Cutting tool for forming parallel grooves in a tubular member

Abstract

An apparatus for simultaneously forming a plurality of closely spaced, parallel grooves having a web between them in a thin-walled tube is described. The apparatus includes a tube holding mechanism, a rotating cutting tool and a device for driving the cutting tool. The cutting tool includes a single insert form cutter for forming the grooves. The insert includes a plurality of cutting blades and chip relief members which prevent chips from building up in the tool. The chip relief members are generally triangle-shaped and are disposed on the cutting edge of the insert form cutter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An insert form cutting tool for forming a groove in a thin-walled tube, the tool having a front face, a rear face, a cutting edge and a bottom edge, said tool.comprising: 
 a cutting blade for cutting said groove, said cutting blade being disposed at said cutting edge and being separated by a predetermined distance;    a chip relief member being operatively associated with said cutting blade and extending across said cutting edge of said insert form cutter from said front face to said rear face of said cutter; and    means for securing said tool in a holder.    
     
     
         2 . A tool according to    claim 1   , wherein said cutting edge of said insert form cutter is disposed at an angle of between 3-20 degrees to the plane of said front face of said cutter.  
     
     
         3 . A tool according to claim  15 , further including a plurality of cutting blades for cutting said grooves, said cutting blades being disposed at said cutting edge and being separated by a predetermined distance; and 
 a plurality of chip relief members, each one of said plurality of chip relief members being operatively associated with each of said cutting blades and extending across said cutting edge of said insert form cutter from said front face to said rear face of said cutter.    
     
     
         4 . A tool according to    claim 3   , wherein each one of said plurality of chip relief members comprises extends from said cutting blade to said rear face of said cutter.  
     
     
         5 . A tool according to    claim 3   , wherein each chip relief member is generally triangularly-shaped, having a first side of predetermined width at said cutting blade and two converging sides extending toward said rear face of said cutter.  
     
     
         6 . A tool according to    claim 5   , wherein said converging sides of said chip relief member converge to form an angle of between 3 to 15 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . A tool according to    claim 6   , wherein said converging sides of said chip relief member converge to form an angle of approximately 10 degrees.  
     
     
         8 . An insert form cutting tool for forming a groove in a thin-walled tube, the tool having a front face, a rear face, a cutting edge and a bottom edge, said tool.comprising: 
 at least one cutting blade for cutting the groove, said at least one cutting blade being disposed at the cutting edge and being separated longitudinally by a predetermined distance;    at least one chip relief member, said at least one chip relief member being operatively associated with said at least one cutting blade and extending across the cutting edge from the front face to the rear face, said at least one chip relief member having a generally trapezoid shape, having a first side of predetermined width at said cutting blade, a second side and a third side, said second and third sides converging toward each other and extending toward the rear face; and    means for securing said tool in a holder.