Abstract: A rotatable forage harvester cutterhead having a shaft with a drum assembly coaxially secured to the shaft. A plurality of uniquely configured knives extend from the outer cylindrical surface of the drum, each with a cutting edge length less than half the axial length of the cylindrical surface. The knives are supported by assemblies having a solid mounting block secured to the outer cylindrical surface, which mounting blocks have a mounting surface extending at an acute angle to a radial plane extending from the shaft. Fasteners secure the knives to the mounting surfaces with the cutting edges of the knives extending in the direction of rotation of the cutterhead and generating a cylinder as the cutterhead rotates. The knife designs enhance efficiencies by providing a rake angle, formed by the bottom surface of the knife and the radial plane, that is greater than the acute angle.

Abstract: A shearbar is formed of a first material. A groove is formed in an upper surface of the bar and is filled with a second material relatively harder than the first material. A side surface is then milled off the bar until the groove is exposed. As a result, a shear edge of the bar is formed of the harder material rather than having only an outer coating of harder material.