Saw disk with improved chip discharge

A cutting disk for a rotary cutting machine, the cutting disk comprising:

• a disk body having a central axis of rotation and a circumferentially extending outer periphery;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart cutting teeth mounted to the outer periphery of the disk body;
• and a chip pocket defined in the circumferential outer periphery of the disk body between each of the circumferentially spaced apart cutting teeth, the chip pocket extending between a first radial surface and a second radial surface disposed on a forward adjacent cutting tooth, the second radial surface disposed forward of the first radial surface with respect to a direction of rotation of the cutting disk, the chip pocket having a flat mounting surface extending forwardly from the first radial surface and a rounded corner at an intersection of the first radial surface and the mounting surface, a gap being defined between each tooth and the rounded corner, the chip pocket having a concave chip clearance surface extending a circumferential length between the flat mounting surface and the second radial surface, the chip clearance surface being curved along the entire circumferential length and extending radially inwardly into the disk body, the chip clearance surface having a radial depth at a circumferential midpoint thereof that is less than a length of a line extending between the flat mounting surface and the second radial surface, the chip clearance surface defining laterally opposed open sides, both open sides being spaced from the central axis of rotation at equal radial distances, wherein the chip pocket is adapted to receive workpiece chips therein produced by the cutting teeth and discharge said chips therefrom while limiting disk wear caused by the chips.