Abstract: A cutting tool includes a substrate and a coating on the substrate. The coating includes a base adhesion layer that is on at least a portion of the substrate. A first intermediate adhesion layer, which includes boron and a first element, that is on the base adhesion layer. A second intermediate adhesion layer, which includes boron, the first element, and nitrogen, that is on the first intermediate adhesion layer. An outer adhesion layer, which includes boron and nitrogen preferably in the form of cubic boron nitride, that is on the second intermediate adhesion layer. A wear coating scheme wherein the innermost layer of the wear coating scheme is on the outer adhesion layer.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting bit which comprises an elongate bit body which has a forward end and a rearward end and which defines a peripheral surface. The bit body contains a first seat at the axially forward end thereof. A first cutting insert is mechanically retained in the seat so as to present a clearance cutting edge which radially extends past the peripheral surface of the bit body. The first cutting insert has a leading cutting edge disposed at a lead angle between 50 degrees and 80 degrees.

Abstract: A coating scheme comprising a boron and nitrogen containing layer that satisfactorily adheres to a substrate is disclosed. The satisfactorily adherent coating scheme comprises a base layer, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer and the boron and nitrogen containing layer. The coating scheme is compatible with tooling for drilling, turning, milling, and/or forming hard, difficult to cut materials. The coating scheme has been applied to cutting inserts comprised of cermets or ceramics using PVD techniques. The boron and nitrogen layer preferably comprises boron nitride and, more preferably, cubic boron nitride.

Abstract: A coating scheme comprising a boron and nitrogen containing layer that satisfactorily adheres to a substrate is disclosed. The satisfactorily adherent coating scheme comprises a base layer, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer and the boron and nitrogen containing layer. The coating scheme is compatible with tooling for drilling, turning, milling, and/or forming hard, difficult to cut materials. The coating scheme has been applied to cutting inserts comprised of cermets or ceramics using PVD techniques. The boron and nitrogen layer preferably comprises boron nitride and, more preferably, cubic boron nitride.

Abstract: A hand-held, portable device recommends dynamically preferred speeds for stabilizing or reducing undesirable vibration such as chatter in a machining process. The device may be applied to machining processes such as turning, boring, milling and drilling which exhibit a relative rotational motion between the cutting tool and workpiece. The device measures in a safe, non-contact manner via a microphone the dominant audio signal component of the sound pressure emanating from the machining processes. Without prior knowledge of the machining process parameters or the dynamic characteristics of the machine tool or workpiece, the audio signal is conditioned and processed to determine the frequency component levels. The rotational speeds which are more likely to lead to a stable machining process are calculated based on the number of teeth on the cutting tool and the identified dominant frequency of vibration. The dynamically preferred speeds are displayed as recommendations to the process operator or machinist.

Abstract: A retainer clip adapted to engage a recess in a shank of a cutting tool for securing the cutting tool to a support block. The retainer clip includes a clip body having first and second end portions and at least three protruding portions disposed between the end portions. The protruding portions are adapted to extend beyond the shank when the retainer clip is engaging the recess.

Abstract: An indexable cutting insert is disclosed capable of cutting operations over a wide range of depth of cuts. The insert has different geometries at different locations on the cutting surface such that, under differing cutting parameters, a desirable cutting surface will be in contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: A cutting tool includes a substrate and a coating on the substrate. The coating includes a base adhesion layer that is on at least a portion of the substrate. A first intermediate adhesion layer, which includes boron and a first element, that is on the base adhesion layer. A second intermediate adhesion layer, which includes boron, the first element, and nitrogen, that is on the first intermediate adhesion layer. An outer adhesion layer, which includes boron and nitrogen preferably in the form of cubic boron nitride, that is on the second intermediate adhesion layer. A wear coating scheme wherein the innermost layer of the wear coating scheme is on the outer adhesion layer.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting bit which comprises an elongate bit body which has a forward end and a rearward end and which defines a peripheral surface. The bit body contains a first seat at the axially forward end thereof. A first cutting insert is mechanically retained in the seat so as to present a clearance cutting edge which radially extends past the peripheral surface of the bit body. The first cutting insert has a leading cutting edge disposed at a lead angle between 50 degrees and 80 degrees.

