Cutting tool component having an additively manufactured cutting portion with integrally formed guide pads and method of manufacture thereof - Patents.com

Abstract

The cutting tool component includes a cutting portion (38). The cutting tool component further includes a plurality of guide pads (56) projecting radially outward from the cutting portion. At least the cutting portion and the plurality of guide pads are manufactured by additive manufacturing, and the plurality of guide pads are integrally formed with the cutting portion in a unitary, one-piece construction. A rotary cutting tool is provided having a cutting insert removably attached to the cutting tool component.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The subject matter of the present application relates generally to rotary cutting tool components, and more particularly to such cutting tool components having a plurality of guide pads for guiding the cutting tool component when performing rotary metal-cutting operations, and more particularly to such guide pads integrally formed with the cutting tool component such that they have a one-piece construction. [Background technology]

[0002] As is known in the art of metal cutting, rotary cutting tools may be provided with guide pads to guide the cutting tool when performing rotary metal cutting operations within a hole.

[0003] Such rotary cutting tools include an insert holder and a cutting insert removably attached to the insert holder. In some such cutting tools, guide pads are integrally formed. U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010 / 040425 and 2011 / 008116 disclose guide pads that are fixedly held in recessed pad pockets on the insert holder by brazing techniques. In other such insert holders, pad pockets (of the type described above) are not required since the guide pads are integrally formed on the cutting insert itself. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 8,317,439.

[0004] Alternatively, the guide pad may be removably retained in a recessed pad pocket on the insert holder by a fastener. Examples of such rotary cutting tools are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,896,588 and 10,201,861, which show guide pads that are removably retained in pad pockets by set screws.

[0005] Certain other rotary cutting tools have a monolithic construction (cutting edges integrally formed with the cutting tool) and also have guide pads integrally formed with the cutting tool. One example of such a rotary cutting tool is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 376570.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT SUBJECT MATTER It is an object of the present subject matter to provide a cutting tool component having an improved guide pad.

[0007] It is yet another object of the present subject matter to provide a method of manufacturing a cutting tool component that does not require post-manufacturing assembly to attach guide pads to the cutting tool component. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present subject matter, there is provided a cutting tool part configured to rotate about a tool part longitudinal axis defining opposite forward and rearward directions and opposite rotational leading and trailing directions, the leading direction being a cutting direction, the cutting tool part comprising: a tool part leading end face, a tool part trailing end face, and a tool part circumferential surface extending between the tool part leading end face and the tool part trailing end face, the tool part circumferential surface extending about the tool part longitudinal axis; an additively manufactured cutting portion comprising cutting portion material and disposed at a leading end of the cutting tool part, the cutting portion comprising a cutting portion circumferential surface formed from a peripheral surface of the tool part; a shank portion extending rearwardly from the cutting portion; a plurality of additively manufactured guide pads including a guide pad material and projecting from the cutting portion circumferential surface; A plurality of the guide pads are integrally formed with the cutting portion as a unitary, one-piece structure.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the subject matter of the present application, there is provided a cutting tool part of the type described above, A cutting insert having a cutting edge removably retained in the insert pocket is provided.

[0010] The cutting insert may be a self-clamping cutting insert that does not have a through hole configured to receive a clamping screw to hold the cutting insert within an insert pocket.

[0011] According to a third aspect of the present subject matter, there is provided a method of manufacturing a cutting tool part of the type described above, the method comprising the steps of: manufacturing the cut portion by using a first additive manufacturing process; During or after the step of manufacturing the cutting portion, manufacturing a plurality of the guide pads by using a second additive manufacturing process.

[0012] It will be appreciated that the above is a summary and that the features described below may be applicable to the subject matter of the present application in any combination, for example any of the following features may be applicable to a cutting tool part and / or a cutting tool and / or a method for manufacturing a cutting tool part.

[0013] The cutting portion material and the guide pad material may be the same.

[0014] The cutting portion material and the guide pad material may be different.

[0015] The cutting portion material and / or the guide pad material may not be a cemented carbide or a cermet.

[0016] The guide pad material may be steel.

