Face milling cutter

Abstract: The present invention relates to a face milling cutter comprising a holder (11), which can be secured at the end surface of a rotatable spindle, a number of cutting inserts (18A,18B), every other of which having at least a cutting edge and being releaseably attached to said holder at a radial distance from the cutter axis of rotation. The cutting edges extend outwardly from the end surface and the envelope surface of said holder, such that said cutting edges may engage and machine a surface of a work piece. Means (29) is provided for releaseably secure said cutting insert at said holder by means of a central opening in said cutting insert. The cutting inserts are peripherally distributed around said holder (10). The tool comprises first cutting inserts (18A) the cutting edges of which are essentially axially directed and second cutting inserts (18B), the cutting edges of which are essentially radially directed relative to the holder (11). The second cutting inserts (18B) are provided substantially to generate a planar surface on the work piece. Each second cutting insert (18B) rests against a shim (40), which in thickness direction and in the width direction is smaller than the associated cutting insert (18B). The thickness of the shim is provided to define the position of the edge of the insert relative to the first cutting insert (18A). The invention further relates to a milling insert and a method for determining the axial position of the cutting insert provided in a face milling cutter.

Description: Background of the invention The present invention relates to a face milling cutter including a holder, which can be fastened at the end surface of a rotatable spindle, a number of first and second cutting inserts, each having at least one cutting edge and being releaseably attached to the end surface of said holder at a radial distance from the axis of the spindle, said cutting edges extending outwardly from the end surface of said holder, such that said cutting edges freely can come into engagement with and machine a surface of a work piece, means for releaseably securing said cutting insert at said holder by means of a central opening in said cutting insert, said cutting inserts being peripherally distributed around said holder, said first cutting insert comprising cutting edges directed substantially in the axial direction and said second cutting insert comprising cutting edges directed substantially in the radial direction. The invention further relates to a shim for the tool, a method for determining the axial position of cutting inserts provided in a face milling cutter as well as a milling insert. Prior art Through US-A-4,470,731 is previously known a face milling cutter including wiper inserts provided at the end surface of the milling body. A drawback with the known milling cutter is that the position of the wiper insert must be adjusted by hand with the aid of three screws, whereof two screws are provided to lock the position of the shim by friction in the adjusted position. There is a risk that the measured, correct position is displaced in connection with the adjustment or during machining. Objects of the invention One object of the present invention is to provide a face milling cutter having simply adjustable wiper inserts. Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick and precise method for determining the axial position of cutting inserts provided in a face milling cutter. Short description of the drawings These and other objects have been obtained by a face milling cutter, a method and a milling insert according to the features and characteristics laid down in the subsequent claims with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1A shows a face milling cutter according to the present invention, in a perspective view; Fig. 1B shows a face milling cutter according to the present invention, partly in an exploded view; Figs. 2 and 3 show parts of the tool shown in Fig. 1A, in a perspective view; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a cutting insert according to the present invention for the tool and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a shim for the tool according to the present invention. Detailed description of the invention Figs. 1A, 1B 2 and 3 show the face milling cutter 10 according to the present invention which comprises a holder or body 11 which shall be mounted to a spindle, not shown. The holder has an edge portion 12 with an essentially cylindrical jacket surface 15, a ring-shaped end surface 13, and a central hole 14. A number of first and second pockets 16 and 17 are provided in the area of intersection between the envelope surface 15 and the ring-shaped surface 13, each of which are provided to hold a cutting insert 18A and 18B. It is understood that further pockets and cutting inserts than shown are arranged at the tool. Each first pocket 16 (Fig. 2) consists of a recess in the body 11 and forms a radial support surface 19, an axial support surface 20 and a tangential support surface 21. The radial support surface 19 is provided to transfer radial cutting forces from the cutting insert 18A during the milling operation. The axial support surface 20 is provided to transfer axial cutting forces from the cutting insert 18A. The tangential support surface 21 is provided to transfer tangential cutting forces from the cutting insert 18A. Each second pocket 17 (Fig. 3) consists of a recess in the body 11 and forms a radial support surface 22, an axial support surface 23 and a tangential support surface 24. The function of the support surfaces 22-24 is the same as explained above in connection with the support surfaces 19-21. The first and second pockets 16 and 17 are provided to receive cutting inserts 18A and 18B, which are inclined about 90° relative to each other. This means that the cutting inserts 18A are tangentially mounted with central threaded holes directed substantially towards the axis of rotation CL of the milling cutter and that the cutting inserts 18B are end mounted with central threaded holes directed substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the milling cutter. Every other cutting insert in the tool's periphery defines a second cutting insert 18B and the remaining cutting inserts constitute the first cutting inserts 18A. The pockets may be evenly or unevenly distributed round the periphery of the body. Immediately in front of each pocket 16 and 17 is provided a chip space 27 and 28. The cutting insert according to Fig. 4 for example can be made of a cutting tool material available on the market today, wherein tungsten carbide is a preferred material The insert is preferably manufactured by grinding. The face milling cutter has first 18A and second cutting inserts 18B, which are identically square and comprise substantially planar parallel side faces 50, substantially planar parallel first