Abstract: A modular cutter head having a holder defining a threaded receiver. The cutter head can be screwed into the threaded receiver. The cutter can comprise an elongated body portion having a cutting end and cutting edge and an elongated coupling portion spaced from the cutting end, with the coupling portion comprising a core and a plurality of generally helically-extending start threads disposed circumferentially about the core. The cutter head may also include a cutting end having a chip flute and an insert seat.

Abstract: A toolholder includes a cutting tool mounted to a head attached to a collar at a first end of the toolholder. A shank is located at a second, opposite end of the toolholder. A central cavity extends inwardly from the first end toward the shank. A viscous fluid inertia mass damper is disposed within the central cavity. The viscous fluid inertia mass damper includes an absorber body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a fluid reservoir formed in the damper body for containing a viscous fluid, and a plurality of apertures formed in the damper body for allowing the viscous fluid to flow from the fluid reservoir and through the apertures to suppress vibration of the toolholder. A method for suppressing vibrations in a toolholder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool has a central, longitudinal axis. One or more internal balancing features are disposed within a cavity of the rotary cutting tool. Each internal balancing feature includes a balancing mass suspended within the cavity by a spring-like element, and an adjusting screw for effecting radial movement of the balancing mass. Each internal balancing feature can be integrally-formed with the rotary cutting tool using a 3-D printing technique. The rotary cutting tool can be any rotary cutting tool, such as a milling cutter, a boring bar, and the like. The internal balancing features are arranged at predetermined locations within the rotary cutting tool to enable static and/or dynamic balancing of the rotary cutting tool.

Abstract: A toolholder assembly includes a toolholder having a toolholder shank with a non-circular cross-section, a base member having a bore with a non-circular cross-section that receives the toolholder shank, a canister positioned in the base member, a lock rod positioned in the canister, a locking ball for cooperating with the lock rod, the canister and/or the toolholder shank and an actuating element configured for cooperation with the lock rod for moving the lock rod between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: A hydraulic expansion chuck for receiving a tool includes a chuck body, an expansion bushing which is received in the chuck body and defines a chuck opening, a pressure chamber which is interposed between the expansion bushing and the chuck body, and a reduction sleeve. The reduction sleeve is received in the chuck opening of the expansion bushing and defines a tool holder receptacle for receiving the tool to be chucked. The reduction sleeve includes a connector element configured to releasably attach the reduction sleeve to the chuck body. The reduction sleeve also may include an adjustment element configured to adjust the axial position of the tool in the tool holder receptacle.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool including a cutter member having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. A cutting region is at the axial forward end of the cutter member, and a male threaded portion is adjacent the axial rearward end of the cutter member. A shank member has an axial forward end and a shank bore opening at the axial forward end. The shank bore has an axial shank bore length. The shank bore contains a female threaded portion and an axial rearward shank bore portion axially rearward of the female threaded portion. The axial rearward shank bore portion has a terminal end. When the male threaded portion of the cutter member fully engages the female threaded portion of the shank member, the axial rearward end of the cutter member being spaced a first distance axially forward of the terminal end of the axial rearward shank bore portion.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool includes a cutter of generally cylindrical shape disposed about a central longitudinal axis. The cutter has a first end having an active fluted portion and an opposite second end, the second end having a male threaded portion disposed thereabout. The cutting tool further includes a shank of generally cylindrical shape disposed about the central longitudinal axis, the shank having a recessed female threaded portion formed in a first end. The male threaded portion includes a number of threads disposed at a first pitch and the female threaded portion includes a number of threads disposed at a second pitch different than the first pitch. The cutter and the shank are selectively coupled via threaded engagement of the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion.

Abstract: In one aspect, tool holders employing axial sleeves and dampening elements are described herein. Tool holders described herein define a central longitudinal axis and comprise a tool holder body having a connector portion and a holder portion. The connector portion is structured to engage a rotary machine and the holder portion is disposed opposite the connector portion and has an inner diameter surface comprising a plurality of axial grooves. Tool holders described herein further comprise a tool receiver structured to receive at least a portion of a cutting tool, the tool receiver having an outer diameter surface comprising a plurality of axial grooves. The tool receiver is mounted in the holder portion so as to align the axial grooves of the inner and outer diameter surfaces and define axial sleeves filled with dampening elements.

Abstract: A drill has a replaceable cutting head mounted to a shank in an interlocking fashion. The shank has a pocket with at least one flat, vertically-angled retention surface located closer to a rotational axis than at least one driving surface. Similarly, the cutting head has at least one vertically-angled retention surface located closer to the rotational axis of the drill than at least one driven surface. As a result of the relative locations between the surfaces with respect to the rotational axis, the stresses and fatigue imposed on the drill are minimized, thereby prolonging tool life.

Abstract: A cutting head is formed for insertion into a support in a modular rotary tool, in particular a drill. It has a coupling pin onto which outer cover surfaces and torque surfaces are formed as clamping surfaces. The coupling pin has a particular circular groove, which divides the cutting head into a front pin part and a rear pin part. Stop surfaces for an axial pullout safety are formed in the transition area between the two parts. The torque surfaces and the clamping surfaces are arranged in different pin parts. The torque surfaces are preferably formed in the rear pin part.

