Round Cutting Insert Groove Layout for Stability and Indexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing round cutting inserts in milling tools face challenges in stability and rotation prevention, limiting their versatility and service life due to inadequate support and limited index positions.

Innovation Solution

The round cutting insert features elongated support grooves with acute angles θ (10° to 45°) that provide larger side support surfaces, enhancing stability and rotation prevention by counteracting cutting forces, and allowing for more index positions through closer spacing of grooves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If support grooves are arranged parallel to the neutral plane, then the structure is simple, but the support surface area is limited and stability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidgroove arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support grooves are arranged at an acute angle θ (10°-45°) relative to the neutral plane instead of parallel or perpendicular arrangements. This asymmetric angular orientation increases the effective support surface area contact with the seat, providing enhanced stability and rotation prevention while maintaining a relatively simple groove structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Stability of the object's composition

If support grooves are arranged perpendicular to the neutral plane, then the support surface area is increased, but the number of index positions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport surface areaVSAvoidnumber of index positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By arranging support grooves at an acute angle θ (10°-45°) rather than perpendicular to the neutral plane, the design achieves an optimal balance. This angular arrangement provides sufficient support surface area for stability while creating more spacing between grooves, thereby enabling a greater number of index positions around the circumferential side surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The support grooves are oriented in a diagonal dimension relative to the neutral plane rather than strictly parallel or perpendicular. This dimensional change in groove orientation simultaneously achieves both increased support surface area and increased number of index positions by utilizing the angular space more efficiently.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of index positions is increased, then versatility and service life are improved, but stability and rotation prevention are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of index positionsVSAvoidrotation prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The acute angle θ (10°-45°) arrangement of support grooves relative to the neutral plane creates an asymmetric configuration that provides both increased number of index positions and adequate rotation prevention. The angular orientation ensures that adjacent grooves do not compromise rotational stability while allowing more grooves to be distributed around the circumferential surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Each support groove is designed with specific local characteristics including the acute angle θ orientation and flank surface configuration. This local quality optimization ensures that each groove provides sufficient rotational restraint while the overall distribution of multiple grooves enables increased index positions, achieving both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3689522B1A round cutting insert for a milling tool
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 SANDVIK COROMANT
  • EP3689522B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3689522B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c
  • EP3689522B1 patent drawingFigure 6~6b

AI summary

A round cutting insert (1) for a milling tool having an insert centre axis (C1) and a neutral plane (NP) extending perpendicularly to the insert centre axis (C1). The round cutting insert includes a circumferential side surface (4) surrounding the insert centre axis (C1) and extending between upper and lower round main surfaces (2, 3), wherein an upper cutting edge (6) is formed along the intersection of the upper round main surface (2) and the circumferential side surface (4), and a plurality of elongated support grooves (7) are arranged in the circumferential side surface (4). Each elongated support groove (7) has a bottom surface (8) extending in a lengthwise direction (L) with opposite flank surfaces (9a, 9b) converging toward the bottom surface (8) and extending in parallel with the lengthwise direction (L) of the elongated support groove (7). The lengthwise direction (L) of each elongated support groove (7) is forming an acute angle θ with the neutral plane (NP) as seen in a side view of the round cutting insert (1), and at least one of the opposite flank surfaces (9a, 9b) of each elongated support groove (7) is configured as a side support surface (9a) for the round cutting insert.