TOOL AND INSERT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rotary cutting body having a plurality of abutment elements associated with a seat surface of an insert receiving pocket, and a rotary cutting tool having such cutting body, for use in metal cutting processes in general, and for ramp down milling operations and high speed milling operations in particular.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the field of cutting tools used in milling operations, there are some examples of a cutting body having at least one abutment element on a seat surface of an insert receiving pocket.

US 5,542,795 discloses a milling cutter for performing plunge and face cutting operations on a workpiece with cutting inserts having different side and transverse cutting edges. A cutter body has a plurality of recessed insert seats for securably receiving the inserts, including a top shoulder spaced apart from the transverse cutting edges of the inserts for allowing the insert seat to receive inserts having transverse edges of different shapes, and a support structure for preventing relative movement between the cutting inserts and their respective seats along the side and transverse insert edges. In the preferred embodiment, the support structure includes a rail-like projection extending out of the back face of the cutting inserts that is substantially parallel to the side cutting edges of the insert, and a complementarily- shaped slot in the bottom wall of the seat, in combination with a shoulder formed in the insert seat near but spaced apart from the top shoulder of the seat, and a complementary recess in the insert substantially parallel to its transverse cutting edges.

US 6,840,716 discloses a milling tool having an insert holder provided with an insert receiving pocket and at least one cutting insert mounted therein. The insert receiving pocket has a longitudinally extending inner wall, a rear wall adjacent the inner wall and a lower wall adjacent the inner wall and the rear wall. A front end of the lower wall protrudes forwardly with respect to a central portion of the insert holder. A front protrusion rises upwardly from the lower wall and extends inwardly and rearwardly from a periphery of the insert holder. The front protrusion has a front surface perpendicular to the lower wall. A groove formed in the bottom surface of the cutting insert has a distal side wall perpendicular to the bottom surface. When assembled, a radial abutment surface of the cutting insert abuts a radial abutment surface of the insert receiving pocket, the front surface of the front protrusion abuts the front distal side wall of the groove and a rear portion of the one cutting insert is spaced from the rear wall of the insert receiving pocket.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary cutting body.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary cutting tool, having a cutting insert removably secured in the cutting body with a high level of stability.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary cutting tool, particularly suitable for ramp down milling operations and high speed milling operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotary cutting body having a tool axis about which the cutting body is rotatable in a direction of rotation, comprising:

at least one insert receiving pocket provided at an axial forward end of the cutting body, the insert receiving pocket having:

a seat surface facing in the direction of rotation and including a threaded bore having a bore axis,

a radially outward facing pocket wall transverse to the seat surface, the pocket wall having a wall edge spaced apart from the seat surface,

a first plane which is tangential to the wall edge, perpendicular to the seat surface and intersects the axial forward end of the cutting body, and

a plurality of male and/or female abutment elements associated with the seat surface and including:

an axial abutment element having an axially forward facing abutment surface, the axially forward facing abutment surface having an axial abutment edge, and

at least one radial abutment element having a radially inward facing abutment surface, wherein in a top view of the insert receiving pocket:

the axial abutment edge forms an external acute clamping angle with the first plane.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotary cutting tool comprising:

a rotary cutting body of the sort described above, and at least one cutting insert removably secured in the at least one insert receiving pocket,

the cutting insert comprising opposing upper and lower surfaces with a peripheral side surface extending therebetween, and a through bore intersecting the upper and lower surfaces having an insert axis,

at least one cutting edge formed at the intersection of the upper surface and the peripheral side surface, and

the lower surface having a base surface and a plurality of male and/or female abutting elements associated with the base surface,

the plurality of abutting elements including at least one axial abutting element and at least one radial abutting element,

a clamping screw passing through the through bore and threadingly engaging the threaded bore,

wherein:

the insert's base surface is in contact with the seat surface;

the at least one radial abutment element occupies or is occupied by the at least one radial abutting element; and

the axially forward facing abutment surface is in contact with a corresponding axial abutting surface of one of the at least one axial abutting element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding, the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which chain-dash lines represent cut-off boundaries for partial views of a member and in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary cutting body in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a first side view of the rotary cutting body shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a second side view of the rotary cutting body shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a top view of an insert receiving pocket of the rotary cutting body shown in Fig. l ;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cutting tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the insert receiving pocket of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cutting insert of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the cutting insert shown in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9a is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 6, taken along the line

IX-IX, in the absence of a radially outward force on the cutting insert;

Fig. 10a is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 6, taken along the line

X-X, in the absence of a radially outward force on the cutting insert;

Fig. 9b is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 6, taken along the line

IX-IX, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force on the cutting insert; and

Fig. 10b is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 6, taken along the line

X-X, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force on the cutting insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, one aspect of the present invention relates to a rotary cutting body 20 rotatable in a direction of rotation R about a tool axis AT, and having at least one insert receiving pocket 22 at an axial forward end 24 thereof.

