Milling tool

Abstract

A milling tool for cyclo-palloid toothing has a holder and multiple first cutting plates. and includes a clamping portion for clamping the holder and a holder head, which projects radially compared to the clamping portion in the front end and on which there are multiple first cutting plate receptacles. The first cutting plates are fastened in the first cutting plate receptacles, and project radially outward, wherein the radially outermost points of the first cutting plates lie in each case on a common circle, the center point of which lies on the center axis of the holder. The first cutting plates are arranged at an angle to an orthogonal plane which is orthogonal to the holder center axis. Multiple first partly conical surfaces are provided on a top side of the holder head. Multiple second partly conical surfaces are provided on an end side of the holder head.

Claims

1. A milling tool for machining a workpiece, comprising: a holder which is rotated about a center axis when the milling tool is used, wherein the holder comprises in a region of its rear end a clamping portion for clamping the holder and comprises in a region of its rear end a holder head which projects out radially compared to the clamping portion, wherein the holder head comprises multiple first, second and third cutting plate receptacles, which are arranged distributed in a circumferential direction of the holder, wherein each of the second cutting plate receptacles is arranged between one of the first cutting plate receptacles and one of the third cutting plate receptacles, multiple first cutting plates, each of which are fastened in one of the first cutting plate receptacles, wherein the first cutting plates project radially outward beyond the holder head, wherein radially outermost points of the first cutting plates lie on a common circle, wherein a center point of said common circle lies on the center axis of the holder, multiple second cutting plates, each of which are fastened in one of the second cutting plate receptacles, wherein the second cutting plates differ from the first cutting plates, multiple third cutting plates, each of which are fastened in one of the third cutting plate receptacles, wherein the third cutting plates differ from the first cutting plates, wherein multiple first partly conical surfaces, which lie on a common, imaginary first envelope cone, are provided on a top side of the holder head, said top side facing the clamping portion, wherein an imaginary tip of the imaginary first envelope cone lies on the center axis of the holder and a surface line of the imaginary first envelope cone encloses a first angle .sub.1 with an orthogonal plane, which is aligned orthogonally to the center axis of the holder, wherein multiple second partly conical surfaces, which lie on a common, imaginary second envelope cone, are provided on an end side of the holder head, said end side being remote from the clamping portion and arranged opposite the top side, wherein an imaginary tip of the imaginary second envelope cone lies on the center axis of the holder and a surface line of the imaginary second envelope cone encloses a second angle .sub.2 with the orthogonal plane, wherein each of the first cutting plate receptacles has a first bearing surface, wherein each of the first cutting plates abuts against one of the first bearing sur-faces, wherein the first bearing surfaces are arranged between the top side and the end side of the holder head and each enclose a third angle .sub.3 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the surface line of the imaginary first envelope cone encloses a fourth angle .sub.4 with the surface line of the imaginary second envelope cone, and wherein the following applies: (i) .sub.1>.sub.3>.sub.2 and (ii) .sub.4<.sub.1.

2. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein a difference between the third angle .sub.3 and the second angle .sub.2 is less than 6.

3. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third angle .sub.3 is of same size as the second angle .sub.2.

4. The milling tool as claimed claim 1, wherein each of the first cutting plates comprises a first main cutting edge and a second main cutting edge, which enclose a fifth angle .sub.5 between each other, wherein the following applies: .sub.5>.sub.4.

5. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first cutting plates comprises a first main cutting edge and a second main cutting edge, which enclose a fifth angle .sub.5 between each other, wherein the fifth angle .sub.5 is of same size as the fourth angle .sub.4.

6. The milling tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the first main cutting edges enclose a sixth angle .sub.6 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the sixth angle .sub.6 is of same size as the first angle .sub.1, and wherein each of the second main cutting edges enclose a seventh angle .sub.7 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the seventh angle .sub.7 is of same size as the second angle .sub.2.

7. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cutting plates are geometrically mirror-inverted compared to the third cutting plates.

8. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second cutting plates are screw-connected to the holder from the end side of the holder head, and wherein the third cutting plates are screw-connected to the holder from the top side of the holder head.

9. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the second cutting plates comprises a third main cutting edge which encloses an eighth angle .sub.8 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the eighth angle .sub.8 is of same size as the second angle .sub.2, and wherein each of the third cutting plates comprises a fourth main cutting edge which encloses a ninth angle .sub.9 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the ninth angle .sub.9 is of same size as the first angle .sub.1.

10. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first cutting plates comprises a first main cutting edge and a second main cutting edge, which enclose a fifth angle .sub.5 between each other, wherein the fifth angle .sub.5 is of same size as the fourth angle .sub.4, wherein each of the first main cutting edges enclose a sixth angle .sub.6 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the sixth angle .sub.6 is of same size as the first angle .sub.1, and wherein each of the second main cutting edges enclose a seventh angle .sub.7 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the seventh angle .sub.7 is of same size as the second angle .sub.2, wherein each of the second cutting plates comprises a third main cutting edge which encloses an eighth angle .sub.8 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the eighth angle .sub.8 is of same size as the second angle .sub.2, and wherein each of the third cutting plates comprises a fourth main cutting edge which encloses a ninth angle .sub.9 with the orthogonal plane, wherein the ninth angle .sub.9 is of same size as the first angle .sub.1, and wherein the eighth angle .sub.8 is of same size as the seventh angle .sub.7, and wherein the ninth angle .sub.9 is of same size as the sixth angle .sub.6.

11. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first cutting plates are fastened to the holder by means of a screw, wherein each of the screws engages in a thread, which is provided in the holder head orthogonally to the first bearing sur-faces.

12. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is made at least in part from steel and the first cutting plates are made at least in part from hard metal.

13. The milling tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the milling tool is suitable for producing a cyclo-palloid toothing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an oblique bottom view in perspective of an exemplary embodiment of the milling tool;

(2) FIG. 2 shows an oblique top view in perspective of the exemplary embodiment of the milling tool shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view from below of the exemplary embodiment of the milling tool shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a first sectioned view of the exemplary embodiment of the milling tool shown in FIGS. 1-3;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a second sectioned view of the exemplary embodiment of the milling tool shown in FIGS. 1-3;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a third sectioned view of the exemplary embodiment of the milling tool shown in FIGS. 1-3;

(7) FIGS. 7a-7c show three different views of an exemplary embodiment of a first cutting plate which is usable in the milling tool;

(8) FIGS. 8a-8b show two views of a second cutting insert which is usable in the milling tool; and

(9) FIGS. 9a-9b show two views of a third cutting insert which is usable in the milling tool.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1-3 show an oblique bottom view in perspective, an oblique top view in perspective and a top view from below of an exemplary embodiment of the milling tool. The milling tool is designated therein as a whole by way of the reference numeral 10.

(11) The milling tool comprises a holder 12 as well as multiple cutting plates 14, 16, 18 fastened thereon.

(12) The holder 12 comprises a clamping portion 20 in the region of its rear end, by means of which the holder 12 can be clamped on a power tool or an extension shaft. The clamping portion 20 is usually substantially cylindrical in form and has a tool interface 22 on the end face. On the opposite front end of the holder 12, the holder 12 comprises a holder head 24 which projects radially compared to the clamping portion 20.

(13) During the machining, the milling tool 10 is rotated about its center axis 26. During said rotation, the cutting plates 14, 16, 18 engage the workpiece one after another in order to machine it.

(14) In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the milling tool 10 comprises three variously designed cutting plates 14, 16, 18 which are fastened on the holder head 24 in cutting plate receptacles which are correspondingly provided for this purpose. The cutting plates 14, 16, 18 are preferably indexable inserts produced from hard metal.

(15) It is noted, however, that according to the invention just the first cutting plates 14 are obligatory, whereas the second cutting plates 16 and the cutting plates 18 are usable as an option. In principle, an exemplary embodiment would consequently also be possible where just multiple first cutting plates 14 were used. It is obvious that in this case the cutting plate receptacles for the second and third cutting plates would be omitted.

(16) It is also noted that the milling tool 10 is not restricted to the number of cutting plates 14, 16, 18 shown in FIGS. 1-3 (here four per cutting plate type). In principle, it would also be conceivable for the milling tool 10 to be provided with 2, 3, 5 or more cutting plates per cutting plate type when maintaining the inventive principle put forward below.

(17) Essential features of the milling tool 10 according to the invention relate to the form of the holder head 24 and to the tilted arrangement of the first cutting plates 14 on the holder head 24.

(18) The holder head 24 comprises on its top side 28 facing the clamping portion 20 multiple first part-cone surfaces 30 which lie on a common imaginary envelope cone which is designated in the present case as a first envelope cone. As can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 2, said first part-cone surfaces 30 are substantially separated from one another by recesses 32 and cutting insert receptacles for the third cutting plates 18. However, they all lie, as already mentioned, on a common envelope cone and are consequently designated as part-cone surfaces.

(19) In a similar manner, the holder head 24 also comprises on its underside or end side 34 multiple partly conical surfaces 36 which are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction and in the present case are designated as second partly conical surfaces. Said second partly conical surfaces 36 also all lie on a common, imaginary envelope cone which is designated in the present case as a second envelope cone. An imaginary tip of the first envelope cone lies on the center axis of the holder 12 in the same way as the imaginary tip of the second envelope cone.

