Patent ID: 6971823

Claim:
A cutting tool for metal cutting operations comprising a tool body having at least one cutting portion, the at least one cutting portion comprising: a cartridge pocket having a retaining portion; a cartridge comprising a clamping portion and an insert bearing portion having an insert pocket with a detachable cutting insert retained therein, the clamping portion being resiliently transformable between a normally non-expanded state and a biased expanded state, wherein the clamping portion is slidably insertable into the cartridge pocket retaining portion when in the normally non-expanded state, and is securely retained in the cartridge pocket retaining portion when in the biased expanded state and the insert pocket and the cutting insert are located external to the cartridge pocket retaining portion, wherein the cartridge pocket comprises a cutout in the tool body having a generally concave inner surface bounded by two substantially equally shaped opposing side openings formed in the tool body, the cartridge pocket opening out to a circumferential side surface of the tool body; the inner surface comprising opposing upper and lower surfaces extending from a rear surface to the circumferential side surface.