Cutting tool and clamping mechanism for holding a cutting insert thereto

A cutting tool (10) comprising a cutting portion (14) and a clamping mechanism (16) configured to be brought between an unclamped position in which a cutting insert (12) is removable from the cutting portion (14), and a clamped position in which the cutting insert (12) is clamped to the cutting portion (14);

• wherein:
• the cutting portion (14) comprises a seating surface (14C) and a peripheral surface (10E) extending therefrom, a cutting portion bore (24) formed in the seating surface (14C), and a cam opening (26) formed in the peripheral surface (10E) and extending to the cutting portion bore (24);
• the clamping mechanism (16) comprising a clamp (20) and an elongated cam shaft (18);
• the clamp (20) comprises a clamp body portion (20A) disposed at least partially inside the cutting portion bore (24), a clamp head portion (20B) connected to the clamp body portion (20A) and disposed external to the cutting portion bore (24), and a clamp through-bore (20C) formed in the clamp body portion (20A) and comprising an internal clamp surface (20C1) formed with a clamp growth pattern region (20C6) having a varying diameter;
• the cam shaft (18) comprises an external cam surface (18D), a first cam end (18A) and a central cam portion (18C) extending from the first cam end (18A);
• the central cam portion (18C) having a clamping section (18C1) formed with a cam growth pattern region (18C4) having a varying diameter;
• the first cam end (18A) being disposed in the cam opening (26) and the central cam portion (18C) being disposed in the clamp through-bore (20C);
• and
• the clamp and cam growth pattern regions (20C6, 18C4) being configured for engaging each other to transform rotary motion of the cam shaft (18) into linear motion of the clamp (20) to thereby bring the clamping mechanism (16) into the clamped position in which the clamp head portion (20B) is closer to the seating surface (14C) than it is in the unclamped position.

A cutting insert (12) comprising:

• opposing upper and lower surfaces (12D, 12E), opposing longitudinal side surfaces (12M) and opposing lateral side surfaces (12N) extending transversely to and connecting the opposing longitudinal side surfaces (12M);
• a cutting insert through bore (28) passing between the opposing upper and lower surfaces (12D, 12E), the cutting insert through bore (28) having an elongated shape in a plan view of the upper surface (12D);
• opposing first and second longitudinal walls (12F, 12G) extending between the upper and lower surfaces (12D, 12E) and defined between a portion of each of the longitudinal side surfaces (12M) and the through bore (28);
• and
• opposing first and second transverse walls (12H, 12I) extending between the opposing upper and lower surfaces (12D, 12E), and extending transverse, and connected, to the opposing first and second longitudinal walls (12F, 12G);
• wherein:
• the cutting insert through bore (28) being defined between inner surfaces (12F1, 12G1, 12H2, 12I2) of the opposing first and second longitudinal walls (12F, 12G) and the first and second transverse walls (12H, 12I);
• each of the inner surfaces (12F1, 12G1) of the first and second longitudinal walls (12F, 12G) is formed with a protruding clamping lip (12F2, 12G2) which projects into the through bore (28);
• each protruding clamping lip (12F2, 12G2) is located one side of a longitudinal cutting insert axis (AH) extending between the inner surfaces (12F1, 12G1) of the opposing first and second longitudinal walls (12F, 12G), in a top view of the cutting insert;
• and
• each protruding clamping lip is elongated in a direction parallel with the longitudinal cutting insert axis (AH) of the cutting insert, and has a length along longitudinal cutting insert axis which is greater than a width perpendicular to the longitudinal cutting insert axis, in a top view of the cutting insert.