Rotary cutting tool with increased stiffness and method of assembling same

A rotary cutting tool, comprising:

• a cutter body having a forward end and a rearward end,
• the cutter body including a head, a shank, and a cavity extending from the rearward end toward the forward end along a central, longitudinal axis of the cutter body, the cavity having threads at both ends thereof, the head including at least one cutting insert mounted in a pocket adjacent to at least one chip groove;
• and
• a stiffening device including:
• a first compression screw threaded into the rearward end,
• a second compression screw threaded into the forward end, and
• a plurality of cylindrical slugs with high compressive strength disposed within the cavity between the first compression screw and the second compression screw,
• wherein the plurality of cylindrical slugs are of uniform diameter and are slip-fitted into the cavity,
• wherein the plurality of cylindrical slugs collectively define a first end of the plurality of cylindrical slugs and a second end of the plurality of cylindrical slugs,
• wherein the first end of the plurality of cylindrical slugs engages the second compression screw and the second end of the plurality of cylindrical slugs engages the first compression screw, and
• wherein, when the first compression screw is threaded into the rearward end of the cutting tool and the second compression screw is threaded into the forward end of the cutting tool, lateral movement of the plurality of slugs within the cavity is prevented and the stiffening device increases the stiffness of the cutting tool via:
• compressing the plurality of slugs;
• and
• thereby tensioning the cutter body.

A rotary cutting tool, comprising:

• a cutter body having a forward end, a rearward end, the cutter body including a head, a shank, and a cavity extending from the rearward end toward the forward end along a central, longitudinal axis of the cutter body, the cavity having threads at one end thereof, the head including at least one cutting insert mounted in a pocket adjacent to at least one chip groove;
• and
• a stiffening device including a first compression screw threaded into the rearward end and a plurality of cylindrical slugs with high compressive strength disposed within the cavity,
• wherein each slug includes a coolant hole longitudinally extending therethrough, a plurality of circumferential grooves on an outer diameter thereof, a plurality of axial grooves on the outer diameter thereof, and a plurality of radial grooves on each end thereof, and wherein the first compression screw has a coolant hole longitudinally extending therethrough, and
• wherein the stiffening device increasing the stiffness of the cutting tool when the first compression screw is threaded into the rearward end of the cutting tool.