Rotary cutting tool

A rotary cutting tool (20) comprising a tool shank (22), a cutting head (24), a locking sleeve (26) and a clamping nut (28):

• the tool shank (22) comprising a longitudinal axis (A1) extending in a forward to rearward direction (F, R), the tool shank having unitary one-piece construction including a cutting head receiving portion (30) adjacent a tool shank forward end surface (32) and a male threaded portion (34) rearward of the cutting head receiving portion (30),
• the cutting head receiving portion (30) comprising a plurality of radially protruding and generally axially extending clamping wings (38), each clamping wing (38) having a male clamping surface (40) outwardly inclined in the forward direction (F);
• the cutting head (24) comprising a central bore (58) having a central bore axis (A2) coaxial with the longitudinal axis (A1) and a peripheral outer surface (60) having a plurality of cutting edges (62), with an outer cutting diameter D, axially extending between a cutting head rearward end surface (64) and a cutting head forward end surface (66),
• the central bore (58) comprising a plurality of generally axially extending bore sectors (70), each bore sector (70) having a female clamping surface (74) outwardly inclined in a direction towards the cutting head forward end surface (66);
• the locking sleeve (26) having a cylindrical shape with a through bore (86) between a locking sleeve rearward end surface (88) and a locking sleeve forward end surface (90);
• and
• the clamping nut (28) having a threaded bore (82) between a clamping nut forward and rearward end surface (84a, 84b),
• wherein the threaded bore (82) of the clamping nut (28) is in threaded engagement with the male threaded portion (34) of the tool shank (22), the locking sleeve rearward end surface (88) is in clamping contact with the clamping nut forward end surface (84a), the locking sleeve forward end surface (90) is in clamping contact with the cutting head rearward end surface (64), and the plurality of female clamping surfaces (74) are in clamping contact with the plurality of male clamping surfaces (40),
• and wherein the clamping contact forces and the cutting diameter D can be increased and decreased by adjusting the rotational position of the clamping nut (28), and the cutting head (24) can be removed and replaced following rotation of the clamping nut (28) without removing either the locking sleeve (26) or the clamping nut (28) from the tool shank (22).