Three-dimensional surface shaping of rotary cutting tool edges with lasers
First Claim
1. A method of forming a cutting edge of a rotary cutting tool having a body and at least two flutes formed in the body along at least a portion of a length of the body defining at least two cutting edges adjacent to a cutting end of the tool, the method comprising:
- removing material from the cutting end of the tool with a directed laser beam to thereby form the cutting edge and a predetermined three dimensional contoured shaped surface adjacent to the cutting edge,wherein the laser beam is directed toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the shaped surface of the cutting end when the laser beam forms the shaped surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for forming the cutting edge and adjacent contoured surface area of rotary cutting tools utilizing a laser to remove material from the cutting end of the tool to create a predetermined point-by-point geometry is disclosed. Relatively complex surface and edge geometries may be formed by directing a laser beam toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the surface of the cutting end. The laser beam is directed in multiple passes across the surface of the cutting end to remove material and form the desired cutting edge and adjacent three-dimensional contoured surface geometry.
52 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of forming a cutting edge of a rotary cutting tool having a body and at least two flutes formed in the body along at least a portion of a length of the body defining at least two cutting edges adjacent to a cutting end of the tool, the method comprising:
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removing material from the cutting end of the tool with a directed laser beam to thereby form the cutting edge and a predetermined three dimensional contoured shaped surface adjacent to the cutting edge, wherein the laser beam is directed toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the shaped surface of the cutting end when the laser beam forms the shaped surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of forming a cutting edge of a rotary cutting tool having a body and at least one flute formed in the body along at least a portion of a length of the body defining a cutting edge adjacent to a cutting end of the tool, the method comprising:
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removing material from the cutting end of the tool with a directed laser beam to thereby form the cutting edge and a predetermined three dimensional contoured shaped surface adjacent to the cutting edge, wherein the laser beam is directed toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the shaped surface of the cutting end when the laser beam forms the shaped surface; and wherein the contoured surface formed by the laser beam has a surface roughness of less than 0.2 micron Ra.
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25. A method of forming a cutting edge of a rotary cutting tool having a body and at least one flute formed in the body along at least a portion of a length of the body defining a cutting edge adjacent to a cutting end of the tool, the method comprising:
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removing material from the cutting end of the tool with a directed laser beam to thereby form the cutting edge and a predetermined three dimensional contoured shaped surface adjacent to the cutting edge, wherein the laser beam is directed toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the shaped surface of the cutting end when the laser beam forms the shaped surface; and wherein the cutting end is separate from the body of the rotary cutting tool when the laser beam is directed at the cutting end and is subsequently secured to the body.
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26. A method of forming a cutting edge of a rotary cutting tool having a body and at least one flute formed in the body along at least a portion of a length of the body defining a cutting edge adjacent to a cutting end of the tool, the method comprising:
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removing material from the cutting end of the tool with a directed laser beam to thereby form the cutting edge and a predetermined three dimensional contoured shaped surface adjacent to the cutting edge, wherein the laser beam is directed toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the shaped surface of the cutting end when the laser beam forms the shaped surface; and wherein the contoured surface formed by the laser beam comprises a concave portion on one side of the cutting edge and a convex portion on another side of the cutting edge. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification