Abstract: A wood surfacing method and apparatus. A projecting surface projects from a cutting head adapted for rotating a knife about an axis. An article of wood is fed toward the cutting head. The projection projects from the cutting head, behind the knife with respect to the direction of rotation of the cutting head. The projection is adapted to make contact with the wood with a force that is substantially constant as the wood is fed.

Abstract: A planer (10), in particular a hand held planer for machining wood, with a planer housing (12), which includes a planer shaft (20), supported rotatably in at least one direction with an outer contour (23), which in a longitudinal groove (46) has at least one planer blade (21), which is braced on a centrifugal wedge (56) that can be prestressed with a spring (54) or the like can be produced more simply and economically in that the centrifugal wedge (56) is fastened to the planer shaft (20), elastically movably relative to it, in captive fashion solely by the spring (54), in particular being removable without destruction, and substantially without touching the planer shaft (20).

Abstract: A reamer for chip removing machining includes a holder having a line of pockets, each pocket including a support surface facing in a direction of feed of the holder. Cutting inserts are mounted in respective ones of the pockets and project out of the pocket at progressively greater distances. Clamping assemblies clamp respective inserts in their respective pockets. Each clamping assembly includes a shank projecting into a hole formed in the pocket, a clamping head fixed to the shank and situated in the pocket, and a spring yieldably biasing the shank and the clamping head to a position wherein the clamping head forces a rear surface of the insert against the support surface. By depressing a shank against its spring bias, a respective insert can be replaced.

Abstract: A cutting tool comprising a cutter body member having a generally circular shape, a front surface, a back surface and an axis of rotation, the cutter body member includes an outer portion comprising a plurality of individual projections arranged spaced from one another about the cutter body with the space between successive projections defining receiving slots for cutting blades. The individual projections each further comprise an outer surface with at least one of the outer surfaces including a protrusion. Each of the blade receiving slots comprises opposing first and second side surfaces and an inner end portion with the inner end portion having a pair of angled mounting surfaces, one of the mounting surfaces extends from the first side surface and the other mounting surface extends from the second side surface with the angled mounting surfaces extending toward one another. Each of the angled mounting surfaces is oriented at an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to its respective side surface.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head is provided having body shape characterized, generally, outwardly-shifted cylinder segments to shift cutter head weight and force to the knife blades and to balance and extend the knifes from the central core of the cutter head while reducing workpiece waste buildup along the knife front, and while decreasing clogging of knife mounting components and reducing over-heating of knives and with securing corrugations on the knife cutting face, engageable with corrugations on the cutter head for securing the knife base against a foot on the cutter head.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool having a mounting portion with a plurality of mounting sections, each having a radially aligned pocket to receive a cutting insert. There is a positioning and actuating assembly by which a related wedge block can be positioned in its related pocket in wedging engagement with its cutter insert. The side walls of each pocket converge in a radially outward direction so that centrifugal force of the rotating causes the wedge blocks and the cutters to come into a firmer wedging engagement. The positioning and holding assembly can be moved from its retaining position to permit individual cutting inserts to be moved or replaced. A center bolt assembly moves a central portion of the positioning and holding assembly vertically so as to cause retaining arms to move into and out of retaining engagement with related wedge blocks.

Abstract: A woodworking shaper head having a plurality of cutting blades mounted about the periphery thereof. Each cutting blade is mounted in a longitudinally extending channel in the surface of the head, and a gib of wedge shape is disposed in the channel to securely retain the blade. The forwardly facing side wall of the channel and the adjacent surface of the blade include intermeshing corrugations which resist withdrawal of the blade during operative rotation of the head.

Abstract: The plane head for the hand-held planing machine includes a cylindrical base body (11) made from a group of identical stamped sheets (18) arranged axially next to each other and each provided with a punched hole (150) so as to form a base body cavity (15); a planing knife (14) protruding radially beyond an outer surface of the base body (11) from a longitudinal groove (13) and fixed therein by a form-fitting connection or form-locking connection so that the planing knife cannot be radially dislodged from the base body; and a chuck wedge (16) received in the base body cavity (15) so that the planing knife (14) is clamped in the base body (11) by centrifugal force during rotation of the plane head.

