Abstract: A rotary cutting tool includes a shank portion, a cutting portion, and a cutting tip. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of flutes. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, and a land surface extending between the leading face and the trailing face. The cutting end includes an end cutting edge having a first end face cutting edge portion formed with a positive, neutral or negative radial angle, a positive dish angle and a negative axial rake angle, and second end face cutting edge portion formed with a highly positive radial angle, a positive dish angle and a negative axial rake angle. The highly positive radial angle of the second end face cutting edge portion enables the rotary cutting tool to perform a ramp operation at very large ramp angles of between about 15-45 degrees.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool includes a shank portion, a cutting portion, and a cutting tip. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of flutes. Each blade includes a leading face, a trailing face, and a land surface extending between the leading face and the trailing face. The cutting end includes an end cutting edge having a first end face cutting edge portion formed with a positive, neutral or negative radial angle, a positive dish angle and a negative axial rake angle, and second end face cutting edge portion formed with a highly positive radial angle, a positive dish angle and a negative axial rake angle. The highly positive radial angle of the second end face cutting edge portion enables the rotary cutting tool to perform a ramp operation at very large ramp angles of between about 15-45 degrees.

Abstract: In one aspect, rotary cutting tools are described comprising clearances with projections adjacent the cutting edge and extending the width and length of the clearance surface of each tooth. This design can assist in reducing vibration or chatter during cutting operations.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a cutting tool used for peripheral cutting operations, comprising: a plurality of peripheral cutting edges, and a plurality of flutes disposed between the peripheral cutting edges, wherein each of the flutes includes at least one surface, and at least one depression recessed into the at least one flute surface, wherein each of the depressions defines a depression interior configured to trap cooling liquid during operation of the cutting tool, and wherein at least one of the depressions is dimensioned and disposed to enhance heat dissipation at least one of the peripheral cutting edges.

Abstract: In one aspect, elongated rotary cutting tools such as end mills are described herein which may provide one or more advantages over prior designs. For example, in some embodiments, cutting tools described herein can provide reduced wear rates at corner cutting edges, may permit high ramp angles during processing up to and including 45° ramp angles, and/or increased tool life.

Abstract: In one aspect, rotary cutting tools are described comprising clearances with projections adjacent the cutting edge and extending the width and length of the clearance surface of each tooth. This design can assist in reducing vibration or chatter during cutting operations.

Abstract: In one aspect, elongated rotary cutting tools such as end mills are described herein which may provide one or more advantages over prior designs. For example, in some embodiments, cutting tools described herein can provide reduced wear rates at corner cutting edges, may permit high ramp angles during processing up to and including 45° ramp angles, and/or increased tool life.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a cutting tool used for peripheral cutting operations, comprising: a plurality of peripheral cutting edges, and a plurality of flutes disposed between the peripheral cutting edges, wherein each of the flutes includes at least one surface, and at least one depression recessed into the at least one flute surface, wherein each of the depressions defines a depression interior configured to trap cooling liquid during operation of the cutting tool, and wherein at least one of the depressions is dimensioned and disposed to enhance heat dissipation at least one of the peripheral cutting edges.

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: A rounded nose end-mill modified by optimization of geometrical parameters of both the rake angle and relief angle along the cutting edge of the rounded portion, wherein the rake angle and the relief angle gradually increase along the cutting edge from the full diameter of the rounded portion to the tip.

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: A face milling cutter has a shank portion adjoining a cutting portion. The cutting portion terminates in a plurality of cutting edges extending in a radial direction from a central axis of the face milling cutter. The cutting edges are convexly curved at least along a part of their length. A portion of the cutting edges proximate the central axis is nearer in an axial direction to the shank portion than a point, X, on the cutting edges that is farthest away from the shank portion. A distance Y, between the point, X, and the central axis is between 20% and 40% of a diameter, D, of the face milling cutter, and a central portion extends the distance, Y, and has a radius of curvature of about 110% of the diameter, D.

Abstract: A rounded nose end-mill modified by optimization of geometrical parameters of both the rake angle and relief angle along the cutting edge of the rounded portion, wherein the rake angle and the relief angle gradually increase along the cutting edge from the full diameter of the rounded portion to the tip.

Abstract: A method of making chatter-resistant end mills includes: (a) forming an end mill having unequal angular spacing between adjacent teeth, (b) cutting a test work piece with the end mill and measuring vibrations and resonance; (c) upon detecting undesired levels of vibration and resonance, adjusting the angular spacing between adjacent teeth to reduce vibration and resonance and forming another end mill having the adjusted angular spacing; (d) cutting a test work piece with the adjusted end mill and measuring vibrations and resonance; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until an end mill is formed in which vibration produced by the angular spacing between at least one pair of adjacent teeth cancels out at least a portion of the vibration produced by the angular spacing between at least one other pair of adjacent teeth; and (f) making at least one production end mill conforming to step (e).

Abstract: A chatter-resistant end mill and a method of making such an end mill, in which the teeth of the end mill are unequally spaced apart to substantially reduce or eliminate vibrations produced during cutting of a work piece.