METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN INDEXABLE INSERT AND A CUTTING TOOL

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an indexable insert comprising the following steps: a) providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material; and b) bonding each layer of the starting material in the form of an indexable insert.

Claims

1. A method for producing an indexable insert, comprising: a) providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material; and b) bonding each layer of material of the starting material in the form of an indexable insert.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material comprises providing powdery or molten starting material.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material comprises providing the starting material in a carrier material.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material comprises providing the starting material from a group of hard metal, solid carbide, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (CBN), polycrystalline diamond (PCD), or combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the starting material is bonded in several layers of material in the form of an indexable insert for use in a sinter-based and/or melt-based additive manufacturing method.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method takes place in several layers of material.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein each layer of material is provided in the form of an indexable insert.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least two layers of material are provided in a different form.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the layers of material are arranged in such a way that a chip guiding groove is created.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the chip guiding groove comprises a section running inwards and a section running outwards.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein a corner comprises at least one recess.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein the layers of material are arranged in such a way that the indexable insert comprises contour sections on the top side or the bottom side.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein the layers of material are applied in a region of an edge of the indexable insert with a height and width in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing a starting material for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material comprises providing at least two different starting materials.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein for bonding each layer of material, the starting material is heated up by a predetermined temperature in order to solidify the starting material.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive is used to bond each layer of material of the starting material.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein after said providing a starting material in several layers of material, said bonding is performed after a respective provided layer of material.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises grinding the indexable insert.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises edge rounding the indexable insert with a minimum radius.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises abrasive blasting the edges of the indexable insert.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises heat treatment of the indexable insert.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises coating the indexable insert with a hard substance.

23. A cutting tool comprising an indexable insert, which is produced by a method according to claim 1.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises coating the indexable insert with a tribological hard substance.

Description

[0035] The invention will be described below on the basis of the example illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram for a method for producing an indexable insert according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a top view onto an indexable insert comprising a chip guiding groove according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view onto the indexable insert from FIG. 2; and

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view onto an indexable insert comprising recess and cutting elements arranged therein.

[0040] A method for producing an indexable insert is illustrated in an exemplary manner in FIG. 1.

[0041] In the method according to the invention, the starting material is provided during a sinter-based and/or melt-based additive manufacture to form an indexable insert, so that a large variety of indexable inserts can be provided in an economically advantageous manner.

[0042] In the first step, a starting material is provided thereby for use in an additive manufacturing method in several layers of material. (step a).

[0043] In alternatives, the starting material can be provided in a powdery or molten manner in this step (step a). It is also possible to provide the starting material in a carrier material. The starting material can be from a group of hard metal, solid carbide, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (CBN), polycrystalline diamond (PCD), or combinations thereof.

[0044] For example, each layer of material of the starting material can be provided in the form of an indexable insert, or at least two layers of material in a different form.

[0045] Moreover, at least two different starting materials can be provided.

[0046] A bonding of each layer of material of the starting material in the form of an indexable insert takes place in the subsequent step (step b).

[0047] In an alternative, the layer of material of the starting material is heated up by a predetermined temperature, in order to solidify the starting material.

[0048] In a further alternative, an adhesive is used to bond each layer of material of the starting material.

[0049] It is possible thereby that after the provision of the starting material in several layers of material, method step b) is performed after a respective provided layer of material. This can be repeated multiple times.

[0050] In one alternative, it is provided that the method further comprises the method step of grinding of the indexable insert. (step c1)

[0051] In one alternative, it is provided that the method further comprises the method step of edge rounding of the indexable insert. (step c2)

[0052] In one alternative, it is provided that the method further comprises the method step of abrasive blasting of the edges of the indexable insert. (step c3)

[0053] In one alternative, it is provided that the method further comprises the method step of heat treatment of the indexable insert. (step c4)

[0054] In one alternative, it is provided that the method further comprises the method step of coating of the indexable insert with a hard substance, in particular with a tribological hard substance. (step c5).

[0055] An exemplary embodiment of an indexable insert 1 is shown in a top view in FIG. 2. Along the outer contour, the indexable insert 1 comprises a chip guiding groove 2, along which a removed chip is guided and broken. The chip guiding groove 2 is formed in a curved or concave manner, respectively, for this purpose.

[0056] A sectional view of the indexable cutting plate 1 from FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3. According to an advantageous example, the curvature of the chip guiding groove 2 along the side wall is formed here over the entire side surface of the indexable insert 1.

[0057] A further example for an indexable insert 1 comprising contour section 5 on the top side in the manner of a chip breaker is shown in FIG. 4. A top side thereby comprises a circumferential elevated contour section 5, the middle of which is lowered, in order to guide the resulting chip in the manner of a wave breaker, and to break it thereby.

[0058] In the shown example, the indexable insert 1 in each case comprises a triangular recess 4 on each corner and on top side and bottom side. Triangular cutting elements (PCD, CBN) are to be received so as to be arranged in the recess 4. According to the method, it can be provided thereby that the indexable inserts are soldered in separately or are formed in the additive production process in a corresponding method step.