[0017] The shank portion may be an additively manufactured shank portion.

[0018] The cutting tool component may further comprise a coating layer formed on at least some of the guide pads.

[0019] The coating layer may be a PVD coating layer.

[0020] The PVD coating layer may be a low temperature PVD coating layer.

[0021] The low temperature PVD coating layer may be TiN.

[0022] The cutting portion may comprise a plurality of angularly spaced flutes recessed into the cutting portion circumferential surface, and a plurality of angularly spaced lands bounded in a radially outward direction by the cutting portion circumferential surface, each land extending between an associated rotational leading flute and an associated rotational trailing flute, the associated rotational leading flute being rotationally forward of the associated rotational trailing flute. Each land may have a respective guide pad formed thereon. For any given land, each said guide pad may be spaced apart from the associated rotational leading flute of the given land.

[0023] Each said guide pad may be spaced from an associated rotationally trailing flute of a given land.

[0024] Each land may have a single respective guide pad formed thereon.

[0025] The cutting portion peripheral surface of each land may comprise a land raised surface extending along an associated rotational leading groove and a land clearance surface recessed relative to the land raised surface and extending from the land raised surface to an associated rotational trailing groove. Each of the guide pads may be formed on the land clearance surface of a given land.

[0026] The cutting tool component may include a plurality of cooling channels, each having a channel outlet, and each land may have a respective channel outlet formed thereon, each channel outlet configured to direct coolant to a respective guide pad.

[0027] Each said channel outlet may be formed between a respective said guide pad and an associated said rotational leading flute of a given land.

[0028] The guide pads may extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis.

[0029] The flutes may extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis.

[0030] A plurality of the guide pads may extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis in the same direction as a plurality of angularly spaced helically extending flutes.

[0031] Each helical guide pad may have a pad helix angle, which may be greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 40°.

[0032] Each guide pad may be elongate along a pad longitudinal axis and may have two opposing pad ends and an elongate central pad portion extending between the opposing pad ends.

[0033] One of the pad ends may be closer to the shank portion than the other of the pad ends.

[0034] Each guide pad may include a central radially outward facing pad contact surface, two opposing pad end surfaces extending from the pad contact surface to the cutting portion peripheral surface at opposite axial ends of the guide pad, and two opposing pad side surfaces extending from the pad contact surface to the cutting portion peripheral surface at opposite rotating sides of the guide pad.

[0035] The two pad end surfaces and the two pad side surfaces may all be inclined with respect to a pad protruding axis along which each guide pad protrudes from the cutting portion peripheral surface.

[0036] The pad contact surface may be back tapered.

[0037] The pad contact surface may have a basic shape of a parallelogram.

[0038] In a side view of the cutting tool component, the pad contact surface has a pad contact length measured in the direction of the pad longitudinal axis and a pad contact width measured in a direction perpendicular to the pad contact length, the pad contact width being less than half the pad contact length.

[0039] The pad contact width may be less than one quarter of the pad contact length.

[0040] The pad contact width may be less than 4mm.

[0041] In a side view of the cutting tool part, the pad contact surface has a pad contact axial height measured in the direction of the tool part longitudinal axis. The pad contact surface may be spaced from the tool part leading end face by a pad distance. The pad distance may be greater than the pad contact axial height.

[0042] The cutting tool component may include a cutting edge integrally formed in the cutting portion.

[0043] Alternatively, the cutting tool part may include an insert pocket.

[0044] The insert pocket may not have a threaded hole configured to receive a clamping screw for retaining the cutting insert.

[0045] The cutting insert may comprise a cutting insert material. The cutting insert material may be different from the cutting portion material and / or the guide pad material. The cutting insert material may be harder than the cutting portion material and / or the guide pad material.

[0046] The step of manufacturing a plurality of the guide pads may be performed during the step of manufacturing the cutting portion.

[0047] The method may further include manufacturing the shank portion by using a third additive manufacturing process.

[0048] The method may further include applying a coating layer to at least a plurality of the guide pads.