Abstract: A self aligning knife clamping assembly and machine incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment there is provided a knife clamping assembly having an upper clamping component, a lower clamping component and a fastening device, such as a bolt, therebetween, to permit the clamping components to be releasably clamped together onto a knife element having a knife edge. Positioned between the knife element and the clamping assembly is a biasing element, which urges the knife element to enter, or remain in, a preferred position prior to the knife element being immovably clamped into place. In the preferred embodiment the biasing element is in the form of an elastomeric strip.

Abstract: The invention concerns a milling tool (10) with reduced noise emission for machining panel-like pieces of wood. The reduction in noise emission is brought about by reducing the vibrations produced in the tool and workpiece and by proportioning the cut, machining being carried out in two stages. The greatest part of the chip volume (first stage) is removed under favorable noise-emission conditions using a special cutting geometry. The tool and workpiece vibrations are reduced by a clearly reduced rise in the shear force pulse using a special cutting tooth geometry. The chip volume removed under these conditions is only small (second stage), and so good quality machining can be attained.

Abstract: A milling tool (1) has at least one insert seat (14) which is adjustable in the axial direction. Provided for this purpose as an insert seat is a cartridge (47) which is received in a groove (41) but does not have a supporting face for the bottom face of the insert (25). The insert (25) consequently rests on a side wall (42) of the groove (41). As a result, the insert seat (14) is formed by a combination of the plane face of the tool body (2) and bearing faces (51, 52) of the cartridge (47). This achieves a particularly small installation space (close tooth spacing) and rigid mounting of the insert (25).

Abstract: A milling cutter using a wedge to secure an insert within a pocket of the milling cutter wherein the wedge is tapered in both the axial direction and the radial direction. A screw urges the wedge within a tapered cavity to press the insert within the pocket along the axial wedge angle while rotation of the cutter creates centrifugal forces urging the wedge radially outward, thereby forcing the wedge against the radial wedge surface to further compress the insert within the pocket. The insert pocket may be extended to radially encompass the insert, thereby providing additional support against centrifugal forces for the insert.

Abstract: A round bar cutting tool (10) and a cutter head (8) provided especially for the same are provided. The cutting tool has a shank with a generally round cross-section for being fixed by clamping means (28, 30) in a cutting tool receiving bore (12) of the cutter head (8). A substantially planar positioning surface (38) which serves as an engagement surface for the clamping means (28, 30) is located along the shank length in an extension of a cutting face (43) formed on the cutting end (40) of the round bar cutting tool (10), parallel to the longitudinal cutting tool axis. The cutting face (43) and the positioning surface (38) lie in the same plane parallel to the longitudinal cutting tool axis. The cutting face is not reground during sharpening and can therefore have a coating which increases the serviceable life of the cutting edge.

Abstract: A cutting tool insert holder apparatus comprising a milling cutter body with at least one flute and a clamp to secure the insert in the holder and dimensioned to be held by a metal cutting milling machine. The flute is disposed at one end of the body and comprises a pocket dimensioned to accept a rhomboid-shaped cutting insert having a top rake angle and a substantially flat surface in the clamping area, a threaded hole dimensioned to accommodate a clamp screw, a pivot cavity dimensioned to accommodate a pivot of a clamp, and dimensioned to allow tipping of the clamp.

Abstract: Finishing throwaway ball endmill has a blade tip adapted to make a firm attachment to a body thereof with easy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cutter head, in particular a planing cutter head, whose blade carrier (1) has at least one mounting (5), facing radially outwards, for a blade (7). Fitted in each mounting (5) is a wedge grip (17) which can be moved relative to the blade carrier (1) and which presses the blade (7) against a stop (9) on the mounting (5) when moved with at least a component of motion radially outwards. Located between the blade (7) and the wedge grip (17) is a mounting strip (21) which can be moved relative to the wedge grip (17) and the stop (9) on the mounting (5) and which releases the blade (7) for removal radially outwards when the wedge grip (17) is displaced inwards.

