Abstract: A spiral flute tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The body has a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the axial rearward end, a threaded fluted portion adjacent the axial forward end, a non-threaded fluted portion between the cylindrical shank portion and the threaded fluted portion, and a central, longitudinal axis. The spiral flute tap further includes a plurality of helical flutes formed at a helix angle, HA, with respect to the central, longitudinal axis of the tap that continuously increases in magnitude in the threaded fluted portion. In other words, the lead of the plurality of helical flutes continuously decreases in magnitude in a rearward direction for a predetermined distance. In one example, the helix angle, HA, varies at a rate of between 0.5 degrees/mm to 4.0 degrees/mm. A method of making the spiral flute tap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A twist drill having a shaft with a longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting tool includes a plurality of flutes extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a plurality of lands adjacent the flutes. Each land has a cutting edge adjacent a corresponding flute and a margin (i.e. relief surface). A cutting point is adjacent a forward end of the shaft. A first, second and third forward cutting surfaces are adjacent the first, second and third cutting edges, respectively, and extend proximate the cutting point axially rearward for a predetermined length about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The cutting edges are unequally angularly spaced from each other, and each forward cutting surface has a primary relief angle that are unequal to each other.

Abstract: A spiral flute tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The body has a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the axial rearward end, a threaded fluted portion adjacent the axial forward end, a non-threaded fluted portion between the cylindrical shank portion and the threaded fluted portion, and a central, longitudinal axis. The spiral flute tap further includes a plurality of helical flutes formed at a helix angle, HA, with respect to the central, longitudinal axis of the tap that continuously increases in magnitude in the threaded fluted portion. In other words, the lead of the plurality of helical flutes continuously decreases in magnitude in a rearward direction for a predetermined distance. In one example, the helix angle, HA, varies at a rate of between 0.5 degrees/mm to 4.0 degrees/mm. A method of making the spiral flute tap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A twist drill having a shaft with a longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting tool includes a plurality of flutes extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a plurality of lands adjacent the flutes. Each land has a cutting edge adjacent a corresponding flute and a margin (i.e. relief surface). A cutting point is adjacent a forward end of the shaft. A first, second and third forward cutting surfaces are adjacent the first, second and third cutting edges, respectively, and extend proximate the cutting point axially rearward for a predetermined length about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The cutting edges are unequally angularly spaced from each other, and each forward cutting surface has a primary relief angle that are unequal to each other.

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, blanks for rotary tooling applications are described herein. Such blanks can employ architectures realizing material efficiencies and temporal efficiencies when processed into rotary cutting tools. For example, a rotary cutting tool blank described herein comprises a plurality of interior channels extending along a longitudinal axis of the blank, the interior channels having radial positioning for external exposure along an axial length of cut of the rotary cutting tool upon introduction flutes to the blank.

Abstract: A cutting tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The body has a threaded body portion with spiral flutes adjacent the axial forward end, a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the axial rearward end. The threaded body portion includes a chamfered fluted section and a constant diameter section. The threads have a chamfer relief extending radially inward from the cutting edge to a heel of a land. The amount of chamfer relief reaches a maximum value at a point between the cutting edge and the heel, and then becomes smaller between the point of maximum relief and the heel of the land to provide a clearance that reduces the propensity of the tap to chip.

Abstract: A cutting tool having a shaft with a longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting tool includes a first flute extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a first cutting edge adjacent the first flute. The cutting tool also includes a second flute extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a second cutting edge adjacent a second flute. The cutting tool further includes a third flute extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a third cutting edge adjacent the third flute. The first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, and the third cutting edge are unequally angularly spaced from each other.

Abstract: A cutting tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The body has a threaded body portion with spiral flutes adjacent the axial forward end, a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the axial rearward end. The threaded body portion includes a chamfered fluted section and a constant diameter section. The threads have a chamfer relief extending radially inward from the cutting edge to a heel of a land. The amount of chamfer relief reaches a maximum value at a point between the cutting edge and the heel, and then becomes smaller between the point of maximum relief and the heel of the land to provide a clearance that reduces the propensity of the tap to chip.

Abstract: A drill for making a hole within a workpiece has a body extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one flute extending along the body, and a drill point extending from the end of the body. The drill point has a periphery and is comprised of a chisel edge, a primary cutting edge extending inwardly from the periphery, a secondary cutting edge extending outwardly from the chisel edge, and a tertiary cutting edge connecting the primary cutting edge with the secondary cutting edge, wherein the tertiary cutting edge has a negative axial rake angle. A method for producing such a drill point is also disclosed wherein in one grinding pass a gash forms the axial rake angle of the secondary cutting edge, and in a separate grinding pass a portion of the secondary cutting edge is removed to produce a tertiary cutting edge having an axial rake angle that is negative.

Abstract: A cutting tool having a shaft with a longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting tool includes a first flute extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a first cutting edge adjacent the first flute. The cutting tool also includes a second flute extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a second cutting edge adjacent a second flute. The cutting tool further includes a third flute extending about the longitudinal shaft along a helix angle and a third cutting edge adjacent the third flute. The first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, and the third cutting edge are unequally angularly spaced from each other.

Abstract: A drill for making a hole within a workpiece has a body extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one flute extending along the body, and a drill point extending from the end of the body. The drill point has a periphery and is comprised of a chisel edge, a primary cutting edge extending inwardly from the periphery, a secondary cutting edge extending outwardly from the chisel edge, and a tertiary cutting edge connecting the primary cutting edge with the secondary cutting edge, wherein the tertiary cutting edge has a negative axial rake angle. A method for producing such a drill point is also disclosed wherein in one grinding pass a gash forms the axial rake angle of the secondary cutting edge, and in a separate grinding pass a portion of the secondary cutting edge is removed to produce a tertiary cutting edge having an axial rake angle that is negative.