side surfaces 51, substantially planar parallel second side surfaces 52 and the central opening 53. Four cutting edges 54 are provided in lines of intersection between said surfaces 50,51,52. The cutting edge 54, which lies in the plane of the connected first edge surface 51, is defined at the transition between the side surface 50 and the second edge surface 52, at least partly by a planar or curved first chamfer 57. The chamfer 57 is surrounded by two substantially planar second chamfers 55, 56 symmetrically arranged about a bisector B of the cutting corner. At milling, the cutting edge at the chamfer 55 of the first cutting insert 18A and the cutting edge of the second chamfer 56 of the second cutting insert 18B are active. This division of work between adjacent cutting insert requires that the cutting inserts shall be able to be exactly adjusted relative to each other, which can be done with the aid of the shim 40. The size of the cutting inserts is generally based on the feed per revolution for full utilization of the available cutting edge. The cutting inserts 18A and 18B are identical, which makes confusion of these impossible in connection with mounting of cutting inserts in the milling tool. When the cutting inserts have worn out and shall be exchanged, the tool is provided such that the worn cutting inserts 18A can be transferred to the pockets 17 while the worn the cutting inserts 18B can be transferred to the pockets 16 for presenting fresh edges. This can be done due to that only four cutting corners of eight of each cutting insert wear out in each pocket. The major cutting edge of the first cutting insert 18A projects radially just as far as the radially extreme part of the cutting edge of the second cutting insert 18B. The cutting inserts may alternatively have other basic shapes and sizes, such as rectangular or triangular. According to the preferred embodiment each screw 30 is fastened in a hollow fastening screw 31 tightened into the pocket 17. The fastening screw has a collar which is intended to abut against a corresponding shoulder of the hole 41 in the shim 40. The threaded hole 25, 26 is placed such that when mounting the cutting insert by tightening a screw 29, 30, the cutting insert is forced in direction towards all said support surfaces in the pocket. Each cutting insert 18A is positioned with a clearance angle in relation to the workpiece surface. This angle is usually less than 15° and is preferably in the magnitude of 7°. A shim 40 according to Fig. 5, is provided to be fitted into in each pocket 17 for an end mounted cutting insert 18B. The shim is substantially polygonal and preferably square. The shim has a centrally positioned hole provided to receive the fastening screw 31. The biggest surface of the shim 40 is somewhat less than the corresponding side of the cutting insert 18B. The thickness h of the shim is in the magnitude of at least 50 % of the thickness of the cutting insert 18B. Shims 40 of different thicknesses shall be accessible at assembling of the mill. The thickness is chosen in the interval 5 of µm more or less at a level of about 4 mm. The total number of shims 40 to choose among, is in the magnitude of 8-15, preferably about 11. Stated another way the interval is about 4 mm ± X * 5 µm, where X is integers of 0 to 7. The mill 10 is mounted as follows, reference being had primarily to Fig. 1B. The first cutting insert 18A is mounted first, by pushing one of its planar sides by hand into the pocket 16 against the radial support surface 19 and against the support surfaces 20 and 21, whereafter the screw 29 is inserted into the hole of the cutting insert and is threaded into in the threaded hole 25. Thereby the cutting insert 18A will be forced both against the radial support surface 19 and against the support surfaces 20 and 21 since the center axis of the boring is provided closer to the support surfaces 20,21 than to the center of the threaded hole. Then in connection with mounting the second cutting insert 18B the fastening screw 31 is first brought through the central hole 41 of the shim 40. The shim is brought to abutment against the axial support surface 23 in the pocket 17 simultaneously as the fastening screw is tightened. At tightening of the fastening screw the shim will not be displaced in any direction but is pressed hard against the support surface 17. The shim 40 may in that position project somewhat from the envelope surface 15 in the radial direction of the milling body. Subsequently one planar side of the cutting insert is pushed into in the pocket 17 against the shim 40 and against the support surfaces 22 and 24, whereafter the screw 30 is inserted into the hole of the cutting insert and is threaded into in the threaded boring of the fastening screw. Thereby the cutting insert is forced partly against the shim 40 and partly against the support surfaces 22 and 24 by having the center axis of the boring provided closer to the support surfaces 22,24 than to the center of the threaded hole. The position of for example the second chamfer 55 of the cutting insert 18B is then measured in relation to the cutting insert 18A and if the position of the cutting insert 18B is about 0.04 mm below the position of the cutting insert 18A the adjustment is ideal for the second cutting inserts 18B to generate the surface. The positioned cutting insert 18B then constitutes a reference for the following adjustments of the cutting inserts 18B. If a cutting insert due to manufacturing tolerances of the holder differ too much from the reference value, this can be attended by choosing another shim with a more suitable thickness. When a face milling cutter once is calibrated it is sufficient just to swap cutting inserts 18A, 18B if these have worn out and yet retain the fine position. The method comprises in other words the following steps:- arrange a number of shims, everyone being smaller in the thickness direction and width direction than the associated cutting insert 18B, said thickness h of the shim 40 being chosen from a set up of several shims which difference in thickness is in steps of about 5 µm,- tangentially mount a first cutting insert (18A), - end mount a shim with a known thickness,- end mount a second cutting insert (18B) against the shim (40) and compare the position with that of the first cutting insert (18A),- screw the second cutting insert (18B) firmly against the shim wherein the thickness (h) of the shim determines the major cutting edge position of the second cutting insert relative to the first cutting insert (18A),- exchange shim to a shim with a suitable thickness if that axial value does not correspond to the desired position,- repeat the above-captioned steps until the tool is wholly provided with cutting inserts. The invention is in no manner limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be varied freely within the limits of the subsequent claims.

