Method and apparatus for manufacturing a cutting insert

A cutting insert green body tool set comprising:

• top and bottom dies and top and bottom punches associated therewith, the top and bottom punches being slidably reciprocable relative to their associated top and bottom dies;
• each die comprising opposing die abutment and die mounting faces and a die inner peripheral surface extending therebetween, the die inner peripheral surface comprising an inner first peripheral surface extending from the die abutment face, an inner second peripheral surface extending from the inner first peripheral surface and converging inwardly to a die inner edge, and an inner third peripheral surface extending from the die inner edge to the die mounting face and forming a punch tunnel;
• each punch comprising opposing punch pressing and punch mounting ends, with a punch peripheral surface extending therebetween and forming a punch edge at an intersection of the punch peripheral surface and the punch pressing face;
• wherein the tool set is adjustable between:
• a first position in which the die abutment faces of the top and bottom dies abut each other with the inner first and second peripheral surfaces of the top and bottom dies forming a die cavity, the bottom punch is located in the punch tunnel of the bottom die, and the top punch is external to the punch tunnel of the top die;
• and
• a second position in which the top punch is located in the punch tunnel of the top die, the punch edge of the top punch and the die inner edge of the top die are contiguous, and the punch edge of the bottom punch and the die inner edge of the bottom die are contiguous.