Abstract: A hopper is sized and shaped for reception in a crystal pulling apparatus for use in charging semiconductor source material to a crucible of the crystal pulling apparatus. The crystal pulling apparatus includes a pulling chamber, a growth chamber, an isolation valve operable to seal the growth chamber from the pulling chamber, and a crucible in the growth chamber. The hopper includes a bin constructed for containing a quantity of semiconductor source material. The bin has an opening in its bottom for delivery of the semiconductor source material from the bin to the crucible. A stopper constructed for closing the opening to prohibit passage of semiconductor source material from the bin is moved by a stopper actuating mechanism between a closed position and an open position. A connector attached to the hopper is constructed for temporarily mounting the hopper in the crystal pulling apparatus.

Abstract: A cutting insert formed of a hard wear resistant material and having a narrow land area along the cutting edge and an inclined wall leading downwardly and inwardly from the inner edge of the land area and a planar wall extending inwardly from the lower edge of the inclined wall. The insert is free of any rising "chip groove," per se, and is free of any wall spaced inwardly from the cutting edge and serving as a chip breaker or chip controller.

Abstract: A cutting insert, especially for milling operations, in which at least one face of the insert has recesses extending from respective corners thereof along respective edges of the inserts. The recesses widen in a direction away from the respective corners and are generally "V" shaped in cross section. The walls forming the bottom of the insert are in the form of skewed planes and make increasing included angles with the respective face of the insert in a direction away from the respective corner of the insert. The recesses at the wider ends have a concave wall portion extending upwardly to the respective face of the insert.

Abstract: A cutting insert of hard wear resistant material which provides a cutting edge useful over very wide ranges of metalworking conditions and effective for reducing cutting machine power requirements and providing safe and efficient chip control, simultaneously. The cutting insert has a narrow land area along the cutting edge and a wall means leading downwardly and inwardly from the inner edge of the land area and a planar surface extending inwardly from the lower edge of the wall means. The insert is free of any "chip groove," having a rising rearward wall, per se, and dimensions are given wherein it has been found that chip formation and breakage occur as naturally as possible with a minimum of work effort input for bending or breaking the chip. Power consumption is reduced and individual chip formations are controllable over a wider range of work conditions than heretofore possible.