Milling cutter and insert therefor

1. A milling cutter comprising:

a cutter body having at least one cutting portion provided with a serrated outer surface; and

a replaceable cutting insert secured to the at least one cutting portion, the cutting insert having a serrated cutting edge and a serrated peripheral surface that matches, and is aligned with, the serrated outer surface; wherein:

the serrated outer surface of the at least one cutting portion comprises a plurality of crests; and

the serrated peripheral surface also comprises a plurality of crests.

2. The milling cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutting portion comprises an insert pocket having a support surface with a recess extending downwardly from the support surface to a base surface with a peripheral wall extending therebetween.

3. The milling cutter according to claim 2 , wherein the peripheral wall of the recess comprises four recess side surfaces interconnected by recess corners.

4. The milling cutter according to claim 2 , wherein the support surface has a generally annular shape.

5. The milling cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting insert comprises an upper rake surface, an intermediate abutment surface with the serrated peripheral surface extending therebetween, the serrated peripheral surface intersecting the upper rake surface at the serrated cutting edge.

6. The milling cutter according to claim 5 , wherein the cutting insert has a protrusion extending downwardly from the intermediate abutment surface, the protrusion comprising an outer surface extending between the intermediate abutment surface and a bottom surface of the cutting insert.

7. The milling cutter according to claim 6 , wherein the outer surface of the protrusion comprises four flat protrusion side surfaces interconnected by protrusion corners.

8. The milling cutter according to claim 6 , wherein the cutting insert has a through bore extending between the upper rake surface and the bottom surface.

9. The milling cutter according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one cutting portion comprises an insert pocket having a support surface with a recess extending downwardly from the support surface to a base surface with a peripheral wall extending therebetween, a threaded bore extending downwardly from the base surface of the recess;

the cutting insert comprises:

an upper rake surface and an intermediate abutment surface with the serrated peripheral surface extending therebetween, the serrated peripheral surface intersecting the upper rake surface at the serrated cutting edge;

a protrusion extending downwardly from the intermediate abutment surface, the protrusion comprising an outer surface extending between the intermediate abutment surface and a bottom surface of the cutting insert;

a through bore extending between the upper rake surface and the bottom surface; and

a retaining screw passes through the through bore and threadingly engages the threaded bore.

10. The milling cutter according to claim 9 , wherein the intermediate abutment surface of the cutting insert abuts the support surface of the insert pocket.

11. The milling cutter according to claim 9 , wherein there is a gap between the bottom surface of the protrusion and the base surface of the recess.

12. The milling cutter according to claim 9 , wherein:

the peripheral wall of the recess comprises four recess side surfaces interconnected by recess corners; and

the outer surface of the protrusion comprises four flat protrusion side surfaces interconnected by protrusion corners.

13. The milling cutter according to claim 12 , wherein two adjacent protrusion side surfaces of the protrusion abut two adjacent recess side surfaces of the recess.

14. The milling cutter according to claim 12 , wherein there is a clearance between each recess corner and each adjacent protrusion corner.

15. A cutting insert comprising:

an upper rake surface;

an intermediate abutment surface;

a protrusion extending downwardly from the intermediate abutment surface; and

a serrated peripheral surface extending between the upper rake surface and the intermediate abutment surface, the serrated peripheral surface intersecting the upper rake surface at a serrated cutting edge, wherein:

the serrated peripheral surface comprises a plurality of crests.

16. The cutting insert according to claim 15 , wherein the protrusion comprises an outer surface extending between the intermediate abutment surface and a bottom surface, the outer surface of the protrusion comprising four flat protrusion side surfaces interconnected by protrusion corners.

17. The cutting insert according to claim 16 , wherein a through bore extends between the upper rake surface and the bottom surface.

18. A milling cutter comprising:

a cutter body having at least one cutting portion with a replaceable cutting insert having a serrated cutting edge secured thereto;

the cutting portion comprising a generally annular support surface and a serrated outer surface extending therefrom, the serrated outer surface comprising a plurality of crests;

the cutting insert comprising an upper rake surface, an intermediate abutment surface, and a serrated peripheral surface extending therebetween, the serrated peripheral surface comprising a plurality of crests and intersecting the upper rake surface at a serrated cutting edge, the serrated peripheral surface of the cutting insert matching the serrated outer surface of the cutting portion;

the intermediate abutment surface of the cutting insert abutting the support surface of the at least one cutting portion; and

the serrated peripheral surface of the cutting insert being aligned with the serrated outer surface of the cutting portion, so that each crest on the serrated peripheral surface of the cutting insert is supported by a corresponding crest on the serrated outer surface of the cutting portion.