In an indexable rotary cutting tool of the present invention, a cutting edge portion of an insert includes a peripheral cutting edge, a bottom cutting edge, a cutting edge of a corner R, and a chamfered surface, a radial rake angle () of the cutting edge of the corner R has a negative value in an entire edge length region of the cutting edge of the corner R, and the radial rake angle () becomes a minimum value at an intermediate portion located between a pair of boundary points (P, Q) in the cutting edge of the corner R.

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.

A cutting tool includes: a body extending along a longitudinal axis between a leading and trailing ends, the body having a clamping region disposed at or about the trailing end and a cutting region which extends toward the clamping region from the leading end of the body; a plurality of flutes defined in the body, each extending from the leading end toward the coupling portion; a plurality of peripheral cutting edges, each extending from the leading end toward the coupling portion along a corresponding flute of the plurality of flutes; and a plurality of end cutting edges disposed at the leading end, each end cutting edge extending from at or near the longitudinal axis outward along a corresponding flute. At least one end cutting edge is defined, in-part, by a plurality of rake faces which each extend from a corresponding portion of the one cutting edge into the corresponding flute.

In an indexable rotary cutting tool of the present invention, a cutting edge portion of an insert includes a peripheral cutting edge, a bottom cutting edge, a cutting edge of a corner R, and a chamfered surface, a radial rake angle () of the cutting edge of the corner R has a negative value in an entire edge length region of the cutting edge of the corner R, and the radial rake angle () becomes a minimum value at an intermediate portion located between a pair of boundary points (P, Q) in the cutting edge of the corner R.

An indexable rotary cutting tool and insert is capable of performing a high-accuracy cutting process with high efficiency. A twist angle of an outer peripheral cutting edge of the tool has a positive value, an axial rake angle of the cutting edge of a corner R of the tool at a boundary point between the cutting edge of the corner R and the outer peripheral cutting edge has a positive value, the axial rake angle of the cutting edge of the corner R at a reference point has a negative value, and the radial rake angle at least between the boundary point and the reference point in an entire edge length region of the cutting edge of the corner R has a negative value. The radial rake angle at the reference point is smaller than the radial rake angle at the boundary point.

A milling head for a ball track milling cutter includes an imaginary center axis, a first, working-side end and a second, clamping-side end opposite the first end when viewed along the central axis, and comprising at least one geometrically defined cutting edge, extending along a cutting edge profile of the cutting edge from a first cutting edge end facing the first end of the milling head in the direction of the second end of the milling head up to a second cutting edge end facing the second end of the milling head, wherein at least one cutting edge is formed as an intersecting line between the rake face associated with at least one cutting edge and a first flank face associated with at least one cutting edge, wherein at least one cutting edge is assigned a negative rake angle, a first clearance angle and a wedge angle. It is provided that a value of the negative rake angle in the region of the first cutting edge end has a different value than in the region of the second cutting edge end, that the first clearance angle in the region of the first cutting edge end has a different value than in the region of the second cutting edge end, and that the wedge angle along the cutting edge profile is constant.

A compression milling cutter includes a shank and a front cutting portion that terminates at a leading end of the milling cutter. The front cutting portion has a first circumferential row of one or more insert receiving pockets proximate a leading end of the milling cutter, and a second circumferential row of one or more insert receiving pockets, each insert receiving pocket configured to receive a respective indexable cutting insert. The cutting insert mounted in the first circumferential row has a positive axial rake angle, A, and the indexable cutting insert mounted in an insert pocket of the second circumferential row has a negative axial rake angle, B. Because of the different axial rake angles, chips generated during a machining operation flow in opposite directions, thereby creating a compression zone disposed between the first and second circumferential rows. This compression zone replicates the cutting action of a solid end mill, particularly when machining fiber reinforced plastic materials.

An end mill for shouldering and/or slotting applications includes at least one tooth including a cutting edge. The cutting edge includes a first sub-edge extending rearwardly from a cutting end face and a second sub-edge extending rearwardly from the first sub-edge. An angle transition intersection defines where the first sub-edge ends and the second sub-edge starts. The angle transition intersection is located generally between 20% to 75% of an effective cutting length from a cutting end face and more specifically at a location within the general location where there is an increase in the rake angle and/or a significant increase in the helix angle of the cutting edge.

An end mill for shouldering and/or slotting applications includes at least one tooth including a cutting edge. The cutting edge includes a first sub-edge extending rearwardly from a cutting end face and a second sub-edge extending rearwardly from the first sub-edge. An angle transition intersection defines where the first sub-edge ends and the second sub-edge starts. The angle transition intersection is located generally between 20% to 75% of an effective cutting length from a cutting end face and more specifically at a location within the general location where there is an increase in the rake angle and/or a significant increase in the helix angle of the cutting edge.

A compression milling cutter includes a shank and a front cutting portion that terminates at a leading end of the milling cutter. The front cutting portion has a first circumferential row of one or more insert receiving pockets proximate a leading end of the milling cutter, and a second circumferential row of one or more insert receiving pockets, each insert receiving pocket configured to receive a respective indexable cutting insert. The cutting insert mounted in the first circumferential row has a positive axial rake angle, A, and the indexable cutting insert mounted in an insert pocket of the second circumferential row has a negative axial rake angle, B. Because of the different axial rake angles, chips generated during a machining operation flow in opposite directions, thereby creating a compression zone disposed between the first and second circumferential rows. This compression zone replicates the cutting action of a solid end mill, particularly when machining fiber reinforced plastic materials.