Abstract: A indexable end mill of the present invention comprises a helical flute formed in the outer periphery of a shank as inclined at a required angle with respect to the axis of the shank, a plurality of indexable inserts attached to places in the helical flute rearwardly with respect to the axis of the rotated shank as spaced at required intervals along the helical flute, and recesses defined in the outer periphery of the shank as interposed between the indexable inserts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a replaceable insert cutting tool combination. The combination comprises a cutter head having at least one peripheral transverse indentation and being rotatable about an axis, the cavity including a knife support wall at least partially transverse to the cutter head periphery, and at least one threaded bore substantially parallel to the knife support wall. The combination further comprises a knife element disposed adjacent the knife support wall and having an edge extending from the indentation, in addition to at least one threaded element for engagement in the threaded bore. At least a pair of wedging elements are mounted adjacent the knife element in engaging side-by-side relation in the indentation.

Abstract: A milling cutter tool includes a rotary body having recesses spaced along its outer body, each recess receiving an insert-carrying cartridge and a wedge for retaining the cartridge. Leading and trailing surfaces of each recess converge radially inwardly, whereas leading and trailing surfaces of each wedge converge radially outwardly. An actuator pushes each wedge radially outwardly into clamping relationship with the cartridge.

Abstract: The object of the invention is an apparatus for clamping a chipper knife (1) to a rotatable chipper disc (4) or drum so that the back surface (6) of the knife (1) is supported against a knife clamp (2) with a knife spacer (3), and that the knife clamp (2) and knife spacer (3) are movable relative to each other by means of the clamping element (5). The knife clamp (2) is provided with supporting surfaces (11, 12) which the back surface (6) of the knife (1) is adapted to lean against by at least two spaced-apart surfaces (11', 12'). The knife spacer element (3) includes a supporting surface (13) which is adapted to subject a front surface (14) of the knife (1) to a force acting between said supporting surfaces (11, 12) of the knife clamp (2) for bending the knife (1) between said supporting surfaces (11, 12) of the knife clamp (2) towards the knife clamp (2) so as to generate a compression stress in the free section of a front surface (16) of the knife (1).

Abstract: To provide a reliable, yet resilient, seat for a cutter blade or knife (13) in a rotary milling body (11), the milling body is formed with a bore (21) which intersects the inner wall (19) of a recess (12) in the circumference of the milling body (11). A roll pin is inserted in the bore, retained therein, but projecting over the plane of the wall surface (19). The knife (13) is formed with a longitudinal groove (27), having opposite flat angled side walls (60), which fit around the projecting surface of the roll pin. A holding element (15), fitted into the recess, bears against knife and resiliently clamps it against the roll pin. Preferably, the holding element (15) and the knife (13) are formed with an interengaging projection (41) and recess (42) arrangement.

Abstract: A rotary metal cutting tool comprises an elongate body (1) with a shank (2) and a cutting head (3). At least one channel (4) is provided to receive a twisted cutter blade (5) secured by a clamping cotter (9) located in a recess (7) and screw means (16). The recess and cotter each have at least one flat (15, 16) to prevent cotter rotation; whilst the clamping cotter (9) has a clamping surface (11) of extended length (16) terminating with the lower end face (17) of the cutting head (3), to prevent swarf ingress.

Abstract: A chopper has a straight knife clamped between a clamping member and a counter knife. The knife, clamping member, and counter knife are collectively positioned in a machined area formed in a holder that is in turn fitted within a larger recess formed in a chopping disk. A first fastener secures the knife holder to the chopping disk, a second fastener secures the clamping member to the knife holder, and a third fastener secures the counter knife to the knife holder. A projection formed in the counter knife engages a groove formed in the knife to properly align the knife and to inhibit entry of fibers into the space between the counter knife and the knife. The holder further includes a series of steps that position the counter knife and the clamping member, respectively, with respect to the holder.

Abstract: A milling cutter includes a rotary body and a plurality of recesses spaced around its outer periphery for receiving insert-carrying cartridges. Each cartridge is wedge-shaped and is retained in place by a clamping wedge which is fastened in the respective recess by a clamp screw. Each cartridge has serrations on its rear surface which engage corresponding serrations on the rearward wall of the recess. A locating pin extends between a wall of the recess and a surface of the cartridge. The cartridge carries a spring which is compressed by the clamping wedge such that the spring biases the cartridge against the rearward wall of the recess.

Abstract: A hand-operated planer has a rotating blade holder having a base body, at least one planing blade and a pressing plate which presses the at least one planing blade against the base body, the pressing plate having one side which presses the planing blade against the base body and another side which is formed differently from the one side so that when the pressing plate is reversed the another side can press another planing blade which is different from the planing blade against the base body.

