TOOL, AND A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ITS MANUFACTURING

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a tool and a tool according to the method. The device shall be mounted to a machine for extrusion of a tool for chip removing machining. The device (20) comprises a housing (21), which is intended to be fastened to the machine for extrusion. The housing (21) has a through-going recess (24) through which a mixture shall be extruded in a feed direction (F). The recess (24) includes a restriction (27) in a nozzle (28) and a hole (30) in a die (29). The device (20) comprises at least one jaw (40, 41) which is provided radially movable relative to the recess (24) with the intention to engage and disengage said mixture.

Description: TOOL, AND A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ITS MANUFACTURING Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a tool and a tool according to the method. Prior art It is previously known through for example WO 98/28455 to press material powder, such as wolfram carbide (WC) together with cobalt (Co), between a punch and a die, and subsequently to sinter the material such that the binder metal is melted and binds the carbides to form tool material for chip removing machining. The known technique brings about a plurality of drawbacks. The powder give off dust and the formed green body (pressed but not sintered material) will not endure handling to any degree. Furthermore the chip flutes must be ground and the method requires time and energy. The problems have partly been solved by injection moulding of hard metal mixed in a carrier such as indicated in US patent No. 5,947,660. The method of injection moulding brings a high degree of freedom concerning geometry but brings costly investments in moulds. Through US 4,779,440 a tool is previously known for forming a blank for a helix drill. An extruded drill blank having chip flutes of constant pitch along the circumference of the blank is obtained by heating a hard metal powder to extrusion temperature, pressing the heated powder under high energy consumption through a space defined by a mandrel and a nozzle while rotating the blank. The blank is guided by the extrusion in direction past a helical ridge provided at the inside of the nozzle, to shape chip flutes along the blank. A drawback of the known technique is that the chip flutes are obtained along the entire length of the blank. Objects of the invention One object of the present invention is to provide a method, a device and a tool, whereby the drawbacks of the known technique are eliminated. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device whereby the lengths of the chip flutes can be determined. These and other objects have been achieved by a method and a device for manufacturing a tool as well as a tool made by the method such as they are defined in the appended claims with reference to the drawings. Description of the drawings Figs. 1A-1C schematically show a drill according to the present invention in a side view and in front and rear perspective views, respectively. Fig. 2A shows a device according to the present invention for generation of elongated green bodies, in a front view. Fig. 2B shows the device in a section according to the line IIB-IIB in Fig. 2A. Fig. 2C shows the device in an end view. Fig. 2D shows the device in section according to the line IID-IID in Fig. 2A. Fig. 3 schematically shows the device together with a feed portion partly sectioned. Detailed description of the invention The embodiment of a tool according to invention shown in Fig. 1A-1 C is a so-called helix drill. The drill 10 is made in solid hard material, such as extruded hard metal, and includes helical chip flutes 18 and these can extend through the entire body or through a part thereof. The drill has a shank 11 to be secured to a rotary spindle, not shown. The drill has two upper clearance surfaces 15. All surfaces and associated edges are made from the same material, i.e. preferably in extruded hard metal. Lines of intersection of the chip flutes 18 and the clearance surfaces 15 form main cutting edges 19, preferably via reinforcing chamfers, not shown. The entire length of the drill is chosen from 3 to 10 times its diameter. Two flush channels 14 extend through the entire drill to transfer flushing medium from the spindle to the tip of the drill. A diametrical groove has been provided at the shank end to inter alia counteract obstruction of the holes. In Figs. 2A-2D are shown a device 20 according to the present invention for the production of elongated green bodies. The device 20 comprises a rectangular housing 21 of steel, which is intended to be fastened with for instance bolts to a machine 50 for extrusion. The housing 21 has two bolts 22 to be fastened in the machine and has a rear surface 23 intended to seal against said machine. The housing has a central through-going recess 24 through which a compound will be pressed. The recess 24 is widened in connection to the rear surface 23 to form spaces 25, 26 for two feed worm 53 ends, Fig. 3. The recess 24 transforms into a diameter reducing restriction 27 in a circular nozzle 28. The nozzle 28 is made from a wear resistant material such as hard metal. The recess 24 then continues via a cylindrical inner, centrally positioned hole 30 into a circular die 29, which is provided next to and in connection with the nozzle 28. The position of the die 29 relative to the housing is determined by cooperation between a stop screw 31 in the housing and a hole 32 extending laterally relative to the principal feed direction F of the compound. A bar-shaped core 33 is recessed into the die. The core is rectangular and includes two holes 34 to receive elongated pins 35. The pins 35 are intended to project from the core in the feed direction F in case flush channels are to be formed in the blank. The recess 24 then continues in the form of a coaxial hole 37 in a lid 36. The lid 36 is attached to the housing by means of two screws 38 and screws 22. The lid 36 is provided with a T-groove 39, which extends between two long sides of the lid 36. The groove 39 is intended to receive two jaws 40, 41 , the basic shape of which according to Fig. 2B essentially form a T. Each jaw 40, 41 includes a spacing 42 facing towards the other jaw. The spacing 42 includes a helical ridge 43 such that when the jaws lie against each other the spacings form the cross-section of a helix drill having chip flutes. The jaws are pressed against each other by means of power means, not shown, and the same means is used in case the jaws will be displaced apart, such as when the blank must be partly cylindrical, for example at the drill shank. Preferably a supporting table is placed in connection with the jaws to support the hot extruded blank. The drill or the milling cutter is manufactured as follows. Hard metal powder having a certain cobalt content and a carrier, for example a polymer or a plastic, is mixed and shaped to pellets or granulates. The content of binder lies within the interval of 1-10 percent by weight. The expression "cobalt" shall here be understood as a metallic binder that alternatively can be exchanged for or include other metals, for example nickel, Ni. Subsequently the mixture is preheated to a temperature suitable for the mixture and is inserted in a machine 50 for extrusion. The machine 50, see Fig. 3, includes a funnel 52 to receive pellets, two feed worms 53 rotatable by means of a motor 51 in a casing 55, and radiators 54. Then the mixture is pressed at certain pressure and certain temperature, about 180 °C, that is considerably lower than at prior art where the melting temperature of cobalt is required, into the recess 24 by means of the two feed worms 53, said restriction 27 will further compress the mixture or compound. Then the hot compound reaches the core 33 and passes this on each side through the two substantially semi-circular openings formed about the core. Rearwardly of the core in the feed direction F the compound fuses again to a cylindrical body. If the pins 35 are provided in the core then spaces are formed in the body, which later will constitute flush channels. The pins are chosen long enough to allow the compound to cool such that fusion is avoided. Subsequently the compound reaches the spacing 42 which is defined by the jaws 40, 41 whereby the compound due to the geometries of the ridges 43 is screwn through the jaws and obtains the cross-section of a helix drill. The ridges 43 need not be identical. When the compound comes out from the jaws it cools quickly due the surrounding temperature and the blank continues to extrude until the chip flute part is sufficiently long. Subsequently the jaws 40, 41 are drawn apart and away from the compound such that a cylindrical shank portion is formed. The length of the shank part is determined either by how long the extrusion is continued or by when the jaws are displaced inwardly such that a new blank is initiated. In the latter case two or more blanks are continuous. The solidified blank can then be cut or simply be broken, for example by hand, in suitable lengths in interval of 5- 10 times its diameter. Then the blank is heated in a separate furnace such that the carrier is burned off and such that the binder metal melts and binds the carbides. Then further machining takes place, such as grinding for example at edge portions, shank portion and clearance surfaces. With the present method and device a tool can be produced with or without chip flutes and with or without shank portion and allows a simple handling to a low cost. This can be done without generating dust. Furthermore unsuccessful blanks can simply be remilled and recycled in the extrusion. In addition at least one jaw can be used to make marks in the shank portion of the blank where a plane is to be ground for chucking. Thereby the grinding volume can be minimized. The invention is in no way limited to the above described embodiments but can be varied freely within the scope of the appended claims. Thus the invention can be used also for solid end mills. The tool can be coated with layers of for example AI 2 O 3 , TiN and/or TiCN.

