Abstract: To improve a metal-cutting process for machining cylindrical contours, especially eccentric cylindrical contours on a workpiece mounted to rotate about a longitudinal axis, especially with eccentric crankshaft bearings using a lathe tool, producing a finished contour that either has end measures of satisfactory surface quality or has oversize for finish machining such as grinding or dressing, so that while maintaining or enhancing surface quality and maintaining or enhancing dimensional accuracy, machining times are reduced and overall economic efficiency is raised, the invention proposes that the tools tipped with cutting inserts, especially throw-away cutting inserts, are engaged successively or even simultaneously and that at least one part of the cutting inserts is guided in relation to the workpiece at an effective cutting angle (&ggr;f) between −5° and +5° and/or a positive tool back wedge angle (&ggr;p).

Abstract: A cutting insert for milling has a generally perpendicular cutting face that is peripherally bounded by respective main cutting edges and has free faces set at a positive angle and having common edges forming auxiliary cutting edges. The insert has a positive cutting angle and the cutting face has in the region of an adjacent main cutting edge forming a cutting corner a flat or recess which extends into both adjacent main cutting edges.