Abstract: A blade head for cutting and planing blades has a blade holder having a plurality of receiving grooves for receiving a cutting and planing blade. The receiving grooves are distributed over the circumference of the blade holder. A plurality of pressurizing elements is positioned in each of the receiving grooves for securing the cutting and planing blade in the receiving groove. At least one adjusting member is positioned in each of the receiving grooves for forcing the pressurizing elements against one another such that the pressurizing elements exert a clamping pressure on the cutting and planing blade. The pressurizing elements have a substantially cylindrical shape with wedge-shaped end faces and a circumferential surface having at least one planar clamping surface. Adjacent ones of the pressurizing elements abut one another with their end faces. The blade holder has clamping counter surfaces cooperating with the planar clamping surfaces of the pressurizing elements.

Abstract: A knife assembly for a disc type wood chipper includes a reversible disposable knife having a serrated back bearing surface positioned between a serrated knife clamp and a flat counterknife. The knife can be reground and advanced along the serrated clamping surface of the clamp so as to maintain a desired edge position with respect to the surface of the chipper disc and the anvil surface.

Abstract: A cutting tool for expanding or opening up the diameter of boreholes includes at least one reversible knife plate with a front surface. The knife plate can be clamped with at least one clamping shoe into a recess provided in a cutter head. The front surface of the knife plate has at least two grooves which extend essentially parallel and preferably symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the knife plate. The grooves cooperate with projections provided on the contact surface of the clamping shoe facing the front surface of the knife plate and form a positively locked connection therewith.

Abstract: A throughaway milling cutter is disclosed: a cutter body rotatable about an axis; at least one recess formed at a front face of the cutter body and having a bottom wall and side walls; an inclined face formed at the bottom wall and inclined about the front face; a cartridge inserted in the recess movably along the inclination direction of the inclined face; a wiper cutting insert removably mounted to the cartridge and having a wiper cutting edge generally parallel to a plan perpendicular to the axis of the cutter body and a front flank face disposed adjacent to the wiper cutting edge; a wedge inserted between the side wall and the cartridge and capable of moving the cartridge along the inclination direction of the inclined face; and a means for clamping the cartridge to the recess.

Abstract: A knife assembly for a chipping canter has a knife holder which is mounted on a rotatable chipper head. Along an upper edge of the knife holder is a receiving and holding portion in which is removably mounted a readily replaceable chipper knife.

Abstract: A cutting tool is disclosed which has a tool body, a cutting insert and an insert-holding member. The tool body has a recess formed therein, and the cutting insert is received in the recess. The insert-holding member is attached to releasably secure the cutting insert to the recess. The insert-holding member includes a surface layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and an interior portion. The surface layer is harder than the interior portion and has a hardness of from H.sub.R C 40 to 60.

Abstract: A rotatable wood planing apparatus that includes a cylindrical planing knife body provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, forwardly inclined, radially outwardly opening channels for holding knives. Parallel to each of the knife holding channels is an adjoining channel for holding a clamping means such as a gib for clamping said knives in the channels. The rear surfaces of the knife-holding channels and the forward surfaces of the knife-clamping channels are in planes that converge outwardly. A knife-holding clamp is provided to securely hold the knife in a desired position. The knives can accurately be fitted and secured into the clamps prior to insertion into the knife-holding channels.Means such as bolts or screws adjacent the rear of the knife-holding channels are provided for retaining the clamp and knife combination in the channel. A gib or wedge is fitted in the clamping channel to lock the clamps and knives in place upon elevation of the gib in its channel.

Abstract: A centrifugally operated clamping device for clamping a reversible blade insert in a planing tool ensures positive engagement between the clamp and the blade. The clamping device includes a clamping wedge which has an inverted T-shaped cross-section and is positioned in a similarly configured groove in the tool. The wedge is biased relative to the bottom of the groove so that the clamp will be easily disconnected from the blade.

Abstract: A cutting tool that includes a boring bar, a cutter insert, and a mechanism for retaining the cutter insert on the bar. The bar is formed of tungsten carbide. A relatively short steel retaining element is mounted in the rear end of the bar. Internal threads are formed in the steel element but not in the tungsten carbide bar. The retaining mechanism includes an elongated threaded rod extending longitudinally within the bar into a retainer notch formed in the side surface of the shank of a cutter insert.