The insert receiving pocket 22 has a seat surface 26 facing in the direction of rotation R, a radially outward facing pocket wall 28 transverse to the seat surface 26, and a plurality of male and/or female abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b associated with the seat surface 26. The radially outward facing pocket wall 28 has an upper wall edge 48 spaced apart from the seat surface 26.

It should be appreciated that use of the term "associated with", throughout the description and claims, with respect to the plurality of male and/or female abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b and the seat surface 26, covers the possibility of the plurality of male abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b being disposed on (i.e., protruding from) the seat surface 26 and also the possibility of the plurality of female abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b being disposed in (i.e., recessed into) the seat surface 26.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the insert receiving pocket 22 may have an axially forward facing pocket wall 34 transverse to the seat surface 26 and spaced apart from the radially outward facing pocket wall 28.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the axially forward facing pocket wall 34 may be entirely located axially rearward of the plurality of male and/or female abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the rotary cutting body 20 may be cylindrical shaped, having a circumferential wall 36 extending in an axial rearward direction DR from the axial forward end 24.

As shown in Fig. 4, the seat surface 26 includes a threaded bore 38 having a bore axis

Al.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the seat surface 26 may be planar.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the bore axis Al may be perpendicular to the seat surface 26.

As shown in Fig. 4, the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b include an axial abutment element 30 having an axially forward facing abutment surface 40 and at least one radial abutment element 32a, 32b having a radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b may be elongated, and the axial abutment element 30 may be transverse to the at least one radial abutment element 32a, 32b.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b may be male-type elements, for example, in the form of ribs or ridges.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b may include two spaced apart radial abutment elements 32a, 32b, a forward radial abutment element 32a and a rearward radial abutment element 32b. Each radial abutment element 32a, 32b may have a respective forward or rearward radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b. Yet further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may intersect the circumferential wall 36.

It should be appreciated that in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b may only include a single axial abutment element 30.

As shown in Fig. 4, in addition to the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b, the seat surface 26 may include a knob 44 protruding therefrom. The knob 44 is spaced apart from all of the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the knob 44 may be contiguous with the circumferential wall 36.

According to the present invention, in a top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, as shown in Fig. 4:

an axial abutment edge 46 of the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 forms an external acute clamping angle a with a first plane PI tangential to the wall edge 48 of the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 and intersecting the axial forward end 24.

In some embodiments of the present invention, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the axial abutment edge 46 may extend linearly along the axial abutment element 30.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the wall edge 48 may be linear, and the first plane PI may contain the wall edge 48.

It should be appreciated that in some embodiments of the present invention, the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22 may be taken perpendicular to the seat surface 26, and the first plane PI may be perpendicular to the seat surface 26.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the clamping angle a may be at least 45 degrees and at most 75 degrees.

It should be appreciated that use of the term "external angle" throughout the description and claims refers to an angle between two surface components as measured external to the member on which these components are formed.

In some embodiments of the present invention, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, as shown in Fig. 4, the bore axis A1 may be located in the area of the seat surface 26 subtended by the clamping angle a. It should be appreciated that for other embodiments of the present invention in which the bore axis A1 may not be perpendicular to the seat surface 26 (not shown), in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the bore axis A1 may be considered to be located at the point of intersection of the bore axis A1 and an imaginary plane defined by the seat surface 26.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 4, the knob 44 may be located in the area of the seat surface 26 subtended by the clamping angle a.

As shown in Fig. 4, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may be entirely located further from the first plane PI than the bore axis Al.

Also, as shown in Fig. 4, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may intersect the threaded bore 38.

Further, as shown in Fig. 4, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the at least one radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b may be entirely located closer to the first plane PI than the bore axis Al.

Yet further, as shown in Fig. 4, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, at least one radial abutment edge 50a, 50b of the at least one radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b may be parallel to the first plane PI.

In some embodiments of the present invention, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the at least one radial abutment edge 50a, 50b may extend linearly along its respective radial abutment element 32a, 32b.

