Milling Tool Fluid Passage Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In milling tools, particularly disc milling tools with thin heads, it is challenging to deliver cooling and lubricating fluids to cutting edges due to the difficulty in drilling holes from a coolant chamber proximate the mounting arrangement to the cutting edges, especially when the head is remote from the shaft end and is thin, making it hard to provide effective fluid flow.

Innovation Solution

A milling tool design featuring a shaft portion with a first passage and a head portion having two flank surfaces and an outer peripheral edge with recesses for cutting inserts, where at least one second passage extends between the flank surfaces from the first passage to the recesses, incorporating an annular rib and groove for fluid flow communication, allowing fluid delivery from a second annular space to the recesses for cooling and lubrication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single hole is drilled from the coolant chamber to the cutting edge in thin disc milling tools, then the structure remains simple, but it becomes difficult or impossible to deliver cooling and lubricating fluid effectively when the head is remote from the shaft end

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid delivery reliabilityVSAvoidpassage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid passage is segmented into multiple sections: a first passage extending axially from the mounting arrangement, and a second passage extending radially from the first passage to the cutting insert. This segmentation allows effective fluid delivery in thin disc milling tools where a single straight hole would be insufficient, while keeping each individual passage section relatively simple to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the head portion is made thin to reduce toolholder size, then the toolholder becomes more compact, but it becomes difficult to provide sufficient space for fluid passages from the mounting arrangement to the cutting edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehead portion volumeVSAvoidfluid passage fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid passage system utilizes multiple dimensions: the first passage extends axially (length dimension) from the mounting arrangement, while the second passage extends radially (width dimension) from the first passage to the cutting insert. This multi-dimensional approach allows effective fluid delivery in thin disc milling tools where a single straight hole would be insufficient, while keeping each individual passage section relatively simple to manufacture.

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

3Reliability

If coolant chambers and passages are designed for effective fluid flow, then cooling and lubrication performance improves, but the head portion requires more space that conflicts with making it thin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling and lubrication effectivenessVSAvoidhead portion volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid passage is segmented into multiple sections: a first passage extending axially from the mounting arrangement, and a second passage extending radially from the first passage to the cutting insert. This segmentation allows effective fluid delivery in thin disc milling tools where a single straight hole would be insufficient, while keeping each individual passage section relatively simple to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design enables efficient delivery of cooling and lubricating fluids to the cutting edges, enhancing tool performance by maintaining fluid flow communication through the annular rib and groove, even in thin disc milling tools, ensuring effective cooling and lubrication of the workpiece and cutting inserts.

Implementation Method 1

at least one second passage extends between and remote from the flank surfaces of the head portion from the first passage to proximate the at least one recess, wherein the first passage comprises a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter, and an annular rib and annular groove at a transition between the first portion and the second portion, the rib comprising at least one opening therein extending between the second portion and the groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP2427293B1Milling tool with fluid flow arrangement
Publication Date: 2015.03.25 SECO TOOLS AB
  • EP2427293B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2427293B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2427293B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A milling tool (21; 121) includes a shaft portion (23) including a first passage (25; 125) extending from a first end (27) of the shaft portion (23), and a head portion coaxial with the shaft portion, the head portion (31; 131) extending radially outwardly from the shaft portion. The head portion includes two flank surfaces (33, 35, 35?; 133, 135) and an outer peripheral edge (37; 137) between the flank surfaces. The outer peripheral edge includes at least one recess (39; 139a, 139b) in which at least one cutting insert (41) is mountable. At least one second passage (49; 149a, 149b) extends between and remote from the flank surfaces of the head portion from the first passage to proximate the at least one recess (39; 139a, 139b). The first passage (25; 125) comprises a first portion (61) having a first diameter and a second portion (67) having a second diameter, and an annular rib (73) and annular groove (75) at a transition between the first portion (61) and the second portion (67), the rib (73) comprising at least one opening (81) therein extending between the second portion (67) and the groove.