Abstract: A cutting tool comprised of tool hardened steel having a holder end and an opposite end. A series of axially extending slots are provided on the tool at an outer circumference of the opposite end. The slots each have a radially extending slot wall positioned so as to extend in a plane that intersects a longitudinal axis of the opposite end. Each of the slots also have a generally radially and diagonally extending slot wall confronting the radially extending slot wall associated therewith. Jig ground pins mounted in the opposite end and extended across a radially inner end of the associated slot. A series of cutter bits are mounted in the slots and bottomed on the jig ground pins positioned at the radially inner end of the associated slot. A series of cutter bits with one of the bits in each of the said slots.

Abstract: Rotary cutters for ringer debarkers each have multiple cutter units secured together in coaxial staggered relation. Each cutter unit has gullets between gauge lands, and has knives in the gullets clamped against the leading side of the lands by wedging keys secured in the gullets. The staggering of the cutter units provides each knife with a gauge land on one of the other units for cutting depth control.

Abstract: A broach assembly including a holder having an elongated slot for housing at least one cutting insert and semicircular wedges having a pair of cutting insert engaging faces which are adapted to secure the cutting inserts in the slot and to prevent misalignment and uneven wear.

Abstract: The inner peripheral portion of the blade material is made thinner than the outer peripheral portion thereof. This serves to make greater, as compared with conventional cutter bodies, the distance between the adjacent portions of the cutter body where the respective inner peripheral portions of the blade material are adapted to rest, thus enabling the rigidity of the cutting tool itself to be improved. On top of this, the rake face of the blade material can be reground, when necessary, until the material is completely used up and worn away, thus making it possible to make full and efficient use of the blade material without any waste.

Abstract: A rotary milling tool comprises a cutter body, a plurality of cassettes mounted in respective recesses formed around an outer periphery of the body, and a plurality of fasteners applying retaining forces to respective cassettes. Each retaining force comprises a radial inward component and a component directed opposite the direction of rotation of the body. The radial inward component wedges the cassette against first and second radially outwardly divergent walls of the recess. The other component wedges the cassette against the second wall and a third wall which are forwardly convergent.

Abstract: The impeller bars on an "open" type rotor of an impact crusher are clamped to each disc of the rotor by means of pairs of cooperating wedges. Each pair of wedges consists of a first wedge acting radially outwards of the rotor between the disc and the impeller bars and a second wedge acting axially of the rotor between the disc and the first wedge to drive the first wedge radially outwards. Means including a hook are also disclosed for lifting the impeller bars onto the rotor for initial installation as well as for later repositioning of the bars to compensate for wear.

Abstract: In a rotary cutter block each blade (14) is clamped in an inwardly divergent recess (12) by a wedge (16). The wedges (16) may be clamped simultaneously against their associated blades (14) by application of high pressure grease at any of one or more grease nipples (52, 54) which actuates by hydraulic plungers (22) in the bases of the wedge recesses (12). The angle of the wedges (16) is such as to provide a taper-lock between the wedges (16), the blades (14) and the recesses (12), which means that after depressurization the cutterblock can be stored or moved from one machine spindle to another without slackening of the wedges. The invention is of considerable advantage in reducing the amount of setting-up time involved in setting and grinding the blades of a rotary cutter head, since one pressurization is sufficient to tighten all the wedges simultaneously and to the same degree.

Abstract: A cylindrical cutter head comprises a cutter head body having a cylindrical surface which is centered on an axis and which is formed with a plurality of radially outwardly open main grooves extending parallel to the axis and each having relative to a normal direction of rotation of the body about the axis a leading flank and a trailing flank. These flanks are generally planar and converge radially outward. A disposable knife blade in each of the grooves is pressed against the trailing flank thereof by an outwardly tapered centrifugal wedge braced radially between the blade and the leading flank. Each groove is formed immediately forward of its trailing flank with a radially inwardly projecting groove extension. Thus wide regrindable blades can be fitted in the groove with their rear edges seated in the respective groove extensions.