As shown in Fig. 2, in a first side view of the rotary cutting body 20, the wall edge 48 of the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 may form a zero or acute first pocket angle 51 with the tool axis AT, and the first pocket angle 51 may be less than 15 degrees.

As shown in Fig. 3, in a second side view of the rotary cutting body 20, the seat surface 26 may form a zero or acute second pocket angle 52 with the tool axis AT, and the second pocket angle 52 may be less than 30 degrees.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b include two spaced apart radial abutment elements 32a, 32b, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, as shown in Fig. 4, the two radial abutment elements 32a, 32b and their respective radially inward facing abutment surfaces 42a, 42b may be entirely located on opposite sides of a second plane P2 perpendicular to the first plane PI and intersecting the threaded bore 38.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the second plane P2 may contain the bore axis Al.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the forward radial abutment element 32a may intersect the axial forward end 24, and the rearward radial abutment element 32b may intersect the axial abutment element 30.

As seen in these figures, the elongated axial abutment element 30 and the elongated rearward radial abutment element 32b intersect at an obtuse angle to form a continuous boomerang-shaped rib 33 on which are formed both the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 and the rearward radially inward facing abutment surface 42b. In embodiments where the rearward radially inward facing abutment surface 42b is parallel to the first plane PI, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 also forms an external acute clamping angle a with the rearward radially inward facing abutment surface 42b. The insert receiving pocket 22 seen in Figs. 4 and 5 has male-type abutment elements 30, 32a, 32b. It is understood, however, that in other embodiments a female axial abutment element and a female rearward radial abutment element may intersect to form a continuous boomerang-shaped groove.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, another aspect of the present invention relates to a rotary cutting tool 52 having least one cutting insert 54 removably secured in the at least one insert receiving pocket 22 of the rotary cutter body 20.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of cutting inserts 54 may be removably secured in an equal number of insert receiving pockets 22.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the rotary cutting tool 52 may be a milling tool.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the cutting insert 54 may have opposing upper and lower surfaces 56, 58 with a peripheral side surface 60 extending therebetween, and a through bore 62 intersecting the upper and lower surfaces 56, 58 having an insert axis A2. The peripheral side surface 60 may comprise a pair of opposite end surfaces 75 connected to one another by a pair of opposite side surfaces 77. In some embodiments of the present invention, the cutting insert 54 may preferably be manufactured by form pressing and sintering a cemented carbide, such as tungsten carbide, and may be coated or uncoated.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the upper and lower surfaces 56, 58 may differ from one another.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, at least one cutting edge 64a, 64b may be formed at the intersection of the upper surface 56 and the peripheral side surface 60.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the cutting insert 54 may have two spaced apart cutting edges 64a, 64b, and the cutting insert 54 may be indexable about the insert axis A2.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the cutting insert 54 may exhibit 2- fold rotational symmetry about the insert axis A2.

By virtue of no cutting edges being formed at the intersection of the lower surface 58 and the peripheral side surface 60, the cutting insert 54 may be termed as 'single-sided' or‘non- reversible’.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the lower surface 58 may have a base surface 66 and a plurality of male and/or female abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b associated with the base surface 66.

It should be appreciated that use of the term "associated with", throughout the description and claims, with respect to the plurality of male and/or female abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b and the base surface 66, covers the possibility of the plurality of male abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b being disposed on (i.e., protruding from) the base surface 66 and also the possibility of the plurality of female abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b being disposed in (i.e., recessed into) the base surface 66.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the base surface 66 may be planar.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b may include at least one axial abutting element 68a, 68b and at least one radial abutting element 70a, 70b.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b may be elongated, and the at least one axial abutting element 68a, 68b may be transverse to the at least one radial abutting element 70a, 70b. Yet further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b may be female-type elements, for example, in the form of grooves or channels.

It should also be appreciated that the provision of the plurality of female-type abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b contributes in reducing the overall weight of the cutting insert 54, which is very important in high speed milling operations, in which the cutting insert 54 is subjected to high centrifugal forces.

As shown in Figs. 6, 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b, in an assembled position of the rotary cutting tool 52:

a clamping screw 72 passes through the through bore 62 and threadingly engages the threaded bore 38;

the insert's base surface 66 is in contact with the seat surface 26;

the at least one radial abutment element 32a, 32b occupies or is occupied by the at least one radial abutting element 70a, 70b; and

the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 is in contact with a corresponding axial abutting surface 74a, 74b of one of the at least one axial abutting element 68a, 68b.

