Cutting tool having an ambidextrous clamp and coolant supply
A cutting tool includes a tool body and an ambidextrous clamp for removably securing a cutting insert to the tool body. The clamp has at least one internal fluid duct passing through a space between two clamp screw throughbores located mirror symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and extending from a coolant fluid inlet port to at least one discharge orifice. The clamp is secured to the tool body by a single screw located in one of the clamp screw throughbores and threadingly engaged with a single threaded bore of the tool body. The same clamp is used in both left-handed and right-handed tools, and the jet of the coolant fluid is ejected from the discharge orifice of the clamp onto the same region of the cutting insert in both cases.
1. A cutting tool ( 20 , 120 ) comprising a tool body ( 22 , 122 ), an ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) and a cutting insert ( 24 );
the tool body ( 22 , 122 ) comprising a shank portion ( 40 ) and a head portion ( 38 ), the head portion ( 38 ) comprising an insert pocket ( 46 ) with the cutting insert ( 24 ) removably secured therein by the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ), and in a region removed from the insert pocket ( 46 ) a single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R);
the cutting insert ( 24 ) comprising opposing cutting insert top and bottom surfaces ( 58 , 60 ) and a through hole ( 64 ) extending between and opening at the cutting insert top and bottom surfaces ( 58 , 60 );
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) exhibiting mirror symmetry about a first plane (P 1 ) and comprising:
two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) located mirror symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 );
a forward protrusion ( 90 ) for engaging a portion of the through hole ( 64 ), when the cutting insert ( 24 ) is secured to the insert pocket ( 46 );
at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) passing through a space between the two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and extending from a coolant fluid inlet port ( 100 ) to at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ), the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) being positioned symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 ), the at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) for conveying coolant fluid to the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) for ejection towards an operative cutting corner ( 68 ) of the cutting insert ( 24 ); wherein:
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) is secured to the tool body ( 22 , 122 ) by a single clamp screw ( 88 ) located in one of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and threadingly engaged with the single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R);
for a left-handed cutting tool ( 20 ), the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is located in one of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 ); and
for a right-handed cutting tool ( 120 ), the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is located in the other clamp screw throughbore ( 86 ).
2. The cutting tool ( 20 , 120 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) further comprises a rear protrusion ( 92 ) having two abutment portions, and
for the left-handed cutting tool ( 20 ), the two abutment portions simultaneously abut two inclined contact surfaces ( 98 ) of the left-handed tool body ( 22 ), and
for the right-handed cutting tool ( 120 ), the same two abutment portions simultaneously abut two inclined contact surfaces ( 98 ) of the right-handed tool body ( 122 ).
3. The cutting tool ( 20 , 120 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion ( 38 ) includes an upper surface ( 42 , 142 ) and a second plane (P 2 ) bisects both the upper surface ( 42 , 142 ) and the insert pocket ( 46 ), and
wherein the single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R) is located on one side of the second plane (P 2 ).
4. The cutting tool ( 20 , 120 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) are threaded and the single clamp screw ( 88 ) has threads of opposite hand, and
for the left-handed cutting tool ( 20 ), the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is threadingly engaged with a left clamp screw throughbore ( 84 ) and a left threaded bore ( 48 L), and
for the right-handed cutting tool ( 120 ), the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is threadingly engaged with a right clamp screw throughbore ( 86 ) and a right threaded bore ( 48 R).
5. A toolholder comprising a cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) and an ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) wherein:
the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) comprises:
a shank portion ( 40 ); and
a head portion ( 38 ) connected to the shank portion ( 40 ), the head portion ( 38 ) comprising an insert pocket ( 46 ) and a single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R) formed in a region removed from the insert pocket ( 46 );
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) exhibits mirror symmetry about a first plane (P 1 ) and comprises:
two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) located mirror symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 );
a forward protrusion ( 90 ) configured to engage a cutting insert ( 24 ) retained in the insert pocket ( 46 ), when the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) is secured to the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 );
a rear protrusion ( 92 ) having two abutment portions configured to simultaneously abut two inclined contact surfaces ( 98 ) of the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ); and
at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) passing through a space between the two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and extending from a coolant fluid inlet port ( 100 ) to at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ), the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) being positioned symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 ), the at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) for conveying coolant fluid to the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) for ejection during cutting operations; and
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) is securable to the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) by a single clamp screw ( 88 ) located in one of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and threadingly engaged with the single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R).