[0049] The method may further include applying a low temperature PVD coating layer to at least a plurality of the guide pads.

[0050] For a better understanding of the present application, and to show how the same may be carried into practice, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0051] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rotary cutting tool according to the present application; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rotary cutting tool of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an end view of the cutting tool component of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the cutting portion of the cutting tool component of FIG. 3. [Figure 4a] A detail of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 4, with the cutting portion rotated 90° about the tool part longitudinal axis. [Figure 6] 6 is a radial cross-sectional view of a cut portion taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

[0052] It should be noted that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity, or multiple physical components may be included in a single functional block or element. Furthermore, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] In the following description, various aspects of the subject matter of the present application are described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in sufficient detail to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter of the present application. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the subject matter of the present application can be practiced without the specific configurations and details presented herein.

[0054] Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 , which illustrates one embodiment of the present application, showing a rotary cutting tool 20 for chip removal. The cutting tool 20 has a tool longitudinal axis A. The cutting tool 20 is elongated along the tool longitudinal axis A. The cutting tool 20 is a rotary cutting tool. That is, the cutting tool 20 is designed to rotate about an axis of rotation (the tool longitudinal axis A). In the non-limiting example shown in the drawing, the cutting tool 20 is a drilling tool. However, the subject matter of the present application is not limited to only drilling tools, and may also be applied to, for example, but not limited to, reaming tools.

[0055] The cutting tool 20 includes a cutting tool component 22, which is described in further detail herein. According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting tool 20 may include a cutting insert 24. The cutting insert 24 may be manufactured by a conventional method, such as pressing or sintering. The cutting insert 24 includes a cutting insert material. The cutting insert 24 has a cutting edge 26 designed to perform a metal cutting operation. The cutting insert 24 may be removably attached to the cutting tool component 22. The cutting insert 24 may be a self-clamping cutting insert that does not have a through hole configured to receive a clamping screw for securing the cutting insert within the insert pocket. According to other embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting edge 26 may be integrally formed in the cutting portion 38.

[0056] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows a cutting tool part 22 according to another embodiment of the present application. The cutting tool part 22 is F and backward D R The cutting tool component 22 has a tool part longitudinal axis B that defines a cutting tool component 22. The cutting tool component 22 is elongated along the tool part longitudinal axis B. The cutting tool component 22 is configured to rotate about the tool part longitudinal axis B. The tool part central axis B is aligned in a leading direction D of rotation. P and the following direction D S Also specifies the leading direction D P is the cutting direction of cutting tool part 22. According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, cutting tool 20 and cutting tool part 22 may be coaxial with each other. It should be noted that two elements (e.g., cutting tool 20 and cutting tool part 22 in this case) are coaxial with each other when their longitudinal axes coincide (align with each other).

[0057] It should further be noted that the terms "forward" and "rearward" as used throughout this description and the claims refer to relative positions in the direction of the tool part longitudinal axis B to the left and to the right, respectively, in Figures 4, 4a and 5. Generally speaking, the forward direction is the direction toward the cutting edge 26.

[0058] 1 and 2, the cutting tool component 22 includes a tool part leading end face 28 and a tool part trailing end face 30 opposite the tool part leading end face 28. The tool part leading end face 28 is disposed at a front end 32 of the cutting tool component 22. The tool part trailing end face 30 is disposed at a rear end 34 of the cutting tool component 22. The tool part trailing face 30 may be planar. The tool part leading face 28 and the tool part trailing face 30 may intersect the tool part longitudinal axis B. The cutting tool component 22 further includes a tool part circumferential surface 36 extending between the tool part leading end face 28 and the tool part trailing end face 30. The tool part circumferential surface 36 extends about the tool part longitudinal axis B.

