Patent ID: 8708612

Claim:
A milling cutter ( 10 ) comprising: a cutter body ( 12 ) having a longitudinal axis (A) extending in a forward to rearward direction and at least three insert pockets ( 18 ) adjacent a forward end surface ( 14 ) of the cutter body ( 12 ) and circumferentially spaced one from the other; and a replaceable cutting insert ( 20 , 38 , 42 , 46 , 48 ) secured to each insert pocket ( 18 ), each cutting insert ( 20 ) having at least two identical straight serrated cutting edges ( 24 ) and an operative axially forward serration ( 29 ′), all the cutting inserts ( 20 ) being identical; wherein: a first insert pocket ( 30 ) is an axially forwardmost insert pocket; all the insert pockets ( 18 ) are axially offset one with respect to the other; and a second insert pocket ( 32 ) is axially offset from the first insert pocket ( 30 ) by a first offset distance (d 1 ) that is smaller than an offset distance (d 2 , d 3 ) associated with any other pair of axially adjacent insert pockets; the operative axially forward serration ( 29 ′) of a second cutting insert ( 42 ) seated in the second insert pocket ( 32 ) overlaps the operative axially forward serration ( 29 ′) of a first cutting insert ( 38 ) seated in the first insert pocket ( 30 ); and the operative axially forward serration ( 29 ′) of a third cutting insert ( 46 ) seated in a third insert pocket ( 34 ) overlaps the operative axially forward serration ( 29 ′) of the second cutting insert ( 42 ) seated in the second insert pocket ( 32 ).