A cutting insert for a cutting tool is described. The cutting inserts generally square-shaped with two opposing surfaces and four peripheral side surfaces. Cutting edges are formed at the intersection between the first and second surfaces and the peripheral side surfaces. Each cutting edge is divided into a first portion, a second portion and a radius blend. The first portion has a length, L1, and the second portion has a length, L2, that is shorter than the first portion such that the radius blend is not located at a midpoint of the cutting edge, thereby increasing a height of the ninety-degree shoulder that can be cut by the cutting insert.

A method for milling a planar surface, during which a milling cutter, an axis of rotation of which is perpendicular to a surface to be machined, is moved in a direction parallel to the plane of the surface, to machine the surface in a single machining operation, over a predetermined layer of material, using a single milling head, and the milling cutter, in a same axial position relative to the surface to be machined, simultaneously carries out rough working, at least one intermediate finishing operation, and a finishing operation over a same layer of material.

A cutting apparatus can include a cutting insert having at least one chip breaking mechanism. A chip breaking mechanism can include an elliptical hump supported by an inner rib. The elliptical hump can be positioned adjacent a corner of a cutting insert body, for example. The elliptical hump can also be positioned adjacent a tapered cutting edge and a plurality of grooves that include an outer groove and an inner groove that have different radiuses are spaced apart from each other by a lip, or step. Embodiments may also include a variable land positioned adjacent to an outwardly from the outer groove to facilitate chip breaking.