Abstract: A tool holder for carrying a cutting insert wherein the cutting insert is useful for the removal of material during a material removal operation. The tool holder includes a tool holder body. The tool holder body includes a pocket adapted to carry the cutting insert, a coolant inlet in communication with a pressurized source of coolant, a coolant chamber having a central region, an upstream coolant passage having a central longitudinal upstream coolant passage axis, and a downstream coolant passage having a central longitudinal downstream coolant passage axis. The upstream coolant passage opens into the coolant chamber. The upstream coolant passage has an orientation relative to the coolant chamber so that the central longitudinal upstream coolant passage axis is offset from the central region of the coolant chamber whereby coolant flows into the coolant chamber in a tangential fashion.

Abstract: A toolholder includes a cutting tool mounted to a head attached to a collar at a first end of the toolholder. A shank is located at a second, opposite end of the toolholder. A central cavity extends inwardly from the first end toward the shank. A viscous fluid inertia mass damper is disposed within the central cavity. The viscous fluid inertia mass damper includes an absorber body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a fluid reservoir formed in the damper body for containing a viscous fluid, and a plurality of apertures formed in the damper body for allowing the viscous fluid to flow from the fluid reservoir and through the apertures to suppress vibration of the toolholder. A method for suppressing vibrations in a toolholder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable or tuned boring tool having a dynamic vibration absorber is provided herein. The boring tool includes a boring bar having a distal portion configured to support a tool, a proximal portion configured for attachment to a support structure of a metalworking machine, and a cylindrical body extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion, having an elongated cavity therein. The boring tool further includes a tuned or tunable absorber inserted in the cavity of the boring bar. The absorber includes an absorber mass, an annular or partially annular support circumscribing each end of the absorber mass for holding the absorber mass within the cavity, and a layer of fluid restricting material surrounding at least a central portion of the absorber mass for dampening vibration of the absorber mass. A method of forming a boring tool with a dynamic vibration absorber is also provided herein.

Abstract: A tuned or tunable boring tool includes a boring bar defining an elongated cavity therein. A distal end of the boring bar is configured to support a tool or cutting insert. The boring tool further includes a dynamic vibration absorber inserted within the elongated cavity of the boring bar. The dynamic vibration absorber includes a mass that vibrates in conjunction with vibration of the boring bar. The mass has a proximal end and a distal end. The dynamic vibration absorber further includes at least one resilient proximal support positioned adjacent to and supporting the proximal end of the mass and at least one distal resilient support positioned adjacent to and supporting the distal end of the mass. The at least one proximal support and at least one distal support have a different stiffness.

Abstract: In one aspect, damping systems are described herein. Such damping systems can employ internal dynamic vibration absorbers. For example, a damping system described herein comprises a monolithic bar extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis. The monolithic bar comprises an enclosed cavity positioned therein. The damping system further comprises a dynamic vibration absorber disposed in the enclosed cavity. The dynamic vibration absorber includes an absorber mass and an elastomeric buffer arranged in spacing between one or more surfaces of the absorber mass and cavity wall.

Abstract: A process of grinding a pre-ground part wherein the method includes the steps of: providing a pre-ground part containing a bore, and the pre-ground part having an exterior surface with one or more to-be-ground exterior surface regions; positioning a loading tool within the bore of the pre-ground part; exerting a loading tool load on the loading tool which in turn exerts a part load on the pre-ground part; removing material from the one or more to-be-ground surface regions of the pre-ground part when under the part load to form an as-ground part; and unloading the part load from the as-ground part.

Abstract: In one aspect, cam bolts are described herein employing a dual cam surface architecture. In some embodiments, a cam bolt described herein defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a first end, a second end, at least one engagement member disposed on at least one of the first end and the second end, at least two first cam surfaces, and at least one second cam surface. The engagement member is configured to engage a torque implement to rotate the cam bolt about the longitudinal axis when torque is applied by the torque implement. The first cam surfaces are disposed about the longitudinal axis and have a first cam profile. The second cam surface is disposed about the longitudinal axis between the first cam surfaces and has a second cam profile differing from the first cam profile. At least one of the first and second cam profiles can be non-circular.

Abstract: In one aspect, tool holders employing axial sleeves and dampening elements are described herein. Tool holders described herein define a central longitudinal axis and comprise a tool holder body having a connector portion and a holder portion. The connector portion is structured to engage a rotary machine and the holder portion is disposed opposite the connector portion and has an inner diameter surface comprising a plurality of axial grooves. Tool holders described herein further comprise a tool receiver structured to receive at least a portion of a cutting tool, the tool receiver having an outer diameter surface comprising a plurality of axial grooves. The tool receiver is mounted in the holder portion so as to align the axial grooves of the inner and outer diameter surfaces and define axial sleeves filled with dampening elements.