Variable-Rake Cutting Insert for Chip Control Across Cutting Depths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cutting inserts struggle to effectively cover both low-depth-of-cut (fine finishing) and high-depth-of-cut machining operations with a single insert, often resulting in suboptimal chip control and increased burr formation.

Innovation Solution

A cutting insert design featuring a first projection with a height decreasing towards the central axis, a second projection with an increasing height, an inclined portion with varying rake angles, and a multi-step second projection to guide and discharge chips efficiently, allowing for both low-depth-of-cut and high-depth-of-cut machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional cutting insert structure is used, then it can perform high-depth-of-cut machining, but it cannot achieve good chip control in low-depth-of-cut finishing operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication rangeVSAvoidchip control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting insert applies local quality by providing different rake angles in different regions: a first rake angle in the low-depth-of-cut region and a second rake angle in the middle-depth-of-cut region. This allows each region to be optimized for its specific machining conditions, achieving both fine finishing quality and expanded application range with a single insert.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting insert segments the cutting edge into multiple regions with distinct geometric features: a corner portion with specific breaker projection height, an intermediate portion with inclined surface, and a main portion with different rake angle. This segmentation enables each segment to perform its specific function for different machining depths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the breaker projection height is increased to ensure chip control during finishing, then low-depth-of-cut performance improves, but the insert cannot maintain effectiveness for high-depth-of-cut operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechip controlVSAvoidapplication range
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The breaker projection height is optimized locally for finishing operations while the rake angle is varied across different regions. The corner portion has a breaker projection height of 0.05-0.15mm for good chip control in finishing, while the rake angle changes from 5-15 degrees in the low-depth region to 15-25 degrees in the middle-depth region, maintaining effectiveness across different machining depths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting insert uses dynamic geometry where the rake angle is not fixed but varies continuously from the corner portion toward the center. This dynamic variation in rake angle (5-25 degrees) allows the insert to adapt to different machining conditions and depths within a single insert design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single cutting insert is designed to cover both low and middle depth-of-cut regions, then versatility improves, but chip control and burr prevention become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication rangeVSAvoidburr formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different rake angles are applied locally to different regions: 5-15 degrees for low-depth-of-cut to control chip flow and 15-25 degrees for middle-depth-of-cut to prevent burrs and chattering. This local optimization eliminates burr formation across the full application range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The rake angle parameter is changed across different regions of the cutting insert. By varying the rake angle from 5-15 degrees near the corner to 15-25 degrees toward the center, the insert can handle different machining depths effectively while preventing harmful effects like burrs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4082702A1Cutting insert
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 TUNGALOY CORP
  • EP4082702A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4082702A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4082702A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is intended to allow a wide range including a low region (fine finishing) to a middle region (medium cutting) to be covered with a single insert. A cutting insert (10) includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a peripheral side surface, a cutting edge (20) including a main cutting edge and a corner cutting edge, a corner portion, a projecting portion formed to extend from the corner portion toward a central axis and including a first projection (41) and a second projection (42), a rake portion (50), and an inclined portion (S) provided at the cutting edge. The inclined portion has a first inclined portion beginning at an intermediate point in the corner cutting edge, while the rake portion has a shape in which an angular degree of a rake angle gradually increases with distance from the corner portion.