In the assembled position of the rotary cutting tool 52, the axial abutting surface 74a, 74b in contact with the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may be described as an operative axial abutting surface 74a, 74b.

It should be appreciated that only a single clamping screw 72 may participate with the mounting of the cutting insert 54 in its respective insert receiving pocket 22.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b may include two spaced apart axial abutting elements 68a, 68b.

In such embodiments of the invention, the axial abutting surface 74a, 74b of the axial abutting element 68a, 68b not in contact the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may be described as a non-operative axial abutting surface 74a, 74b.

Also, in such embodiments of the invention, the non-operative axial abutting surface 74a, 74b may not be in contact with any surface of the insert receiving pocket 22.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the two spaced apart axial abutting elements 68a, 68b are female-type elements, a single male-type axial abutment element 30 may occupy a first of the two axial abutting elements 68a, 68b, and the knob 44 may occupy a second of the two axial abutting elements 68a, 68b.

As shown in Fig. 6, for embodiments of the present invention in which the cutting insert 54 has two spaced cutting edges 64a, 64b, and the cutting insert 54 is indexable about the insert axis A2, in the assembled position of the rotary cutting tool 52, only one of the two spaced cutting edges 64a, 64b may be described as an operative cutting edge 64a, 64b.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b may include two spaced apart radial abutting elements 70a, 70b.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the two spaced apart radial abutting elements 70a, 70b are female-type elements, two spaced apart male-type radial abutment elements 32a, 32b may occupy the two radial abutting elements 70a, 70b.

In the insert seen in Figs. 7 and 8, the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b are female-type. Thus, the insert’s lower surface 58 has a single longitudinal groove 71 recessed into the base surface 66, opening to the opposite end surfaces 75, passing through the through bore 62, and comprising the two spaced apart radial abutting elements 70a, 70b. The insert’s base surface 66 has a pair of parallel transverse grooves 69a, 69b recessed into the base surface 66, each transverse groove 69a, 69b opening out to the opposite side surfaces 77, avoiding the through bore 62, and comprising a respective one of the radial abutting elements 68a, 68b. Importantly, the single longitudinal groove 71 intersects, and forms an acute groove angle g with, each of the transverse grooves 69a, 69b. The acute groove angle g is at least 45 degrees and at most 75 degrees.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the bore axis A1 may be non-coaxial with the insert axis A2.

It should be appreciated that for embodiments of the present invention in which the bore axis A1 is non-coaxial with the insert axis A2, the through bore 62 may be eccentric in relation to the threaded bore 38.

It should also be appreciated that the eccentric relationship of the through bore 62 in relation to the threaded bore 38 promotes contact between the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 and the insert's peripheral side surface 60 on tightening of the clamping screw 72. It should be further appreciated that the eccentric relationship of the through bore 62 in relation to the threaded bore 38 promotes contact between the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 of the axial abutment element 30 and the axial abutting surface 74a, 74b of the one of the at least one axial abutting element 68a, 68b on tightening of the clamping screw 72.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the bore axis A1 is located in the area of the seat surface 26 subtended by the clamping angle a, it should be appreciated that the cutting insert 54 can be advantageously clamped in its respective insert receiving pocket 22 with a high level of stability.

Also, for embodiments of the present invention in which the clamping angle a is at least 45 degrees and at most 75 degrees, it should be appreciated that the cutting insert 54 can be advantageously clamped in its respective insert receiving pocket 22 with a high level of stability.

Further, for embodiments of the present invention in which, in the top view of the insert receiving pocket 22, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 intersects the threaded bore 38, it should be appreciated that the cutting insert 54 can be advantageously clamped in its respective insert receiving pocket 22 with reduced level of rotational displacement about the bore axis A1 during milling operations, and particularly during ramp down milling operations.

As shown in Fig. 9a, in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, and in a cross-section taken in a third plane P3 perpendicular to the first plane PI and intersecting the wall edge 48 of the radially outward facing pocket wall 28, the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 may be in contact with the insert's peripheral side surface 60.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the third plane P3 may be coincident with the second plane P2.

Also, as shown in Fig. 9a, in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, the at least one radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b may not be in contact with the cutting insert 54.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 9a, the at least one radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b may be perpendicular to the seat surface 26.

It should be appreciated that in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, as shown in Fig. 9a, there may be a minimum first gap G1 between each of the at least one radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b and its adjacent radial abutting element 70a, 70b. It should also be appreciated that the minimum first gap G1 may have a range of between 0.05 to 0.20 mm.

