Patent ID: 8029724

Claim:
A method of making a cutting insert using powder metallurgical methods in a press having a main pressing direction a press tool setup with a die, a male core rod, a female core rod, a bottom punch, a top punch and a feed shoe, the insert having a non-cylindrical hole perpendicular to the main pressing direction, the method comprising the following steps: moving the bottom punch down in the die to a punch filling position below the male core rod and the female core rod; positioning the male core rod and the female core rod to respective core rod filling positions; filling the die cavity with a desired amount of powder; moving the bottom punch in the die to distribute the powder evenly around the male core rod and the female core rod; moving the top punch and bottom punch to a final punch position to compact the powder to form a compact and moving the male core rod and the female core rod to a final core rod position to compact the powder; retracting the top and bottom punches and, optionally, the male core rod and the female core rod to unload the compact; and retracting the male core rod and the female core rod to a position that allows ejection of the compact.