Reamer and method for reaming

A reamer for enlarging a pre-existing hole in a workpiece by rotational and axial cutting, the reamer comprising:

• a longitudinal shank for supporting a body of a reamer for enlarging a pre-existing hole in a workpiece by rotation and axial movement relative to the workpiece in a first hand rotational direction;
• and
• a longitudinal body extending axially from the shank, the body having at least one first flute formed therein, providing at least one first flute cutting edge in a distal end of the body for imparting a first cutting operation to the workpiece, the body having at least one helical flute formed therein in a second hand rotational direction opposite to the first hand rotational direction so that cutting debris is advanced ahead of the at least one helical flute, the at least one helical flute being non-intersecting with the at least one first flute at the body distal end, the at least one helical flute providing at least one helical flute cutting edge in the body distal end, radially spaced apart from the at least one first flute, for imparting a helical cutting operation to the workpiece, wherein the body includes at least one cylindrical margin formed thereabout for providing bearing support to the reamer within the hole being formed;
• wherein the at least one first flute cutting edge and the at least one helical flute cutting edge concurrently and collectively perform the first and helical cutting operations to a sculpture surface of the workpiece, thereby improving tolerances of the cutting operations to a range of 0.001 inches, varying the loads imparted to the workpiece and the reamer and reducing heat generated between the workpiece and the reamer.

A method for reaming a pre-existing hole, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a reamer having a body with at least one first flute with at least one first flute cutting edge in a distal end of the body, the body having at least one helical flute formed therein canted relative to the at least one first flute, with at least one helical flute cutting edge in the distal end of the reamer, wherein the body includes at least one cylindrical margin formed thereabout for providing bearing support to the reamer within the hole being formed;
• rotating one of the reamer or a workpiece;
• and
• translating one of the reamer or the workpiece towards another so that the reamer is fed into the preexisting hole, and the at least one first flute cutting edge and the at least one helical flute cutting edge concurrently and collectively provide cutting operations to a sculpture surface formed within the pre-existing hole with a tolerance range of 0.001 inches.