Modular drill with diamond cutting edges
AssigneeKennametal Inc.
InventorsKent L. Reiner, Dan Elwyn Chesney, Jai Prasad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular drill for machining applications includes a central pilot drill made of cemented carbide and outboard radial inserts having cutting edges with a diamond surface. Additionally, the diamond surface associated with the cutting edges includes indicia identifying each cutting edge, such that indexing of the inserts is made easier. To ensure the indicia withstands the harsh machining environment, the indicia is laser etched onto the diamond surface of the insert.
Claims16
A modular drill for machining applications, wherein the modular drill has a generally cylindrical body with peripheral walls about a central longitudinal axis and with an upper end, wherein the modular drill comprises:
- a. a centrally located pilot drill protruding from the upper end along the longitudinal axis;
- b. at least two cutting inserts, wherein each cutting insert has a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of sides therebetween with a cutting edge defined at the intersection of the top and side surfaces;
- wherein a cutting edge from each insert protrudes axially from the upper end of the body and is operative to engage a workpiece;
- c. wherein each operative cutting edge extends in a radial direction such that, when viewed along the central axis toward the upper end, the operative cutting edges combine to completely overlap the radial distance extending from the pilot drill to the peripheral walls;
- d. wherein the pilot drill is made of a non-diamond material;
- e. wherein the operative cutting edge of each of the cutting inserts has a diamond surface;
- f. wherein a center of at least one of the cutting inserts is at a first radial distance from the central longitudinal axis and a center of at least one of the cutting inserts is at a second radial distance from the central longitudinal axis and the first radial distance is different from the second radial distance;
- and
- g. wherein the cutting inserts have a shape of a trigon.
A modular drill for machining applications wherein the modular drill has a generally cylindrical body with peripheral walls about a central longitudinal axis and with an upper end, wherein the modular drill comprises:
- a. a centrally located pilot drill protruding from the upper end along the longitudinal axis,
- b. at least two cutting inserts, wherein each cutting insert has a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of sides therebetween with a cutting edge defined at the intersection of the top and side surfaces;
- wherein a cutting edge from each insert protrudes axially from the upper end of the body and is operative to engage a workpiece;
- c. wherein each operative cutting edge extends in a radial direction such that, when viewed along the central axis toward the upper end, the operative cutting edges combine to completely overlap the radial distance extending from the pilot drill to the peripheral walls,
- d. wherein the pilot drill is made of a non-diamond material;
- and
- e. wherein the operative cutting edge of each of the cutting inserts has a full face polycrystalline diamond layer thereupon and the operative cutting edge of each insert is integral with this diamond layer;
- f. wherein the rake surface of each insert has indicia to identify the cutting edges of the cutting insert;
- g. wherein a center of at least one of the cutting inserts is at a first radial distance from the central longitudinal axis and a center of at least one of the cutting inserts is at a second radial distance from the central longitudinal axis and the first radial distance is different from the second radial distance;
- and
- h. wherein the cutting inserts have a shape of a trigon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.