Abstract: A cutting tool for a planer or similar machine is described. The tool comprises a flat blade having a straight cutting edge, a blade holder for holding said blade for rotation about an axis and means for locating said blade on said holder to have said blade present one cutting angle at one axial end and a different cutting angle at an opposite axial end, and to have the two opposite axial ends of the cutting edge of the blade located substantially at the same distance from the axis of rotation of the blade holder.

Abstract: A cylindrical cutter head for a wood planing machine has mounted in its cumference a number of disposable knife blades which are clamped in place with the help of centrifugal wedges in lengthwise grooves. Between each disposable knife blade and each centrifugal wedge there is positioned a bracket of L-shaped profile consisting of a base strip which is immovably attached to the cutter head body and a clamping strip bearing against the knife blade, this clamping strip being elastically deformable to a small extent. By means of a conformal relation of a profiled region of the disposable knife blade with a corresponding profiled region of the clamping strip, the disposable knife blade is held firmly in position when clamped in. After loosening of the centrifugal wedge, the disposable knife blade can be easily withdrawn in a lengthwise direction and can be replaced with accurate positioning.

Abstract: A cutting insert assembly including a cutting insert having at least one prismatic face wherein one of said prismatic faces engages a corresponding face of a wedge, wherein the cutting insert has a positive rake angle and excellent heel clearance to obtain the benefits of both positive and negative rake angle cutting inserts.

Abstract: The head (1) of the planing tool includes a plurality of helical grooves (2) of dovetail cross-section uniformly distributed over its periphery. Wedging devices (6) with knives (5) resting thereon are insertable sideways in the grooves. Disposed in each wedging device is a securing arrangement (7), actuation of which causes the associated wedging device-and-knife assembly to be pressed against the outwardly tapering sidewalls (17, 18) of the respective groove and held fast. Each of the knives has two opposite cutting edges (19, 20), either of which can be brought into operating position by reversing the knife. A second groove (16) runs parallel to each first groove (2) for receiving a guide component of a knife-aligning device. Owing to the helical configuration of the grooves and the precisely aligned cutting edges of the reusable knives disposed in the grooves, vibration-free machining of workpieces with planing widths of up to more than two meters is possible.

Abstract: An improved planing head for a wood planar is the subject of the present invention. A cylindrical planing head has a plurality of slots which receive the cutting blades and gib means for holding the blades in place during the planing operation. The slots and gibs are designed so that the blade sits on the bottom of the slot and tightening of the gib forces the blade down against the slot bottom. This assures that the blade will always remain in proper alignment. It is preferable to employ jack screws in the bottom of the slot so as to provide means for adjusting the blade height as needed. In either case, the only requirement for realigning a blade when an old blade is taken out and a new blade is put in is to be sure that the bottom of the blade sits on the bottom of the slot where it will be in the exact same position as the previous blade.

Abstract: Adjustable cutting tool bit support, usable as in a stump cutter body, including adjustable jack for variable registration depth of cutting bit, a differential screw engaging differential threads in the body and jack for adjusting the jack position, a wedge clamp for locking engagement of the body and tool bit in adjusted position and a differential screw engaging differential threads in the respective wedge clamp and jack for positively moving said wedge clamp into an effective clamping engagement.

Abstract: A drill provided with means for effecting a secondary cutting function, such as chamfering, counterboring and/or countersinking. The drill (10) comprises chip flutes, lands (14) and a cutting tip (11). Said means comprise a cylindrical tooth (12) provided with a cutting edge (13) and a pin (17). The land (14) is provided with two holes (15,18) which receive the tooth and the pin.

Abstract: A face milling tool is described having a rotatable holder with a plurality of cutting inserts detachably secured to an end face in a circumferentially spaced and axially and radially stepped relation. Each insert is mounted in a pocket formed in the holder end face, the pocket having a deep wedge receiving portion and an adjacent shallower cutting insert retaining portion. The insert retaining portion includes a flat side wall against which a cutting insert rests. The wedge receiving portion includes a concave side wall portion opposite the flat side wall and a bottom wall with a tapped hole. Each wedge includes a first side face with a convex projection for sliding movement upwardly and downwardly within the concave side wall portion and a flat second side face opposite the first side face for engaging a side face of an insert. A vertical abutment shoulder projects outwardly from one end of the flat second side face of the wedge and this shoulder is adapted to abut an end face of the insert.