6. The toolholder according to claim 5 , wherein:
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) is secured to the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 );
a clamp screw ( 88 ) is located in one of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) to secure the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) to the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ); and
no clamp screw is located in the other of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ).
7. The toolholder according to claim 5 , wherein:
the head portion ( 38 ) includes an upper surface ( 42 , 142 );
a second plane (P 2 ) bisects both the upper surface ( 42 , 142 ) and the insert pocket ( 46 ); and
the single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R) is located on one side of the second plane (P 2 ).
8. The toolholder according to claim 5 , wherein the cutting tool body is a left-handed cutting tool body ( 22 ).
9. The toolholder according to claim 8 , wherein:
the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) are threaded;
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) has threads of opposite hand; and
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is threadingly engaged with a left clamp screw throughbore ( 84 ) and a left threaded bore ( 48 L).
10. The toolholder according to claim 5 , wherein the cutting tool body is a right-handed cutting tool body ( 122 ).
11. The toolholder according to claim 10 , wherein:
the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) are threaded;
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) has threads of opposite hand; and
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is threadingly engaged with a right clamp screw throughbore ( 86 ) and a right threaded bore ( 48 R).
12. A toolholder comprising a cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) and an ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) wherein:
the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) comprises:
a shank portion ( 40 ); and
a head portion ( 38 ) connected to the shank portion ( 40 ), the head portion ( 38 ) comprising an insert pocket ( 46 ) and a single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R) formed in a region removed from the insert pocket ( 46 );
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) exhibits mirror symmetry about a first plane (P 1 ) and comprises:
two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) located mirror symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 ); and
at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) passing through a space between the two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and extending from a coolant fluid inlet port ( 100 ) to at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ), the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) being positioned symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 ), the at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) for conveying coolant fluid to the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) for ejection during cutting operations; and
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) is securable to the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) by a single clamp screw ( 88 ) located in one of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and threadingly engaged with the single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R);
wherein the cutting tool body is a left-handed cutting tool body ( 22 );
the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) are threaded;
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) has threads of opposite hand; and
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is threadingly engaged with a left clamp screw throughbore ( 84 ) and a left threaded bore ( 48 L).
13. A toolholder comprising a cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) and an ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) wherein:
the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) comprises:
a shank portion ( 40 ); and
a head portion ( 38 ) connected to the shank portion ( 40 ), the head portion ( 38 ) comprising an insert pocket ( 46 ) and a single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R) formed in a region removed from the insert pocket ( 46 );
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) exhibits mirror symmetry about a first plane (P 1 ) and comprises:
two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) located mirror symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 ); and
at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) passing through a space between the two clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and extending from a coolant fluid inlet port ( 100 ) to at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ), the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) being positioned symmetrically with respect to the first plane (P 1 ), the at least one internal fluid duct ( 104 ) for conveying coolant fluid to the at least one discharge orifice ( 106 ) for ejection during cutting operations; and
the ambidextrous clamp ( 26 ) is securable to the cutting tool body ( 22 , 122 ) by a single clamp screw ( 88 ) located in one of the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) and threadingly engaged with the single tool body threaded bore ( 48 L, 48 R);
wherein the cutting tool body is a right-handed cutting tool body ( 122 );
the clamp screw throughbores ( 84 , 86 ) are threaded;
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) has threads of opposite hand; and
the single clamp screw ( 88 ) is threadingly engaged with a right clamp screw throughbore ( 86 ) and a right threaded bore ( 48 R).