Cutting Insert Side-Face Geometry for Corner Edge Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting inserts for rotary cutting tools face challenges in sufficiently suppressing damage to the corner cutting edge during high feed processing, as previous designs either fail to adequately enhance corner edge strength or do not provide a means to prevent damage.

Innovation Solution

A cutting insert with an approximately polygonal shape featuring a main cutting edge and corner cutting edge, where the first side face portion has a negative clearance angle and increases in height towards the corner cutting edge, and the second side face portion has a greater height than the first side face portion, both with negative clearance angles, to enhance corner cutting edge durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the first corner side face portion has an obtuse angle and the second corner side face portion has an acute angle to increase corner side face portion capacity, then the strength of the cutting edge is improved, but the damage of the corner cutting edge cannot be sufficiently suppressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting edge strengthVSAvoidcorner cutting edge durability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct side face portions with different characteristics: the first side face portion has a negative clearance angle and increases in height toward the corner, while the second side face portion has a greater height than the maximum height of the first side face portion. This localized differentiation of geometric properties provides both strength and corner protection specifically where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional face configurations to three-dimensional height variations. By making the side face portions extend in the height dimension with the second side face portion exceeding the maximum height of the first side face portion, the design adds a vertical dimension to corner protection, creating a more robust three-dimensional structure that suppresses corner damage while maintaining cutting edge strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If high feed processing is performed to improve processing efficiency, then productivity is increased, but the processing cutting load on the cutting edge increases and damage such as broken edge more easily occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcutting edge integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by designing the second side face portion with a height greater than the maximum height of the first side face portion, creating a protective structure in advance that cushions and absorbs the increased cutting loads encountered during high feed processing. This pre-configured geometric feature prevents edge breakage before it occurs by providing structural support and stress distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3954483A1Cutting insert and rotary cutting tool
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 TUNGALOY CORP
  • EP3954483A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3954483A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3954483A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a cutting insert (10) that can suppress damage of a corner cutting edge. The cutting insert (10) has an approximately polygonal shape, and is constituted of a main cutting edge (22A3) and a corner cutting edge (22A1) connected to the main cutting edge. The cutting insert includes: a first side face portion that is connected to the main cutting edge, has a negative clearance angle, and is formed such that height thereof increases gradually in a direction of approaching the corner cutting edge; and a second side face portion that is connected to the corner cutting edge, has a negative clearance angle, and has height that is greater than the first side face portion.