Sintered Cutting Head Spacers for Precise Coolant Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reaming tools face challenges in ensuring precise cooling lubricant supply due to significant tolerances in the gap size of the coolant passage, which can lead to insufficient coolant delivery to the cutting edges, especially when using sintered cutting heads that cannot have coolant channels drilled.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves sintering protruding spacers on the cutting head's supporting surface to maintain a defined gap for the cooling lubricant distributor, allowing for effective coolant delivery without additional aids or reworking, and using a screw connection for the distributor to set the required spacing directly on the cutting head, eliminating the need for complex mechanical constructions on the main body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sintered cutting head is used, then the cutting head can be reworked by rotational machining and sharpening, but coolant channels cannot be drilled in the cutting head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling lubricant distributor as an intermediary component that is inserted into the cutting head to deliver coolant to the cutting edges. This distributor acts as a mediator between the coolant supply system and the cutting edges, enabling effective cooling without requiring drilled channels in the sintered cutting head itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling lubricant distributor is divided into multiple functional segments: a body portion with coolant inlet, radially extending distributor elements with coolant outlets positioned near cutting edges, and a positioning mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together as a integrated system.
2Ease of operation
If traditional cooling lubricant distributor positioning is used, then the distributor can be inserted into the cutting head, but significant tolerances in gap size lead to insufficient coolant supply
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning elements are pre-formed as integral parts of the cutting head during the sintering process, establishing the correct gap dimensions before the distributor is installed. This preliminary action ensures that when the distributor is inserted, the gap between the distributor and cutting head is already precisely defined, eliminating tolerance accumulation from multiple machining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing method of the positioning elements from mechanical machining to sintering, allowing for more precise control of dimensional parameters. By forming these elements directly in the sintering process, the gap dimensions can be controlled with tighter tolerances compared to traditional mechanical machining and assembly methods.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional aids with tolerances are used for spacing, then the gap can be maintained, but production costs increase and extreme tolerances are still required
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning elements are merged with the cutting head as integral components, formed simultaneously during the sintering process. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate spacing aids or shims that would require additional manufacturing steps, tolerances, and assembly operations, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining precise gap control.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning elements serve multiple functions: they maintain the precise gap dimension for coolant flow, provide structural support for the distributor, and are formed as part of the cutting head itself. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated spacing components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process and reducing costs.
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 approach ensures precise positioning and effective cooling lubricant supply with reduced production costs and tolerances, enabling high-quality hole machining with minimal installation space and improved tool performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of protruding spacers for keeping a gap clear with respect to the cooling lubricant distributor and/or the main body are sintered on a supporting or guide surface of the cutting head as primary shaped elements
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a cutting tool, having a main body, a cutting head, which is joined to the free end of the main body and is formed, by primary shaping, as a sintered piece provided with at least one cutting edge, and a cooling lubricant feed, which is led through the main body axially and which has a cooling lubricant distributor inserted into the cutting head for redirecting cooling lubricant into the region of the at least one cutting edge. According to this disclosure, a plurality of protruding spacers for keeping a gap clear with respect to the cooling lubricant distributor and/or the main body are sintered on a supporting surface of the cutting head as primary shaped elements.