with a threaded bore in a central portion thereof, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive pins, and
• wherein the cutter body is provided with a female locating member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion, and a throughbore communicating with the female locating member;
• the method comprising:
• (a) raising the cutter body towards the adapter with the female locating member and drive grooves facing upwards, until the drive pins enter the insertion portions of the drive grooves and the male locating member enters the female locating member;
• (b) rotating the cutter body such that the drive pins enter the retaining portions of the drive grooves;
• (c) releasing the cutter body such that it is suspended from the adapter by virtue of the retaining portions of the drive grooves being supported by the drive pins;
• and
• (d) inserting a bolt into the threaded bore of the male locating member,
• thereby securing the cutter body to the adapter without tightening the drive pins in the retaining portions.

A milling cutting tool comprising:

• an adapter having an adapter central axis and comprising:
• adapter first and second sides;
• a centrally located male locating member projecting from the adapter first side and provided with a threaded bore in a central portion thereof;
• and
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive pins projecting from the adapter first side;
• and
• a cutter body having a cutter central axis and comprising:
• cutter body first and second sides;
• a centrally located female locating member formed in the cutter body first side;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves formed in the cutter body first side, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion;
• a throughbore extending along the cutter central axis and communicating with the female locating member;
• and
• a bolt inserted into the threaded bore of the male locating member to thereby secure the cutter body to the adapter;
• and
• wherein:
• the male locating member is nested in the female locating member;
• and
• the drive pins are positioned in the retaining portions of the drive grooves without being in tight engagement therewith.

A cutter body having a cutter central axis and comprising:

• cutter body first and second sides;
• a centrally located female locating member formed in the cutter body first side;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves formed in the cutter body first side, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion and a bottom surface;
• a plurality of locations for accommodating cutting inserts;
• a throughbore extending along the cutter central axis and communicating with the female locating member;
• and
• a bolt loosely retained in the throughbore.

A set of at least four milling cutting tool components including at least first and second adapters, a left-handed cutter body and a right-handed cutter body;

• wherein:
• the first adapter has a conically tapered male locating member provided with a threaded bore in a central portion thereof, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive pins arranged in a first set of locations;
• the left-handed cutter body has a conically tapered female locating member, a throughbore that passes through the female locating member, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion and a bottom surface, the insertion portions of the left-handed cutter body positioned to mate with the drive pins of the first adapter;
• and
• the second adapter has a conically tapered male locating member provided with a threaded bore in a central portion thereof, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive pins arranged in a second set of locations that is different from the first set of locations;
• the right-handed cutter body has a conically tapered female locating member, a throughbore that passes through the female locating member, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion and a bottom surface, the insertion portions of the right-handed cutter body positioned to mate with the drive pins of the second adapter.

A cutter body baying a cutter central axis and comprising:

• cutter body first and second sides;
• a centrally located female locating member formed in the cutter body first side;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves formed in the cutter body first side, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion and a bottom surface;
• a throughbore extending along the cutter central axis and communicating with the female locating member;
• a bolt loosely retained in the throughbore;
• and
• a ring positioned proximate to the second side of the cutter body, wherein the ring prevents the bolt from being removed from the throughbore.

A cutter body having a cutter central axis and comprising:

• cutter body first and second sides;
• a centrally located female locating member formed in the cutter body first side;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves formed in the cutter body first side, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion and a bottom surface, the retaining portion being associated with opposing outer and inner groove sidewalls which at least partially overhang the bottom surface;
• and
• a throughbore extending along the cutter central axis and communicating with the female locating member.

A cutting tool component comprising:

• a milling cutter body baying first and second sides and a cutter central axis;
• a centrally located female locating member formed in the side, the female locating member tapering from a widest portion at the milling cutter body first side to a narrowest portion within the milling cutter body at a point between the first and second sides;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart drive grooves formed in the first side, each drive groove having an insertion portion connected to a retaining portion and a bottom surface;
• a throughbore extending along the cutter central axis and communicating with the female locating member;
• and
• a bolt loosely retained in the throughbore.