Indexable Face Milling Insert Corner Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double-sided face milling inserts with negative axial and radial tipping-in angles face challenges such as increased axial cutting forces, difficult chip formation, and evacuation, leading to blunted cutting edges and mediocre surface finish due to sharp corner transitions and plane clearance surfaces.

Innovation Solution

The design minimizes the negative axial tipping-in angle by forming corner surfaces as concave waists with acute angles between secondary and main edges, and using broken clearance surfaces to reduce material while maintaining strength, allowing for adaptable clearance and improved surface quality without grinding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the milling insert is mounted with a negative axial tipping-in angle to provide clearance between the clearance surface and the generated plane surface, then the clearance is improved, but the axial cutting forces increase and chip formation and evacuation become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearance angleVSAvoidaxial cutting forces
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by replacing the traditional straight and parallel main edges with inclined main edges that form an obtuse angle with the secondary edges. This geometric curvature modification allows the cutting edge to achieve the necessary clearance angle without requiring excessive negative axial tipping-in, thereby reducing axial cutting forces while maintaining effective clearance between the clearance surface and the generated plane surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of manufacture

If the main edges are straight and pair-wise parallel to provide simple geometry, then the manufacturing is easier, but the cutting edges become blunt and chip formation problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometry simplicityVSAvoidcutting edge sharpness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by designing main edges that are inclined rather than straight and parallel. The main edges form a specific obtuse angle with the secondary edges, creating an asymmetric geometry that maintains cutting edge sharpness and improves chip formation. This asymmetric design is particularly effective at the corner transitions where the main edge meets the secondary edge, preventing bluntness while remaining manufacturable through standard processes like pressing and sintering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If the corner transition between main edge and secondary edge is sharp to maximize material removal, then the material removal efficiency is improved, but the insert becomes fragile and service life is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial removal efficiencyVSAvoidinsert strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature at the corner transitions where the main edge meets the secondary edge. This rounded or inclined transition geometry eliminates sharp corners that would act as stress concentration points, thereby strengthening the insert and extending service life. The curved transition maintains effective cutting geometry for material removal while distributing mechanical stresses more evenly across the corner region, preventing premature failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Device complexity

If the clearance surfaces are plane and extend perpendicularly to the neutral plane to simplify design, then the design complexity is reduced, but the surface finish quality becomes mediocre

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearance surface designVSAvoidsurface finish quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric inclination to the clearance surfaces, particularly at the corner regions where the main edge transitions to the secondary edge. This asymmetric clearance surface design allows for better chip evacuation and improved surface finish quality by creating more favorable chip flow paths. The inclined clearance surfaces work in conjunction with the inclined main edges to achieve superior surface finish without significantly increasing design complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2902145B1Double-sided, indexable face milling insert
Publication Date: 2017.01.11 SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB
  • EP2902145B1 patent drawing
  • EP2902145B1 patent drawing
  • EP2902145B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a double-sided, indexable face milling insert of the type that comprises uppersides and undersides (16A, 16B), a neutral plane parallel to the same as well as a plurality of alternately applicable cutting edges (11), which are formed along circumferential borderlines in transitions between a number of clearance surfaces (13, 15) and the upperside as well as the underside, and which individually include a chip-removing main edge (12) and a surface-wiping secondary edge (14), which - as viewed in planar view - forms an obtuse angle with the main edge. Between each pair of upper and lower secondary edges (14), there extends a corner surface (15) that serves as a clearance surface and connects to the secondary edges via part surfaces (151, 152), which - as viewed in side elevation - form an acute angle with individual reference planes parallel to the neutral plane.