Slotting cutter, cutting insert and tool therefor

A cutting insert for a slotting cutter, comprising:

• a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces;
• a first cutting edge formed at the intersection between a rake surface on the top surface and one of the side surfaces, and a second cutting edge formed at the intersection between a rake surface on the top surface and another one of the side surfaces,
• wherein the top surface of the cutting insert includes a central portion, a first pair of clamping surfaces at one end of the central portion that are angled toward each other, and a second pair of clamping surfaces at an opposite end of the central portion that are angled toward each other, the first and second pair of clamping surfaces sloping downward from the central portion toward a respective cutting edge, and
• wherein one of the first and second pair of clamping surfaces of the cutting insert are contacted by a pair of clamping surfaces of a cantilevered clamping member of a slotting cutter to draw the cutting insert into a pocket of the slotting cutter when the first cutting edge is being used during a cutting operation, and wherein the other one of the first and second pair of clamping surfaces are contacted by the pair of clamping surfaces of the cantilevered clamping member of the slotting cutter to draw the cutting insert into the pocket of the slotting cutter when the second cutting edge is being used during a cutting operation.