[0059] Returning to FIGS. 2-4 , the cutting tool component 22 includes an additively manufactured cutting portion 38. The cutting portion 38 is manufactured by additive manufacturing and includes cutting portion material. The cutting portion 38 is disposed at the leading end 32 of the cutting tool component 22. The cutting portion 38 includes a cutting portion circumferential surface 40 formed from the tool part peripheral surface 36. In other words, in the cutting portion 38, the tool part peripheral surface 36 forms the cutting portion circumferential surface 40. The cutting portion circumferential surface 40 is formed from a full circumferential (i.e., 360°) portion of the tool part peripheral surface 36. The cutting portion circumferential surface 40 intersects and forms a boundary of the tool part leading end surface 28. According to certain embodiments of the subject matter of the present application, the cutting portion 38 may include an insert pocket 42 for receiving the cutting insert 24. The insert pocket 42 may be disposed at an intersection of the tool part peripheral surface 36 and the tool part leading end surface 28. In the assembled position of the cutting tool 20, the cutting insert 24 may be removably retained within the insert pocket 42. The insert pocket 24 may not be provided with a threaded hole configured to receive a clamping screw for securing the cutting insert therein, and thus may accommodate a self-clamping cutting insert.

[0060] It should be noted that when the term "additively manufactured" is used throughout this description and the claims, it refers to a type of component formed using one or more additive manufacturing processes used to create a three-dimensional object in which layers of material are formed to create the object. Examples of such additive manufacturing processes include, but are not limited to, selective laser melting (SLM), selective laser sintering (SLS), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and 3D printing. A person skilled in the art can detect whether a particular component is an additively manufactured component by the presence of visible layers on the material prior to post-processing (such as grinding).

[0061] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting portion 38 may include a plurality of angularly spaced flutes 44 recessed into the tool part circumferential surface 36. The plurality of flutes 44 may extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis B.

[0062] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting portion 38 may include a plurality of angularly spaced lands 50. The plurality of lands 50 may be interleaved with the plurality of flutes 44 about the tool part longitudinal axis B.

[0063] 6, according to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, each land 50 may extend between a pair of angularly adjacent associated flutes 44. The angularly adjacent pair of associated flutes 44 may be aligned in a leading rotational direction D. P The associated leading longitudinal groove 44P adjacent to the land 50 in the direction of rotation and the trailing longitudinal groove D in the direction of rotation S and an associated rotationally trailing flute 44S adjacent the land 50 at 40. Thus, for each land 50, the associated rotationally leading flute 44P is rotationally forward of the associated rotationally trailing flute 44S. Note that a flute may be a rotationally leading flute 44P for one land 50 and a rotationally trailing flute 44S for another flute 50.

[0064] 5, according to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, each land 50 may be bounded in a radially outward direction by a cutting portion circumferential surface 40. The cutting portion circumferential surface 40 of each land 50 may include a land raised surface 52 that extends along an associated rotationally leading flute 44P. Each land 50 may include a land clearance surface 54 that is recessed radially inward relative to the land raised surface 52. The land clearance surface 54 may extend from the land raised surface 52 to an associated rotationally trailing flute 44S. The land clearance surface 54 may be spaced from the tool part leading end face 28.

[0065] Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the cutting tool component 22 includes a shank portion 46 extending rearwardly from the cutting portion 38. The shank portion 46 includes a means for mounting the cutting tool component 22 to a tool holder (not shown). Specifically, the shank portion 46 is configured to be positioned in a tool receiving recess of the tool holder and removably clamped therein. With reference to Figures 4 and 5a-5b, the tool component peripheral surface 36 at the shank portion 46 forms a shank radial centering surface 48. The shank radial centering surface 48 functions to ensure accurate radial alignment of the cutting tool component 22 within the tool holder. According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the shank radial centering surface 48 may be cylindrical or conical about the tool component longitudinal axis B. Preferably, the shank radial centering surface 48 may be cylindrical about the tool component longitudinal axis B. The shank portion 46 may be formed by additive manufacturing.

[0066] The cutting tool component 22 includes a plurality of additively manufactured guide pads 56. The plurality of guide pads 56 protrude from the cutting portion periphery 40. The plurality of guide pads 56 are formed by additive manufacturing and include guide pad material. The plurality of guide pads 56 are integrally formed to the cutting portion 38 in a unitary, one-piece construction. As used herein, an item is said to have a "unitary, one-piece construction" if it results from an additive manufacturing process, even if multiple materials are used during the additive manufacturing of that item.

