Grooving Insert Geometry to Prevent End Face Tool Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insert-replaceable grooving tools face issues with machining accuracy and tool damage due to contact between cutting edges and workpiece surfaces, particularly when the depth of the workpiece is insufficient, leading to limited machining flexibility and increased part numbers for left-hand and right-hand specifications.

Innovation Solution

The tool features a cutting insert with a front cutting edge and corner portions that are inclined relative to the workpiece rotation axis, allowing for improved chip discharge and reduced contact with the workpiece surfaces, while maintaining perpendicularity of the groove bottom, thus enhancing machining accuracy without increasing the number of cutting insert parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cutting insert is disposed with the axis line of the traverse direction parallel to the rotation axis line of the workpiece, then the machining simplicity is improved, but the corner portion of the cutting edge contacts the circumferential surface causing tool damage and limited machining flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining simplicityVSAvoidtool damage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by inclining the axis line of the traverse direction of the cutting insert relative to the rotation axis line of the workpiece. Specifically, the angle between these two axis lines is set to 90° or more and 90.5° or less, creating an asymmetric configuration that prevents the corner portion of the cutting edge from contacting the circumferential surface during grooving operations, thereby resolving the tool damage issue while maintaining machining simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the angular parameter between the traverse direction axis line and the rotation axis line from the conventional parallel arrangement (90°) to a slightly inclined arrangement (90°-90.5°). This parameter change optimizes the cutting geometry to prevent corner contact with the circumferential surface while maintaining the simplicity of the machining operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the depth of the workpiece is insufficient, then the machining flexibility is reduced, but the corner portion contacts the circumferential surface causing tool damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining flexibilityVSAvoidtool damage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric inclination of the traverse direction axis line prevents the corner portion of the cutting edge from contacting the circumferential surface regardless of workpiece depth. This allows the tool to be used on workpieces of various depths without causing tool damage, thereby improving machining flexibility and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple cutting inserts are used for left-hand and right-hand specifications, then the machining accuracy is improved for specific applications, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining accuracyVSAvoidnumber of cutting insert parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal cutting insert design that can be used for both left-hand and right-hand grooving operations by incorporating the inclined axis line configuration. This single insert design replaces the need for separate left-hand and right-hand specific inserts, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to achieve high machining accuracy for various applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2532460B1Cutting edge replacement type groove forming tool and end face groove forming method
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORP
  • EP2532460B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2532460B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2532460B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cutting insert (130) is formed to be rotationally symmetric with respect to an axis line (C3) of a height direction and to be planarly symmetric with respect to a virtual plane of the insert (VS1), an axis line (C2) of a traverse direction is gradually inclined toward the front of a rotational direction around which a workpiece (W) rotates moving toward a first traverse direction (C2A), an axis line (C1) of a longitudinal direction extends toward a lower surface side of an insert body (131) so as to approach a virtual plane of the tool moving toward a first longitudinal direction (C1A), and one corner portion (143C) in the other cutting edge (132B) is disposed further toward a first traverse direction (C2A) than one corner portion (143A) in one cutting edge (132A).