Rotary cutting tool
AssigneeSGS Tool Company
InventorsJason W. Wells, Paul S. Daniels, Douglas P. Bonfiglio, Jeffery L. Burton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary cutting tool or end mill is provided, the tool comprising a plurality of pairs of diametrically-opposed, symmetrical, helical flutes formed in a cutting portion of the tool body, wherein the pitch between at least one pair of adjacent helical flutes is less than or greater than the pitch of at least one other pair of adjacent helical flutes in at least one radial plane along the axial length of the flutes, a plurality of peripheral cutting edges, wherein at least one of the peripheral cutting edges has a radial rake angle different from radial rake angle of a peripheral cutting edge of a different helical flute.
Claims20
An end mill rotary cutting tool comprising:
- a body having a cutting portion and a shank portion;
- first and second pairs of diametrically-opposed, symmetrical, helical flutes formed in the cutting portion of the body;
- a first pair of helical cutting edges formed on the first pair of helical flutes in which each helical cutting edge,
- has a first helix angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body which varies by axial position,
- has a first radial rake angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body that is a function of axial position;
- and
- has a first axial rake angle which is constant;
- a second pair of helical cutting edges formed on the second pair of helical flutes in which each helical cutting edge,
- has a second helix angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body which varies by axial position and is different from said first helix angle,
- has a second radial rake angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body that is a function of axial position;
- and
- has a second axial rake angle which is constant;
- and
- a plurality of end cutting edges located on an axial distal end of cutting portion of the body, the end cutting edges each being contiguous with a corresponding one of the plurality of helical cutting edges.
A method of forming an end mill rotary cutting tool comprising:
- providing a body having a cutting portion and a shank portion;
- forming first and second pairs of diametrically-opposed, symmetrical, helical flutes in the cutting portion of the body;
- forming a first pair of helical cutting edges on the first pair of helical flutes in which each helical cutting edge,
- has a first helix angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body which varies by axial position,
- has a first radial rake angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body that is a function of axial position;
- and
- has a first axial rake angle which is constant;
- forming a second pair of helical cutting edges on the first pair of helical flutes in which each helical cutting edge,
- has a second helix angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body which varies by a second function of axial position and is different from said first helix angle,
- has a second radial rake angle in each radial plane along the axial length of the body that is a function of axial position;
- and
- has a second axial rake angle which is constant;
- and
- forming a plurality of end cutting edges located on an axial distal end of cutting portion of the body, the end cutting edges each being contiguous with a corresponding one of the plurality of helical cutting edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.