[0067] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the plurality of guide pads 56 may extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis B. The helical configuration provides improved guiding compared to straight pads, particularly when the drilled holes have cross holes. The plurality of guide pads 56 may extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis B in the same direction as the plurality of helical flutes 44. Each helical guide pad 56 may have a pad helix angle θ. The pad helix angle θ may be greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 40°.

[0068] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, each land 50 may be formed with a respective guide pad 56. In particular, each land 50 may be formed with a single respective guide pad 56.

[0069] For any given land 50a, the respective guide pad 56 may be the radially outermost portion of the given land 50a. In particular, the respective guide pad 56 may project radially outwardly further than the land raised surface 52 of the given land 50a. The respective guide pad 56 may be spaced apart from the associated rotationally leading flute 44P of the given land. The respective guide pad 56 may be spaced apart from the associated rotationally trailing flute 44S of the given land. The respective guide pad 56 may be formed on the land clearance surface 54 of the given land.

[0070] 4, according to one embodiment of the present subject matter, the guide pads 56 may be elongate along a pad longitudinal axis C. Each guide pad 56 may have two opposing pad ends 58 and an elongate pad intermediate portion 60 extending between the two opposing pad ends 58. One pad end 58 may be closer to the shank portion 46 than the other pad end 58. In a configuration having multiple helical guide pads 56, the pad longitudinal axis C may be a (virtual) line tangent to the pad intermediate portion 60.

[0071] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, each guide pad 56 may include a central, radially outwardly facing pad contact surface 62. The pad contact surface 62 may be back tapered. That is, each pad contact surface 62 may extend in the rearward direction D. R 5, may taper inwardly toward the cutting portion longitudinal axis B. The pad contact surface 62 may have the basic shape of a parallelogram with a short diagonal and a long diagonal. Each guide pad 56 may include two opposing pad end surfaces 64 extending from the pad contact surface 62 to the cutting portion peripheral surface 40 at opposite axial ends of the guide pad 56. Each guide pad 56 may include two opposing pad side surfaces 66 extending from the pad contact surface 62 to the cutting portion peripheral surface 40 at opposite rotation sides of the guide pad 56. The two pad side surfaces 66 may connect the two opposing pad end surfaces 64. The two pad end surfaces 64 and the two pad side surfaces 66 may both be inclined with respect to the pad protruding axis D along which each guide pad 56 protrudes from the cutting portion peripheral surface 40. This allows each guide pad 56 to smoothly merge into the cutting portion 38. 4-6, the pad protrusion axis D may be oriented perpendicular to the tool part longitudinal axis B and contained within a radial plane that intersects the tool part longitudinal axis B and the pad longitudinal axis C.

[0072] According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, in a side view of the cutting tool part 22, the pad contact surface 62 has a pad contact length L measured in the direction of the pad longitudinal axis C and a pad contact width W measured in a direction perpendicular to the pad contact length L. The pad contact width W may be less than half the pad contact length L. In particular, the pad contact width W may be less than a quarter of the pad contact length L. The pad contact width W may be less than 4 mm. The pad contact width W may be less than 2 mm. Such reduced dimensions of the guide pads allow the guide pads to be located on the drilling lands while at the same time providing adequate support and minimizing friction with the cylindrical walls of the hole to be drilled.

[0073] 4 , according to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, in a side view of the cutting tool part 22, the pad contact surface 62 may have a pad contact axial height H measured in the direction of the tool part longitudinal axis B. The pad contact surface 62 may be spaced from the tool part leading end face 28 by a pad distance d (measured in the same direction). The pad distance d may be greater than the pad contact axial height H. The pad distance d may be greater than two times the pad contact axial height H.

[0074] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting portion material and the guide pad material may be the same. In configurations where the cutting edge 26 is integrally formed in the cutting portion 38, the cutting portion material and the guide pad material may both be cemented carbide or cermet. In configurations with cutting inserts having cutting edges removably retained in the insert pockets, the cutting portion material is typically steel. The guide pad material may be steel.