(20) FIGS. 4-6 show multiple sectioned views of the exemplary embodiment of the milling tool 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 4 shows the section IV indicated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows the section V indicated in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 shows the section VI indicated in FIG. 3.

(21) The sectioned views shown in FIGS. 4-6 show multiples angles .sub.1-.sub.9 in order to illustrate the geometric position in space of the individual elements on the holder 12 and on the cutting plates 14, 16, 18.

(22) The first angle .sub.1 (see FIG. 4) designates the angle between the surface line of the first envelope cone (of the first partly conical surfaces 30) and an orthogonal plane which is aligned orthogonally to the center axis 26 of the holder 12.

(23) The second angle .sub.2 (see FIG. 5) designates the angle between the surface line of the second envelope cone (of the second partly conical surfaces 36) and the orthogonal plane.

(24) The third angle .sub.3 (see FIG. 4) designates the angle about which the first cutting plates 14 are inclined in their supports on the holder 12 in relation to the orthogonal plane. The first cutting plates 14 are each arranged in receptacles 38 on the holder 12 which are designated in the present case as first cutting plate receptacles 38. Said first cutting plate receptacles 38 each comprise a first bearing surface 40 and a second bearing surface 42. The angle .sub.3 therefore designates the angle between the first bearing surfaces 40 and the orthogonal plane (see FIG. 4).

(25) A thread, which is provided in the holder head 24 orthogonally to the first bearing surfaces 40, is preferably provided in each first cutting plate receptacles 38 for fastening the first cutting plates 14 on the holder 12. The first cutting plates 14 can consequently be fastened by means of screws which engage in said thread.

(26) The fourth angle .sub.4 (see FIG. 6) designates the angle between the surface line of the first envelope cone (of the first partly conical surfaces 30) and the surface line of the second envelope cone (of the second partly conical surfaces 36). The fourth angle .sub.4 consequently corresponds to the difference between the first angle .sub.1 and second angle .sub.2, only positive angles being considered in each case. As the second angle .sub.2 is preferably greater than 0, .sub.4.sub.1 therefore applies in principle.

(27) A geometric relation between the above-named angles, which is additionally essential to the tool 10, is: .sub.1>.sub.3.sub.2. In other words, the angle .sub.3 at which the first bearing surfaces 40 are inclined relative to the orthogonal plane is therefore smaller than the inclination of the first partly conical surfaces 30 arranged on the top side 28 of the holder head 24, but larger than or of same size as the inclination of the second partly conical surfaces 36 arranged on the underside or end side 34 of the holder head 24.

(28) The third angle .sub.3 should only deviate slightly from the second angle .sub.2 in order to be able to maintain the geometric characteristics of the tool 10. It is consequently preferred for the difference between the third angle .sub.3 and the second angle .sub.2 to be smaller than 6. It is particularly preferred for the third angle .sub.3 to be of same size as the second angle .sub.2.

(29) As can additionally be seen in FIG. 4, the first cutting plates 14 each comprise a first main cutting edge 44 and a second main cutting edge 46. A radius 48, which connects the two main cutting edges 44, 46 together, is provided on the outermost end of the first cutting plates 14 when viewed in the radial direction of the tool 10. Said radius 48 also functions as a blade which machines the profile bottom when the milling tool 10 is used.

(30) An exemplary embodiment of the first cutting plates 14 is shown in detail in three different views in FIGS. 7a-7c. The first cutting plates 14 are preferably so-called twin-bladed cutters which can be fastened in two different positions on the holder 12. When one cutting edge wears, the cutting plate 14 can consequently be turned at least once.

(31) The fifth angle .sub.5 (see FIGS. 4 and 7c) designates the angle which the first and second main cutting edges 44, 46 of the first cutting plates 14 enclose together. Said fifth angle .sub.5 is preferably greater than or of same size as the fourth angle .sub.4. Insofar as the fifth angle .sub.5 is of same size as the fourth angle .sub.4, the first main cutting edges 44 run parallel to the surface line of the first envelope cone (of the first partly conical surfaces 30). The second main cutting edges 46 then also run parallel to the surface line of the second envelope cone (of the second partly conical surfaces 36).

(32) The sixth angle .sub.6 (see FIG. 4) designates the angle which the first main cutting edges 44 enclose with the orthogonal plane. The sixth angle .sub.6 is preferably of same size as the first angle .sub.1.

(33) The seventh angle .sub.7 (see FIG. 4) designates the angle which the second main cutting edges 46 enclose with the orthogonal plane. The seventh angle .sub.7 is preferably of same size as the second angle .sub.2.