It should be further appreciated that Fig. 9a shows the minimum first gap G1 to an exaggerated scale to facilitate understanding of the invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, the at least one radial abutment element 32a, 32b may not be in contact with the cutting insert 54.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, apart from the radially outward facing pocket wall 28, no portion of the insert receiving pocket 22 may be in contact with the insert's peripheral side surface

60.

Thus, it should be appreciated that in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, the axially forward facing pocket wall 34 may be spaced apart from the insert's peripheral side surface 60.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, no portion of the knob 44 may be in contact with the axial abutting element 68a, 68b occupied thereby.

As shown in Fig. 10a, in the absence of a radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, and in a cross-section taken in a fourth plane P4 intersecting the axial abutment edge 46 of the axially forward facing abutment surface 40, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may be in contact with its corresponding axial abutting surface 74a, 74b.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 10a, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may form an external obtuse abutment angle b with the bore surface 26.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the abutment angle b may be greater than 100 degrees.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the abutment angle b is greater than 100 degrees, it should be appreciated that the axial abutment element 30, and the axial abutting element 68a, 68b in contact therewith, may be advantageously robust.

As shown in Fig. 9b, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, for example, during high speed milling operations at greater than 30,000 revolutions per minute, the cutting insert 54 may undergo repositioning until each of the at least one radially inward facing abutment surface 42a, 42b may be in contact with a corresponding radial abutting surface 76a, 76b of the at least one radial abutting element 70a, 70b.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the insert receiving pocket 22 has at least one radial abutment element 32a, 32b, it should be appreciated that in the presence of a large radially outward forces FR, the cutting insert 54 can be advantageously clamped in its respective insert receiving pocket 22 with a low level of radial displacement, and a magnitude comparable to the minimum first gap Gl.

Also, as shown in Fig. 9b, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, and in the cross-section taken in the third plane P3, the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 may not be in contact with the insert's peripheral side surface 60.

It should be appreciated that in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, as shown in Fig. 9b, there may be a minimum second gap G2 between the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 and the insert's peripheral side surface 60.

It should also be appreciated that the minimum second gap G2 may have a range of between 0.05 to 0.20 mm.

It should be further appreciated that Fig. 9b shows the minimum second gap G2 to an exaggerated scale to facilitate understanding of the invention.

It should be yet further appreciated that in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, and in the cross-section taken the fourth plane P4, as shown in Fig. 10b, the axially forward facing abutment surface 40 may maintain contact with its corresponding axial abutting surface 74a, 74b.

In some embodiments of the present invention, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, and in a cross-section taken in any plane perpendicular to the first plane PI and intersecting the radially outward facing pocket wall 28, the radially outward facing pocket wall 28 may not be in contact with the insert's peripheral side surface 60.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, no portion of the insert receiving pocket 22 may be in contact with the insert's peripheral side surface 60. Thus, it should be appreciated that in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, the axially forward facing pocket wall 34 may be spaced apart from the insert's peripheral side surface 60.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the plurality of abutment elements 30; 32a, 32b include two spaced apart radial abutment elements 32a, 32b, and the plurality of abutting elements 68a, 68b; 70a, 70b include two spaced apart radial abutting elements 70a, 70b, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, two radially inward facing abutment surfaces 42a, 42b of the two radial abutment elements 32a, 32b may be in contact with two corresponding radial abutting surfaces 76a, 76b of the two radial abutting elements 70a, 70b.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, no portion of the knob 44 may be in contact with its respective axial abutting element 68a, 68b.

For embodiments of the present invention in which no portion of the knob 44 is in contact with its respective axial abutting element 68a, 68b both in the absence of a radially outward force FR and in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, it should be appreciated that the knob 44 may not participate with the mounting or positioning of the cutting insert 54 in its respective insert receiving pocket 22, but rather obstruct the entry of cutting chips into the respective axial abutting element 68a, 68b during machining operations, in order to protect the associated non-operative axial abutting surface 74a, 74b.

For embodiments of the present invention in which the axially forward facing pocket wall 34 is spaced apart from the insert's peripheral side surface 60, both in the absence of a radially outward force FR and in the presence of a sufficiently large radially outward force FR on the cutting insert 54, the peripheral side surface 60 may be advantageously configured without constraints relating to axial abutment of the cutting insert 54 in its respective insert receiving pocket 22, thus allowing a wider range of insert shapes compatible with the insert receiving pocket 22, as well as minimal peripheral grinding of these inserts.

Although the present invention has been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.