Claims: Face milling cutter comprising a holder (11), which can be secured at the end surface of a rotatable spindle, a number of cutting inserts (18A,18B), every of which having at least a major cutting edge and a secondary cutting edge and being releaseably attached to said holder at a radial distance from the axis of rotation (CL) of the cutter, said cutting edges extending outwardly of the envelope surface (15) and the end surface (13) of said holder respectively, wherein means (29,30) are provided for releaseably securing said cutting insert at said holder by means of a central opening in said cutting insert, said cutting inserts being peripherally distributed around said holder (10), said tool comprising first cutting inserts (18A) the major cutting edges of which being essentially axially directed, and second cutting inserts (18B), the major cutting edges of which being essentially radially directed relative to the holder (11), said second cutting inserts (18B) being provided substantially to generate a planar surface on the work piece, said second cutting insert (18B) having width and a thickness, each said second cutting insert (18B) resting on a shim (40), characterized in that the shim (40) at least in the width direction is smaller than the associated cutting insert (18B), and in that the thickness (h) of the shim is provided to determine the axial position of the major cutting edge of the second cutting insert relative to the first cutting insert (18A) and in that the face milling cutter comprises shims (40) of different thicknesses. Face milling cutter according to claim 1, wherein every other cutting insert in the cutter periphery is a second cutting insert (18B) and wherein the thickness of the shim (40) is smaller than the thickness of the associated cutting insert (18B) and wherein the thickness (h) of the shim is chosen from the interval about 4 mm ± X * 5 µm, where X is integers of 0 to 7. Face milling cutter according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the shim (40) is provided to be fastened by a first means (31) which is provided to be fastened in a hole (26) in an axial support surface (23) of the holder, said support surface being essentially parallel with or somewhat inclined relative to the end surface (13). Face milling cutter according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the major cutting edge of the first cutting insert (18A) projects just as far as the radially extreme part of the cutting edge of the second cutting insert (18B). Face milling cutter according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second cutting inserts (18A,18B) are identical and comprise substantially plane-parallel side faces (50), substantially plane-parallel first side surfaces (51), substantially plane-parallel second side surfaces (52) and the central opening (53), wherein four cutting edges (54) are provided at lines of intersection between said surfaces (50,51,52) and wherein the cutting edge (54) in the transition between the side surface (50) and the second side surface (52) is described by a first chamfer (57). Face milling cutter according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the threaded hole (25,26) in the axial support surface is placed such that when mounting a cutting insert by screwing a screw (29, 30) the cutting insert is forced in direction towards all said support surfaces in the pocket. Method to determine the axial position of a cutting insert provided in a face milling cutter, said face milling cutter comprising a holder (11), which can be secured at the end surface of a rotatable spindle, said face milling cutter will include a number of cutting inserts (18A,18B), every other of which has at least one major cutting edge and one secondary cutting edge and can be releaseably secured to said holder at a radial distance from the axis of rotation (CL) of the cutter, said cutting edges shall extend outwardly from the envelope surface (15) and the end surface (13) of said holder, wherein means (29,30) will be provided for releaseable fastening of said cutting insert at said holder by means of a central opening in said cutting insert, said cutting inserts shall be distributed peripherally around said holder (10), said tool will include first cutting inserts (18A) the major cutting edges of which are essentially axially directed and second cutting inserts (18B), the major cutting edges of which are essentially radially directed relative to the holder (11), said second cutting inserts (18B) shall substantially generate a planar surface on the work piece, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: arrange a number of shims, which everyone is smaller than an associated cutting insert (18B) in the thickness direction and the width direction, wherein the thickness (h) of the shim (40) is chosen from a set of several shims differing in thickness in steps of about 5 µm, tangentially mount a first cutting insert (18A), end mount a shim with a known thickness, end mount a second cutting insert (18B) against the shim (40) and compare the position with that of the first cutting insert (18A), tighten the second cutting insert (18B) against the shim, wherein the thickness (h) of the shim determines the position of the major cutting edge of the second cutting insert relative to the first cutting insert (18A), exchange shim to a shim with suitable thickness if the previous axial value does not correspond to the desired position, repeat the above-captioned steps until the tool is wholly provided with cutting inserts and such that the face milling cutter comprises shims (40) of different thicknesses.

Inventors: RIVIERE BERTRAND, RIVIERE, BERTRAND
Applicants: SECO TOOLS AB
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B23C5
IPC codes: B23C5