Milling Tool Body Cooling Duct Layout for Leak-Free Machining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Milling tools used in the metal industry face significant challenges due to heat loads during high-temperature machining, leading to shortened tool life and frequent tool changes, as the tool body material softens and cannot withstand mechanical loads, requiring multiple tools and frequent replacements.

Innovation Solution

A milling tool body design with a coolant system integrated into the tool body, featuring a coolant ring and sealing ring arrangement that allows for efficient coolant delivery and return without leakage, reducing the need for tight tolerances and specialized tool holders, and enabling continuous machining without tool bending or diameter limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coolant inlets and outlets are arranged in the axial rear end surface with a tool holder interface, then coolant can be delivered to the milling tool body, but tight tolerances are required in manufacturing and each tool requires a specific tool holder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant delivery reliabilityVSAvoidtool holder complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant delivery system is extracted from the tool holder interface and integrated directly into the milling tool body. The coolant inlet is arranged in the peripheral mantle surface of the milling tool body, and the cooling duct system extends from this inlet through the tool body to the cutting inserts, eliminating the need for a specialized tool holder interface and its associated tight tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a standardized tool holder interface that is decoupled from the coolant delivery function. The tool holder now serves only as a mechanical interface for mounting the milling tool body to the machine, while coolant delivery is handled independently through the integrated cooling duct system in the tool body itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the axial rear end surface and front face of tool holder are pressed against each other to prevent coolant leakage, then coolant leakage is prevented, but tool bending during use may cause contact to be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant sealing reliabilityVSAvoidcontact stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant sealing function is extracted from the tool holder interface and relocated to the milling tool body itself. The cooling duct system is contained entirely within the tool body, with the coolant inlet on the peripheral mantle surface and the duct extending through the tool body material, eliminating the need for press-fit contact between tool holder and tool for sealing purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Duration of action of moving object

If multiple milling tools are used and alternately changed to complete milling operation, then continuous machining of hot work pieces is possible, but productivity is reduced due to frequent tool changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool lifeVSAvoidmachining productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The milling tool body is equipped with an integrated cooling system that serves itself by actively removing heat at the source. The cooling duct system delivers coolant directly to the cutting inserts and allows heated coolant to be discharged through the peripheral mantle surface, enabling the tool to maintain its mechanical properties and extend its service life without requiring frequent replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design enhances tool life by maintaining effective cooling and preventing coolant leakage, allowing for standardized tool holders and reduced tool changes, thus improving machining efficiency and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

As a result of heat transfer, i.e. heat conduction, convection and radiation, the milling tool body is also subject to heating.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

As a result of heat transfer, i.e. heat conduction, convection and radiation, the milling tool body is also subject to heating.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a sealing ring arrangement arranged to be mounted between and co-operate with the third ring-shaped section of the peripheral mantle surface of the tool body and the third ring-shaped section of the inner peripheral surface of the coolant ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4389331A1Milling tool body and a milling tool
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 SECO TOOLS AB
  • EP4389331A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP4389331A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4389331A1 patent drawingFigure 4a

AI summary

A milling tool body (2) for a milling tool (1), the milling tool body (2) comprising: - an axial front end surface (3), - an axial rear end surface (4), - a peripheral mantle surface (10) extending between the axial front end surface (3) and the axial rear end surface (4), - a front end (2a), - a rear end (2b) being configured for attachment of the milling tool (1) to a machine, - at least two insert seats (20) and associated chip pocket being entirely provided in the front end (2a), wherein a cooling duct system (50) contained in the milling tool body (2) is extending from at least one coolant inlet (30) arranged in a first ring-shaped section (11) of the peripheral mantle surface (10) to at least one coolant outlet (40) arranged in a second ring-shaped section (12) of the peripheral mantle surface. The first and the second ring-shaped section are flanked by sealing surfaces formed as surfaces of revolution, preferably as circular cylindrical surfaces.