Method for producing a cutting tool, and cutting tool

Abstract

A method for producing a cutting tool is described. This method includes the production of a tool body of the cutting tool by means of a generative production method. At least one coolant cavity that has, at least in segments, an essentially triangular cross section is in this case provided in the tool body. Moreover, a cutting tool produced by means of this method is presented. Also proposed is a cutting tool having at least one coolant cavity running therein, wherein the coolant cavity has, at least in segments, an essentially triangular cross section and the cutting tool is produced, at least in segments, by means of a generative production method.

Claims

1. A cutting tool having at least one coolant cavity running therein, wherein the coolant cavity has, at least in segments, an essentially triangular cross section, characterized in that, in a production orientation of the cutting tool, at least one overhanging wall of the coolant cavity has an overhang angle, measured relatively to a horizontal, that is greater than an overhang limit angle.

2. The cutting tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the coolant cavity is a coolant conduit, wherein the coolant conduit has an essentially triangular cross section along its entire extent.

3. The cutting tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting tool is a drilling tool.

4. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the cutting tool is a milling tool.

5. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the cutting tool, at least in segments, is produced by means of a generative production method.

6. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the coolant cavity comprises an exit aperture in a sidewall of the cutting tool.

7. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the coolant cavity comprises two overhanging walls, the overhang angle of each wall greater than the overhang limit angle.

8. The cutting tool of claim 1, wherein the overhang limit angle is 30 to 70.

9. The cutting tool of claim 1, wherein the overhang limit angle is 60.

10. The cutting tool of claim 1, wherein the overhang limit angle is 70.

11. The cutting tool of claim 6, wherein the exit aperture is forward of a cutting insert in a direction of rotation of the cutting tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained below with reference to various embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 a cutting tool according to the invention that is produced by means of a method according to the invention, in a perspective view,

(3) FIG. 2 schematic cross section shapes of a coolant cavity of a cutting tool according to the invention, in various embodiments, and

(4) FIG. 3 for comparison, a circular cross section of a known coolant cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a cutting tool 10 that is a milling tool in the embodiment shown. It might just as well be a drilling tool (not shown here). The following statements thus apply to both drilling and milling tools.

(6) A tool body 12 of the cutting tool 10 is produced by means of a generative production method.

(7) Attached to the tool body are additional cutting inserts 13 that may likewise be produced by means of a generative production method. However, the production of the cutting inserts 13 is not important in this case.

(8) Alternatively, the cutting tool 10 may also be realized in one part. The cutting edges are then manufactured in one piece with the tool body 12. The cutting tool 10 is then consequently produced overall by means of a generative production method.

(9) Multiple coolant cavities are in this case provided in the tool body 12, of which coolant cavities 14a, 14b are visible in FIG. 1. Both are formed as coolant conduits and have an essentially triangular cross section along their entire extent.

(10) The coolant cavities 14a, 14b serve to supply a machining zone with coolant or cooling lubricant.

(11) Shown in FIG. 2 are examples of cross sections of the coolant cavities 14a, 14b.

(12) The cross sections are in this case oriented as they may be situated in space in the production of the associated cutting tool 10 by means of a generative production method. The cross sections, or more generally speaking the cutting tool 10, are thus depicted in the production orientation. In the depicted embodiment, a rotation axis of the cutting tool 10 is vertically aligned for this purpose. It is also situated orthogonally to the layer planes of the generative production method.

(13) Other production orientations are of course also possible. However, the selected orientation allows a particularly simple explanation.

(14) The cross sections have two respective walls 16, 18 overhanging relatively to the coolant cavity 14a, 14b.

(15) In this case, the overhanging wall 16 has an overhang angle relative to a horizontal 20 and the overhanging wall 18 has an overhang angle relative to the horizontal 20. The overhang angles , are in this case always measured in the direction of the overhang, thus in the direction of the coolant cavity 14a, 14b. Moreover, a tangent is always placed on the contour of the wall 16, 18 in order to measure the overhang angle (see also FIG. 3).

(16) In the embodiments shown, the overhang angles , are always greater than an associated overhang limit angle .sub.G, .sub.G, which is presently drawn only by way of example in FIG. 2 a). The same applies to FIGS. 2 b) and 2 c).

(17) The overhang limit angles .sub.G, .sub.G may be explained using a circular coolant cavity 114 shown in FIG. 3.

(18) Only one overhanging wall segment 118 of the coolant cavity 114 is in this case considered. This wall segment 118 is bounded by a horizontal 120 and a vertical 122. It thus corresponds to a circular arc sweeping across 90 and has an overhang angle .

(19) The latter decreases in the course of the overhanging wall segment 118 starting from the horizontal 120, in the region of which it amounts to approximately 90, to approximately 0, which it reaches in the region of the vertical 122.

(20) In the depiction shown, a line 124 symbolizes an overhang limit angle .sub.G.

(21) As long as the overhang angle is greater than the overhang limit angle .sub.G, the coolant cavity 114 may be manufactured without a support structure 126. A support structure 126 is necessary only in the region of the coolant cavity 114 in which the overhang angle is less than the overhang limit angle .sub.G.

(22) Returning to the coolant cavities 14a, 14b of the cutting tool 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is thus clear why they are produced without support structure. In other words, the coolant cavities 14a, 14b are produced without using a support structure.