Abstract: A cutting insert for milling operations, such as, face milling, slot milling, plunge milling, and ramping operations. The cutting insert exhibits a combination of favorable cutting edge strength, and unique cutting edge geometry, thus, allowing milling operations at relatively high feed rates. The cutting insert includes at least four cutting edges, wherein at least one of the cutting edges is a convex cutting edge. Certain embodiments of square cutting inserts will have four convex cutting edges which may be connected by nose corners. The convex cutting edge may comprise at least one of a circular arc, a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a multi-segment spline curve, a straight line, or combinations of these. Wherein the convex cutting edge comprises a circular arc, the circular arc may have a radius greater than or equal to two times a radius of the largest circle that may be inscribed on the top surface.

Abstract: A generally parallelogram-shaped cutting insert includes a top face; first and second main radial clearance faces, each intersecting the top face; first and second minor axial clearance faces each intersecting the top face and connecting the first and second main radial clearance faces; and a main cutting edge at the intersection of the top face and the first main radial clearance face. According to one non-limiting embodiment, the main cutting edge comprises a variable radial rake angle including a portion having a positive radial rake angle and a portion having a negative radial rake angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ceramic cutting tools, such as, a aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tool with diffusion bonding enhanced layer and CVD coatings, particularly useful for machining modem metal materials. The method comprises a chemical reaction with a mixture including nitrogen and aluminum chloride introduced to form a diffusion bonding enhanced layer between the ceramic substrate and the CVD coatings. Thus formed diffusion bonding is highly adherent to the aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic substrate and significantly enhances the CVD coating properties, and thus improving the machining performance in terms of the tool life of zirconium-based aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tools.

Abstract: A cutting insert for milling operations, such as, face milling, slot milling, plunge milling, and ramping operations. The cutting insert exhibits a combination of favorable cutting edge strength, and unique cutting edge geometry, thus, allowing milling operations at relatively high feed rates. The cutting insert includes at least four cutting edges, wherein at least one of the cutting edges is a convex cutting edge. Certain embodiments of square cutting inserts will have four convex cutting edges which may be connected by nose corners. The convex cutting edge may comprise at least one of a circular arc, a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a multi-segment spline curve, a straight line, or combinations of these. Wherein the convex cutting edge comprises a circular arc, the circular arc may have a radius greater than or equal to two times a radius of the largest circle that may be inscribed on the top surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the PVD coated tungsten carbide (WC) based cemented cutting inserts with ruthenium (Ru) as a key chemical element, or a key feature, in the cobalt (Co)-based binder phase, particularly useful for machining today's mold & die materials. In the Ru—Co mixed binder phase in the tungsten carbide substrate, the ratio of Ru/Co is at least 3%, by weight. The Ru-featured carbide cutting insert provided in this invention is PVD coated with one or more layers by a modern PVD coating technology. The development of the PVD coated Ru-featured carbide cutting inserts provided in this invention is based on a discovery that the unique combination of PVD coating techniques and Ru-featured carbide cutting inserts demonstrates superior machining performance in today's mold & die machining applications.

Abstract: A cutting insert for milling operations, such as, face milling, slot milling, plunge milling, and ramping operations. The cutting insert exhibits a combination of favorable cutting edge strength, and unique cutting edge geometry, thus, allowing milling operations at relatively high feed rates. The cutting insert includes at least four cutting edges, wherein at least one of the cutting edges is a convex cutting edge. Certain embodiments of square cutting inserts will have four convex cutting edges which may be connected by nose corners. The convex cutting edge may comprise at least one of a circular arc, a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a multi-segment spline curve, a straight line, or combinations of these. Wherein the convex cutting edge comprises a circular arc, the circular arc may have a radius greater than or equal to two times a radius of the largest circle that may be inscribed on the top surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the PVD coated tungsten carbide (WC) based cemented cutting inserts with ruthenium (Ru) as a key chemical element, or a key feature, in the cobalt (Co)-based binder phase, particularly useful for machining today's mold & die materials. In the Ru—Co mixed binder phase in the tungsten carbide substrate, the ratio of Ru/Co is at least 3%, by weight. The Ru-featured carbide cutting insert provided in this invention is PVD coated with one or more layers by a modern PVD coating technology. The development of the PVD coated Ru-featured carbide cutting inserts provided in this invention is based on a discovery that the unique combination of PVD coating techniques and Ru-featured carbide cutting inserts demonstrates superior machining performance in today's mold & die machining applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ceramic cutting tools, such as, a aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tool with diffusion bonding enhanced layer and CVD coatings, particularly useful for machining modem metal materials. The method comprises a chemical reaction with a mixture including nitrogen and aluminum chloride introduced to form a diffusion bonding enhanced layer between the ceramic substrate and the CVD coatings. Thus formed diffusion bonding is highly adherent to the aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic substrate and significantly enhances the CVD coating properties, and thus improving the machining performance in terms of the tool life of zirconium-based aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tools.

Abstract: A cutting insert for milling operations, such as, face milling, slot milling, plunge milling, and ramping operations. The cutting insert exhibits a combination of favorable cutting edge strength, and unique cutting edge geometry, thus, allowing milling operations at relatively high feed rates. The cutting insert includes at least four cutting edges, wherein at least one of the cutting edges is a convex cutting edge. Certain embodiments of square cutting inserts will have four convex cutting edges which may be connected by nose corners. The convex cutting edge may comprise at least one of a circular arc, a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a multi-segment spline curve, a straight line, or combinations of these. Wherein the convex cutting edge comprises a circular arc, the circular arc may have a radius greater than or equal to two times a radius of the largest circle that may be inscribed on the top surface.