Tool Holder Clamping Segment with Centered Coolant Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool holders with coolant supply passages through bending segments suffer from inhomogeneous clamping behavior due to varying flexural strength and complex manufacturing geometries, which affect clamping force distribution and ease of manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
Designing the clamping segment to be symmetrical within the bending segment with a thicker center and thinner sides, placing the connecting passage in the longitudinal center region, and creating a curved or faceted rear side to maintain desired flexural strength and simplify manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the connecting passage extends through the bending segment, then coolant can be supplied to the cutting insert, but the minimum cross section of the bending segment is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting passage is positioned in the longitudinal center region of the tool holder, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to route coolant through the bending segment. This strategic placement allows the passage to pass through the thickest part of the bending segment, minimizing the required cross-sectional area while ensuring adequate coolant flow to the cutting insert.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping segment is designed with non-uniform thickness: thicker in the longitudinal center region where the connecting passage is located, and thinner toward the rear ends on both sides. This local variation in material distribution ensures sufficient structural strength at the passage location while maintaining overall flexibility and minimizing material usage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the clamping segment is designed asymmetrical with a projection, then the connecting passage can be positioned, but the flexural strength varies along the width
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping segment is designed asymmetrical with respect to the transverse direction, featuring a projection on one side and a recess on the other. This asymmetry creates a longitudinal center region with greater material thickness, which is strategically used to position the connecting passage. The asymmetrical design allows the passage to be located in the region of highest flexural strength while maintaining the desired non-uniform flexural strength distribution along the width.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping segment exhibits spatially varying material distribution: thicker in the longitudinal center region to accommodate the connecting passage and provide structural support, and thinner toward the rear ends to maintain flexibility and reduce weight. This controlled non-uniformity optimizes both structural performance and coolant delivery.
3Shape
If the rear side has acute angles, then the geometry can be defined, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear side of the clamping segment is designed with curved surfaces instead of acute angles or sharp edges. The curvature allows the surface to be generated by a single milling cutter in one continuous pass, eliminating the need for multiple setup operations or specialized tooling. This curved geometry maintains the desired structural form while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tool holder (10) for a cutting insert (18), having a shank (12), a counter bearing (14) on which a pocket (16) for a cutting insert (18) is provided, disposed on the front end of the shank, and a clamping segment (20) integrally joined to the shank (12) via a bending segment (22); wherein the clamping segment (20) has a clamping finger (28) and a clamping element (26) such that the clamping finger (28) is capable of acting against the counter bearing segment (14) by means of the clamping element (26), thereby enabling a cutting insert (18) to be clamped between the clamping finger (28) and the counter bearing segment (14); wherein the clamping segment (20) protrudes beyond the top side of the shank (12); and wherein a coolant supply passage (40, 42, 44, 46) extends through the shank (12) and the bending segment (22) into the clamping segment (20); wherein the coolant supply passage (40, 42, 44, 46) has a shank passage (46), a clamping finger passage (40), and a connecting passage (44) that starts from the shank passage (46) and extends through the bending segment (22); characterized in that the connecting passage (44) is disposed in a longitudinal center region of the tool holder (10) and, on its rear side (30) facing toward the shank (12), the clamping segment (20) extends less far in a direction toward the rear end of the shank (12) on both sides of the longitudinal center segment than it does in the longitudinal center segment.