[0075] Alternatively, the cutting portion material and the guide pad material may be different. The cutting portion material may not be a cemented carbide or a cermet. For example, the cutting portion material may be steel. Similarly, the guide pad material may not be a cemented carbide or a cermet. The guide pad material may be Stellite, which is more wear resistant than steel.

[0076] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting insert material may be different from the cutting portion material. The cutting insert material may be harder than the cutting portion material. The cutting insert material may be different from the guide pad material. The cutting insert material is harder than the guide pad material.

[0077] According to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting tool component 22 may include a coating layer 68 that may be formed on at least the plurality of guide pads 56. That is, the coating layer 68 may be applied to at least the guide pad material. The coating layer 68 functions to increase the wear resistance of the plurality of guide pads 56, which is important when the guide pads are formed from, for example, steel. The coating layer 68 may optionally be formed on the cutting portion 38 and / or the shank portion 46. The coating layer 68 may be a PVD coating layer. That is, the coating layer 68 may be deposited via a PVD process. The PVD coating layer may be a low-temperature PVD coating layer. That is, the PVD coating layer may be deposited at a relatively low temperature. The low-temperature PVD coating layer may be TiN.

[0078] 6, according to certain embodiments of the present subject matter, the cutting tool component 22 may include a plurality of cooling channels 82. Each cooling channel 82 has a channel inlet (not shown) and a channel outlet 86 in fluid communication with one another. Each land 50 may have a respective channel outlet 86 formed therein. Each channel outlet 86 is configured to direct coolant to a respective guide pad 56, thereby improving wear resistance. Each channel outlet 86 may be formed between a respective guide pad 56 and an associated rotational leading flute 44P of a given land. Each channel outlet 86 may be formed on a land flank 54.

[0079] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the cutting tool component 22 as described above. The method includes manufacturing the cutting portion 38 by using a first additive manufacturing process. The method further includes manufacturing the plurality of guide pads 56 by using a second additive manufacturing process during or after the step of manufacturing the cutting portion 38. Preferably, the aforementioned steps are performed during (i.e., simultaneously with) the step of manufacturing the cutting portion 38, in which case the first additive manufacturing process and the second additive manufacturing process are performed simultaneously. According to an embodiment of the subject matter of the present application, the method may further include manufacturing the shank portion 46 by using a third additive manufacturing process. Thus, the entire cutting tool component 22 may be additively manufactured and may have a unitary, one-piece structure, despite the multiple additive manufacturing processes employed. The method may further include polishing the plurality of guide pads 56 such that the pad contact surface 62 is back-tapered. The method may further include applying a coating layer to at least the plurality of guide pads 56. Applying a coating layer to at least a plurality of guide pads 56 may include applying a coating layer to the entire cutting portion 38 .

[0080] It should be noted that the size of the guide pad 56 described above is not limited by the need for through holes (to receive retaining screws), as is the case with conventional removable guide pads.

[0081] It should also be noted that the cutting portion 38 with the guide pad 56 described above may transition smoothly with the cutting portion 38, unlike removable guide pads that require a recessed pad pocket in the cutting portion. Any gap between the guide pad and the pad pocket can trap small chips and damage the surface finish of the drilled hole.

[0082] Although the subject matter of the present application has been described in some detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed below.

Claims

1. In the opposite forward direction (D Ｆ ) and backward (D Ｒ ) and the leading direction (D Ｐ ) and the following direction (D Ｓ ) and a cutting tool component (22) configured to rotate about a tool component longitudinal axis (B) defining a leading direction (D Ｐ ) is the cutting direction, and the cutting tool part (22) is a tool part leading end face (28), a tool part trailing end face (30), and a tool part peripheral surface (36) extending between said tool part leading end face (28) and said tool part trailing end face (30) and extending about said tool part longitudinal axis (B); an additively manufactured cutting portion (38) comprising cutting portion material and disposed at the leading end (32) of the cutting tool component (22), the cutting portion (38) comprising a cutting portion periphery (40) formed from the tool component periphery (36); a shank portion (46) extending rearwardly from said cutting portion (38); a plurality of additively manufactured guide pads (56), each comprising a guide pad material and protruding from the cutting portion peripheral surface (40); A cutting tool component (22) wherein a plurality of said guide pads (56) are integrally formed with said cutting portion in a one-piece, unitary construction.

2. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein the cutting portion material and the guide pad material are the same.

3. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein the cutting portion material and the guide pad material are different.

4. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein the cutting portion material and / or the guide pad material is not a cemented carbide or a cermet.

5. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein the guide pad material is steel.

6. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, further comprising a coating layer (68) formed on at least a plurality of said guide pads (56).

7. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 6, wherein the coating layer (68) is a PVD coating layer.

8. The cutting portion (38) a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinal grooves (44) recessed into the cutting portion peripheral surface (40); a plurality of angularly spaced lands (50), each land (50) extending between an associated rotational leading flute (44P) and an associated rotational trailing flute (44S), the associated rotational leading flute (44) being rotationally forward of the associated rotational trailing flute (44S); Each land (50) is formed with a respective guide pad (56), 2. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein for any given land (50a), each said guide pad (56) is spaced from the associated rotational leading flute (44P) of that land.

9. 9. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 8, wherein each said guide pad (56) is spaced from the associated rotationally trailing flute (44S) of a given said land.

10. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 8, wherein each land (50) is formed with a single guide pad (56).

11. The cutting portion circumferential surface (40) of each land (50) is a land raised surface (52) extending along the associated rotational leading flute (44P); a land relief surface (54) recessed relative to the land raised surface (52) and extending from the land raised surface (52) to the associated rotationally trailing longitudinal groove (44S); The cutting tool component (22) of claim 8, wherein each said guide pad (56) is formed on a land flank (54) of a given land.

12. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said guide pads (56) extend helically about said tool component longitudinal axis (B).

13. the cutting portion (38) comprises a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinal grooves (44) recessed into the cutting portion circumferential surface (40), and the plurality of guide pads (56) extend helically about the tool part longitudinal axis (B); 13. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 12, wherein the plurality of guide pads (56) extend helically about the tool component longitudinal axis (B) in the same direction as the plurality of angularly spaced helically extending flutes (44).

14. 2. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, wherein each guide pad (56) is elongate along a pad longitudinal axis (C) and has two opposing pad ends (58) and an elongate pad intermediate portion (60) extending between the two opposing pad ends.

15. Each guide pad (56) a central radially outwardly facing pad contact surface (62); two opposite pad end surfaces (64) extending from the pad contact surface (62) to the cutting portion peripheral surface (40) at opposite axial ends of the guide pad (56); and two opposite pad side surfaces (66) extending from the pad contact surface (62) to the cutting portion peripheral surface (40) on opposite rotation sides of the guide pad (56).

16. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 15, wherein the pad contact surface (62) is back tapered.

17. In a side view of the cutting tool component (22), The pad contact surface (62) has a pad contact length (L) measured in the direction of the pad longitudinal axis (C) and a pad contact width (W) measured in a direction perpendicular to the pad contact length (L); 16. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 15, wherein the pad contact width (W) is less than half the pad contact length (L).

18. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, comprising a cutting edge (26) integrally formed in the cutting portion (38).

19. The cutting tool component (22) of claim 1, comprising an insert pocket (42).

20. A cutting tool component (22) according to claim 19; a cutting insert (24) having a cutting edge (26) and removably held within the insert pocket (42).

21. the cutting insert (24) comprises a cutting insert material; 21. The cutting tool (20) of claim 20, wherein the cutting insert material is different from the cutting portion material and / or the guide pad material, the cutting insert material being harder than the cutting portion material and / or the guide pad material.

22. 10. A method for manufacturing a cutting tool component (22) according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: manufacturing said cutting portion (38) by using a first additive manufacturing process; during or after the step of manufacturing the cutting portion (38), manufacturing a plurality of the guide pads (56) by using a second additive manufacturing process.

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