Rotary metal cutting tool

Abstract

A rotary end-mill is disclosed having a deferential flute construction with all individual flutes being unequally spaced about the circumference of the cylindrical tool body at different helix angles. The cutting edge of these flutes also face in the direction of tool rotation

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . An end-mill metal cutting tool having a cylindrical body with a shank end and cutting end, said cutting end including a plurality of helical cutting flutes unequally spaced from each other about the circumference of said cutting end, and said helical cutting flutes each being oriented at a different helix angle with respect to all remaining cutting flutes.  
     
     
         2 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having an odd number of helical cutting flutes.  
     
     
         3 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having an even number of helical cutting flutes.  
     
     
         4 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having a larger length shank end than the length of the cutting end.  
     
     
         5 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having a shorter length shank end than the length of the cutting end.  
     
     
         6 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having an intermediate shank end with a cutting end at each end of said shank end.  
     
     
         7 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having a ball end cutting end.  
     
     
         8 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  for performing a rough milling operation on a workpiece, said end-mill tool having helical flutes with an uneven cutting edge.  
     
     
         9 . The end-mill tool of  claim 8  wherein said cutting edge is serrated.  
     
     
         10 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  wherein the end face of the cutting part includes a corner radius at the cutting end.  
     
     
         11 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  wherein the radial rake provided on the cutting flutes varies with respect to the relative hardness of the metal being machined.  
     
     
         12 . The end-mill tool of  claim 10  wherein a higher radial rake is provided for machining softer metals.  
     
     
         13 . The end-mill tool of  claim 11  wherein a lower radial rake is provided for machining harder metals.  
     
     
         14 . The end-mill tool of  claim 8  having a ball end cutting end.  
     
     
         15 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having an outer tapered contour.  
     
     
         16 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  having a wear-resistant surface coating on the cutting end.  
     
     
         17 . The end-mill tool of  claim 1  wherein the shank end includes a flat locking section.  
     
     
         18 . A cylindrical metal cutting end-mill tool having a shank end and a cutting end, said cutting end having three helical cutting flutes unequally spaced about the circumference of said cutting end, the first helical cutting flute being angularly displaced from the zero angle position on said circumference, the second helical cutting flute being angularly tapered from the one hundred twenty degree angle position on said circumference, and the third helical cutting flute being angularly displaced from the two hundred forty degree angle position on said circumference, said helical cutting flutes also each being oriented at a different helix angle with respect to all remaining cutting flutes.  
     
     
         19 . The end-mill tool of  claim 18  having a helix angle of approximately thirty-eight degrees for the first helical cutting flute, a helix angle of approximately thirty-five degrees for the second helical cutting flute, and a helix angle of approximately forty-one degrees for the third helical cutting flutes.