Abstract: A cutter tooth assembly for impingement of a material (e.g., a stump, wood, brush or earth strata). The assembly attaches to a driven member (e.g., a rotatable wheel). The assembly includes a cutter tooth which has an elongate body with a leading end and a trailing end, as well as a hard insert at the leading end of the tooth. The assembly also includes a pocket which has a base portion and a holder portion. The pocket attaches to the wheel at the base portion thereof. The cutter tooth is retained to the pocket at the holder portion thereof. The base portion of the pocket has a leading surface and a trailing surface. The cutter tooth is retained by the holder portion of the pocket so that the hard insert extends circumferentially past the leading surface of the base portion of the pocket.

Abstract: An elongate rotary tool including at least one cutting edge that is useful in the machining of workpiece materials is disclosed. The elongate rotary tool comprises a cermet comprising at least one hard component and about 0.2 wt. % to 19 wt. % Co--Ni--Fe-binder. The Co--Ni--Fe-binder is unique in that even when subjected to plastic deformation, the binder substantially maintains its face centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and avoids stress and/or strain induced transformations.

Abstract: A cutting insert including a flank face, a rake face, and a cutting edge at the intersection of the flank and rake faces that is useful in the chip forming machining of workpiece materials is disclosed. The cutting insert comprises a cermet comprising at least one hard component and about 2 wt % to 19 wt % Co--Ni--FE-binder. The Co--Ni--FE-binder is unique in that even when subjected to plastic deformation, the binder substantially maintains its face centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and avoids stress and/or strain induced transformations.

Abstract: A cutting insert for mounting on edge in the insert pocket of a toolholder. The cutting insert has a mounting surface parallel to the top surface of the insert and a second mounting surface angled relative to the top surface of the insert so that the insert may be mounted in a toolholder having either of these two surfaces. An insert mounted in a toolholder having an angled bottom surface is secured within the insert pocket with a greater lateral force.

Abstract: A side activated clamping mechanism is disclosed for detachably connecting a tool unit to a tool support housing. The tool unit has a shank with openings which are engaged by locking elements extending radially from apertures in a canister mounted within the tool support housing. Mechanical advantage of the locking elements may be increased by angling the locking element contact surfaces relative to one another. The locking elements are driven along a ball track on a reciprocating lock rod. To accommodate the angle between the contact surfaces, the ball track must be angled.

Abstract: A cutting bit has a bit body which has a forward end and a rearward end. The bit body contains a seat at the forward end thereof. The bit body contains a bore intersecting the seat wherein a bore wall defines the bore. A cutting insert is received by the seat wherein the cutting insert presents a side surface facing the bore. A wedge has a generally longitudinal seating surface. The wedge has a support surface opposite to the longitudinal seating surface. The wedge is received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert and for at least a portion of the length of the wedge the entire support surface contacts the bore wall so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat.

Abstract: A rotary tool that includes an elongate tool body and a hard insert affixed to the tool body is disclosed. The hard insert includes a WC-cermet including tungsten carbide and about 5 wt. % to 19 wt. % Co--Ni--Fe-binder. The Co--Ni--Fe-binder is unique in that even when subjected to plastic deformation, the binder substantially maintains its face centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and avoids stress and/or strain induced transformations.

Abstract: A cutting tool for milling titanium and titanium alloys which includes a substrate that comprises tungsten carbide and cobalt. The substrate further includes cobalt in the range of between 5.7 to 6.3 weight percent and chromium in the range of between 0.3 and 0.5 weight percent. The cutting tool has a coating of tungsten carbide applied to the substrate by physical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A cutting insert that has a flank face and a rake face and a cutting edge at the juncture thereof. The substrate presents a bulk region that contains a metallic binder, as well as one or more of Group IVB, Group VB, and Group VIB metal carbides and/or carbonitrides. The substrate further includes a flank surface region near the flank face of the substrate that has a solid solution metal carbide and/or carbonitride content greater than that of the bulk region. The substrate includes a rake surface region near the rake face of the substrate with a solid solution metal carbide content that is less than that of the flank surface region.

Abstract: A cutting tool such as a drill or reamer for machining a bore in a workpiece is provided with at least one chamfered cutting edge on its distal end having an enlarged radial extent. The chamfered edge is defined between a tapered leading end, and an undercut end, and has a radial extent about 2.5% greater than the radial extent of the shaft of the tool. At least 40% of the length of the chamfered edge is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the tool shaft. The tapered and radially enlarged geometry of the chamfered cutting edge advantageously allows the drill or reamer to machine a bore in a workpiece formed from materials having significant spring-back characteristics, such as aluminum, titanium, or nickel alloys without sticking or galling during the machining operation, thereby greatly increasing tool life.