Miniature Cutting Insert Clamping Trough Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting insert technologies face challenges in securely anchoring highly brittle ceramic and PcBN cutting materials, leading to frequent breaking and increased manufacturing costs due to large clamping trough volumes and lack of secure interchangeability.

Innovation Solution

A miniaturized cutting insert with a clamping trough of 2 mm < d1 <= 6 mm and an internal circular nub with a specific geometry, including an inclined flank angle (7° < α1 < 35°) and transition radii, ensures secure clamping and reduced material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the clamping trough volume is reduced to lower manufacturing costs, then the insert size and material cost decrease, but the clamping security and process reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping trough volumeVSAvoidprocess reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping trough is segmented into multiple functional zones: an inclined flank section for pressability, a horizontal section for clamping force transmission, and a bottom section for structural support. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function while maintaining overall compactness and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the clamping trough have different geometric properties tailored to their specific functions. The inclined flank provides pressability, the horizontal section provides clamping force transmission, and the bottom section provides structural support. This local optimization enables reduced overall volume while maintaining clamping security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the insert size is reduced to decrease manufacturing costs, then material cost decreases, but the clamping security and interchangeability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsert volumeVSAvoidinterchangeability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping trough is nested within the insert body with precise geometric relationships. The trough's inclined flank, horizontal section, and bottom section are integrated into the insert structure, allowing compact design while maintaining secure clamping functionality for interchangeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamping trough geometry uses specific parameter ranges: inclined flank angle α1 between 5°-35°, horizontal section length L1 between 0.5-2.0mm, and bottom section radius R1 between 0.1-0.5mm. These optimized parameters enable secure clamping in miniaturized inserts while maintaining interchangeability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the clamping trough volume is minimized, then manufacturing costs decrease, but the ability to securely anchor brittle ceramic and PcBN materials deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping trough volumeVSAvoidanchoring strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined flank of the clamping trough is designed to preliminarily guide and prepare the ceramic or PcBN insert during the clamping process. This preliminary action distributes stresses and prevents sudden failure, enabling secure anchoring of brittle materials in miniaturized troughs with reduced volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom section of the clamping trough features a curved geometry with radius R1, and the inclined flank uses smooth transitions. These curved surfaces distribute contact stresses evenly on brittle ceramic and PcBN materials, preventing stress concentration and anchor failure while maintaining compact trough volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2763809B1Miniature cutting insert
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 CERAMTEC GMBH
  • EP2763809B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a cutting plate (4) for a chip-removing cutting tool, comprising a cutting plate top face (9) and a cutting plate bottom face (10), one or more lateral faces (13), cutting edges (6) at the transition between the cutting plate top face (9) and the one or more lateral face (6), and a circular chip recess (1) in the cutting plate top face (9) that has an outside diameter d1. In order to reduce the production costs, according to the invention the following applies to the outside diameter d1 of the chip recess (1): 2 mm &lt; d1 &lt;= 6 mm, preferably 2 mm &lt; d1 &lt; 5 mm.