(34) On account of the first and second partly conical surfaces 30, 36 arranged on the holder head 24 and of the inclined position of the first bearing surfaces 40 and of the above-described angular relations which exist between said surfaces, the first cutting plates 14 are able to project outward radially at some distance without collisions occurring between the workpiece and the holder 12 during milling, in particular during the production of cyclo-palloid toothings. Consequently, it is possible to mill to the full depth of the toothing profile directly during the first machining operation. This results in an enormous time saving.

(35) In order to increase the machining quality and machining speed, in addition to the first cutting plates 14 further cutting plates 16 and 18 can be used with the tool 10, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown here.

(36) The second and third cutting plates 16 and 18 differ geometrically to the first cutting plates 14. The second cutting plates 16 are preferably designed as a mirror image with respect to the third cutting plates 18. These are therefore left and right cutting plates.

(37) An exemplary embodiment of the second and third cutting plates 16, 18 is shown in detail in each case in a perspective view and a top view in FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9a, 9b. As can be seen from the top views shown in FIGS. 8a and 9a, the second and third cutting plates 16, 18 comprise a substantially rhombic form in top view. The second and third cutting plates 16, 18 are preferably realized as indexable inserts with four identical cutting edges 54 or 56 such that they are usable in four different positions in the holder. The cutting edges 54 of the second cutting plates 16 are designated in the present case as third main cutting edges and the cutting edges 56 of the third cutting plates 18 are designated in the present case as fourth main cutting edges. Details on said type of indexable inserts are to be found in DE 10 2012 108 752 B3.

(38) As can be seen in particular from a comparison between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first and second cutting plates in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown of the tool 10 are screw-connected to the holder 12 from the end side 34 of the holder head 24. The third cutting plates, in contrast, are screw-connected to the holder 12 from the top side 28 of the holder head 24.

(39) As already mentioned, a third cutting plate 18 is arranged on the holder 12 in each case between a first cutting plate 14 and a second cutting plate 16 when viewed in the circumferential direction. The second cutting plates 16 are fastened in each case in a second cutting plate receptacles 50 (see FIG. 3) provided on the underside of the holder head 24. The third cutting plates 18 are fastened in each case in a third cutting plate receptacles 52 arranged on the top side 28 of the holder head 24.

(40) The arrangement of the second and third cutting plates 16, 18 is effected preferably in such a manner that the third main cutting edges 54 used of the second cutting plates 16 are moved during the rotation of the milling tool 10 about the center axis 26 along a common envelope curve which lies on the second imaginary envelope cone on which the second partly conical surfaces 36 also lie. It is equally preferred for the fourth main cutting edges 56 used of the third cutting plates 18 to be moved during the rotation of the milling tool 10 about the center axis 26 along an envelope curve which lies on the first imaginary envelope cone on which the first partly conical surfaces 30 also lie. To this end, the second cutting plates 16 are arranged in such a manner on the holder 12 that the third main cutting edges 54 used enclose an eighth angle .sub.8 with the orthogonal plane (see FIG. 6) which is of same size as the second angle .sub.2. Said eighth angle .sub.8 is preferably also of same size as the seventh angle .sub.7. In a similar manner, the third cutting plates 18 are arranged in such a manner on the holder 12 that the fourth main cutting edges 56 used enclose a ninth angle .sub.9 with the orthogonal plane (see FIG. 5) which is of same size as the first angle .sub.1. The ninth angle .sub.9 is preferably also of same size as the sixth angle .sub.6.

(41) An arrangement realized in the above-described manner of the first, second and third cutting plates 14, 16, 18 makes it possible to machine one of the two flanks of a cyclo-palloid toothing with the first and fourth main cutting edges 44, 56 and the opposite flanks of the toothing in each case with the second and third main cutting edges 46, 54. The first cutting plates 14, in this case, mill in each case the tooth bottom and the lower two parts of the opposite tooth flanks. The second and third cutting plates 16, 18 mill the upper parts of the opposite tooth flanks of the toothing connecting thereto.

(42) The milling tool 10 offers the possibility of producing a cyclo-palloid toothing by means of milling in a comparably economic manner with comparably high quality. In particular, it is possible, in this case, to mill the entire profile of the cyclo-palloid toothing with one and the same tool. In principle, other palloid toothings are able to be produced using the tool 10. In practice, the tool is simply used for rough machining and the workpiece is then re-worked using a finishing tool. The above-described geometry characteristics of the milling tool 10 make it possible to deliver the tool to the full profile depth as early as at the first cut without unwanted collisions occurring. The optional use of the second and third cutting plates enables optimum cut distribution, as a result of which higher feed rates are possible.

(43) Finally, it must be pointed out that, in principle, cutting plates designed in a manner other than the ones shown here can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.