Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion and a cutting portion defining a length of cut. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades separated by flutes extending along the length of cut. A first blade forms a first helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. A second blade adjacent the first blade forms a second, different helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. A third blade adjacent the second blade forms a third, different helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. The first, second and third helix angles deviate by at least 2 degrees. The cutting edges of the first, second and third blades have unequal indexing.

Abstract: A milling cutter includes a shank and a cutting head attached to the shank. The cutting head has a plurality of helical teeth, each tooth including a cutting tip, a leading face and a rear face. A flute is defined between the leading face of a trailing tooth, and a rear face of an immediately preceding tooth. A gully of the flute has a flute base with a portion that is planar or convex in profile to provide additional volume for effective chip evacuation. A method for manufacturing the milling cutter includes rotating a cylindrical blank about its own longitudinal axis, rotating a disc-shaped flute grinding wheel) about a rotational axis of a flute wheel and moving the grinding wheel in a longitudinal direction so as to form the helical flute with the gully having the flute base with the planar or convex portion in profile.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion and a cutting portion defining a length of cut. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades separated by flutes extending along the length of cut. A first blade forms a first helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. A second blade adjacent the first blade forms a second, different helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. The cutting edge of the first blade is formed at a first distance with respect to the cutting edge of the second blade. A helix angle of at least one of the plurality of blades varies along the length of cut and a distance between cutting edges of the first and second blades varies along the length of cut.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion and a cutting portion defining a length of cut. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades separated by flutes extending along the length of cut. A first blade forms a first helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. A second blade adjacent the first blade forms a second, different helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. A third blade adjacent the second blade forms a third, different helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. The first, second and third helix angles deviate by at least 2 degrees. The cutting edges of the first, second and third blades have unequal indexing.

Abstract: End mills are disclosed which may be made monolithically of ceramic or other materials. The cutting portions of the end mills have lengths of cut that are no more than twice their cutting diameters and cores which are at least 0.7 times their cutting diameters. Their axial blades have cutting edges with negative radial rake and are separated by helical flutes. Their cutting ends have negative axial rake and are gashed ahead of center and have radial cutting edges with negative rake. Such end mills also have radiused corners and gashes transitioning from radial to axial at a flute. Methods of milling materials using such ceramic end mills are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion and a cutting portion defining a length of cut. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades separated by flutes extending along the length of cut. A first blade forms a first helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. A second blade adjacent the first blade forms a second, different helix angle with respect to the longitudinal axis at the cutting tip. The cutting edge of the first blade is formed at a first distance with respect to the cutting edge of the second blade. A helix angle of at least one of the plurality of blades varies along the length of cut and a distance between cutting edges of the first and second blades varies along the length of cut.

Abstract: In one aspect, collets are described herein employing a central bore having a stepped architecture. For example, a collet described herein comprises a clamping portion having a central bore for receiving a coupling portion of a cutting tool or cutting tool blank. The central bore has a stepped architecture comprising an inner section of first diameter, a transition section of second diameter, and an outer section of third diameter.

Abstract: In one aspect, rotationally balanced asymmetric end mills are described herein. An end mill described herein comprises a shank portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the end mill, and a cutting portion extending from the shank portion. The cutting portion comprises a plurality of unequally indexed blades separated by flutes along an axial length of cut, the blades extending onto a cutting end surface of the end mill, wherein at least one of the flutes is of unequal length and the asymmetric end mill has an imbalance of 2.0 gmm or less.

Abstract: In one aspect, end mills are described herein, at least a portion of which comprise or formed of ceramic material. An end mill described herein comprises a shank portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the end mill, a cutting portion extending from the shank portion, the cutting portion formed of a ceramic material and comprising a plurality of blades disposed at a helical angle from the longitudinal axis along an axial length of cut and extending onto a cutting end surface of the end mill, and at least one fluid transport hole extending along the longitudinal axis and terminating in the cutting end surface.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion, a cutting portion, and a cutting tip. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of flutes. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, and a land surface extending between the leading face and the trailing face. The cutting tip includes a corner radius, a first portion formed with a first dish angle, and second portion formed with a second dish angle and a third portion formed with a third dish angle. The trailing face contacts the work during a ramp operation in such a way that the first, second and third portions have a double positive geometry to provide the cutting tool with high ramp angle capability.

Abstract: End mills are disclosed which may be made monolithically of ceramic or other materials. The cutting portions of the end mills have lengths of cut that are no more than twice their cutting diameters and cores which are at least 0.7 times their cutting diameters. Their axial blades have cutting edges with negative radial rake and are separated by helical flutes. Their cutting ends have negative axial rake and are gashed ahead of center and have radial cutting edges with negative rake. Such end mills also have radiused corners and gashes transitioning from radial to axial at a flute. Methods of milling materials using such ceramic end mills are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion, a cutting portion, and a plurality of chip-breaking features. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of flutes. The blades and flutes extend substantially along the length of the cutting portion and have unequally-indexed spacing. The flutes have a tapered depth along the longitudinal axis. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, and a land surface that extends between the leading face and the trailing face. A plurality of chip-breaking features having a multi-radius profile are disposed in the land surfaces of the blades and are distributed in an offset chip breaker pattern among the blades such that each chip-breaking feature on one blade is not directly behind the chip-breaking features on immediately adjacent blades. The chip-breaking features on each blade are equidistant from each other.

Abstract: A contour end mill includes a shank portion and a cutting portion. The cutting portion defines a cutting diameter, a corner radius and a major radius. The major radius is greater than one-half of the cutting diameter. As a result, the end mill produces a much smoother finish and a reduced chip thickness.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion, a cutting portion, and a plurality of chipbreakers. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of flutes. The blades and flutes extend substantially along the length of the cutting portion. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, and a land surface that extends between the leading face and the trailing face. The chipbreakers are disposed in the land surfaces of the blades. The chipbreakers on each blade are equidistant from each other and are distributed in a reverse chipbreaker pattern among the blades such that each chipbreaker on a preceding blade is closer to the cutting tip than a corresponding chipbreaker on an immediately adjacent following blade for a particular direction of rotation of the rotary cutting tool.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion, a cutting portion, and a plurality of chip-breaking features. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of flutes. The blades and flutes extend substantially along the length of the cutting portion and have unequally-indexed spacing. The flutes have a tapered depth along the longitudinal axis. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, and a land surface that extends between the leading face and the trailing face. A plurality of chip-breaking features having a multi-radius profile are disposed in the land surfaces of the blades and are distributed in an offset chip breaker pattern among the blades such that each chip-breaking feature on one blade is not directly behind the chip-breaking features on immediately adjacent blades. The chip-breaking features on each blade are equidistant from each other.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool with a longitudinal axis includes a shank portion, a cutting portion defining a length of cut. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades separated by flutes. The blades and flutes extend substantially along the length of cut. The flutes have a tapered depth along the longitudinal axis. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, a land surface that extends between the leading face and the trailing face, and a cutting edge at the intersection between the leading face and the land surface. Each blade includes a wave pattern that begins at a first distance from the cutting tip for a first blade, and at a second distance from the cutting tip for an immediately adjacent blade. The wave pattern then repeats in an alternating fashion for each additional blade.

Abstract: The invention is a road scarifier for cutting road surfaces, comprising: a frame provided with a cutter, supported by tracks by means of hydraulic actuators suitable for modifying the position of said cutter with respect to the road surface; driving means to obtain the setting in motion of the machine and the rotation of said cutter; right and left sensors arranged at the sides of the machine and suitable for measuring the distance from the road surface; sensors to show the inclination of said machine with respect to the horizontal plane.