Abstract: A gear cutter assembly incorporating a toothed flexible disk which acts as the cutting element, mounted between a cutter back and a disk retainer. The cutter back includes a convex, conical mounting face, and the disk retainer has a complementary mounting surface, so that the disk is clamped between these surface and deflected to create a negative rake angle. The disk is formed with teeth which protrude beyond the cutter back and retainer, and it has a constant cross-section throughout its width. When the cutting edges of the disk teeth become dull, the disk may be inverted and reused due to its untapered profile; after such reuse, the disk is discarded. The cutter disk is easily fabricated in groups, and enjoys economical, high performance operation.

Abstract: A gear cutter assembly incorporating a toothed flexible disk which acts as the cutting element, mounted between a cutter back and a disk retainer. The cutter back includes a convex, conical mounting face, and the disk retainer has a complementary mounting surface, so that the disk is clamped between these surface and deflected to create a negative rake angle. The disk is formed with teeth which protrude beyond the cutter back and retainer, and it has a constant cross-section throughout its width. When the cutting edges of the disk teeth become dull, the disk may be inverted and reused due to its untapered profile; after such reuse, the disk is discarded. The cutter disk is easily fabricated in groups, and enjoys economical, high performance operation.