Claims: Claims 1. A method for manufacturing a rotary tool, such as a helix drill or an end mill for chip removing machining, wherein A) hard metal powder and a carrier, such as a polymer, is mixed, B) the mixture is inserted in a machine (50) for extrusion and C) is heated to a temperature suitable for the mixture and then D) the mixture is extruded in a feed direction (F) by means of a die (29) forming the diameter of the blank, and then E) allowing the mixture to pass a portion (42) to form chip flutes and then F) displacing the portion (42) radially to form a shank portion on the tool, G) allowing the mixture to solidify and form a blank, and then H) plucking the blank from the machine and sintering and then I) possible finish machining such as grinding is made. 2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the portion (42) consists of two relative to each other movable jaws (40,41 ) which are displaced in opposite directions substantially perpendicularly to the feed direction (F). 3. The method according to claim 1 , at which step D includes that the mixture is allowed to pass a core (33) firmly anchored to the die (29) and then fusing the mixture to a cylindrical body rearwardly of the core (33) in the feed direction (F). 4. The method according to claim 3, at which pins (35) are provided in the core by means of which spaces are formed in the blank. 5. A device to be mounted to a machine for extrusion of a blank to a tool for chip removing machining, said device (20) comprising a housing (21 ), which is intended to be fastened to the machine for extrusion, said housing (21 ) having a through-going recess (24) through which a mixture shall be extruded in a feed direction (F), said recess (24) including a restriction (27) in a nozzle (28) and a hole (30) in a die (29), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the device (20) comprises at least one jaw (40,41 ) which is provided radially movable relative to the recess (24) with the intention to engage and disengage said mixture. 6. The device according to claim 5, which comprises two relative to each other movable jaws (40,41 ) which are radially movable in opposite directions substantially perpendicularly to the feed direction (F). 7. The device according to claim 5, wherein a core (33) is firmly secured in the die (29) and wherein the die includes a circular space. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the core (33) is rectangular and includes two holes (34) to receive elongated pins (35), said pins (35) are intended to project from the core in the feed direction (F) in case flush channels shall be formed in the blank. 9. The device according to claim 6, wherein each jaw (40,41 ) includes a spacing (42) facing towards the other jaw, said spacing (42) includes a helical ridge (43) such that when the jaws abut against each other the spacings form the cross- section of a helix drill with chip flutes. 10. A tool made in accordance with claims 1 to 4.

Inventors: BRUHN JOHNNY, GROENKVIST MIKAEL, PUIDE MATTIAS, BRUHN, JOHNNY, GROENKVIST, MIKAEL, PUIDE, MATTIAS
Applicants: SECO TOOLS AB PUBL, SECO TOOLS AB (PUBL)
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B21C23
IPC codes: B21C23, B22F3, B22F5, B22F7, B23B51, B23P15