Cutting tool for rough and finish milling

Abstract

A milling cutter comprises a cutter body having at least two operational annular rings. An outer ring is provided for rough milling and includes a plurality of cutting inserts spaced about the periphery of the cutter body. Positioned radially inward of the outer ring is at least one inner finish ring. The finish ring comprises a coating of abrasive material. As a result, a workpiece can be both rough and finish milled by a single milling cutter with the rough cutting inserts and the abrasive material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A milling cutter comprising: 
 a cutter body having at least two annular operational rings formed thereon, the at least two operational rings including an outer ring formed about the periphery of the cutter body and at least one inner ring radially inward of the outer ring,    wherein the outer ring has at least one insert pocket and a cutting insert secured in the insert pocket and the at least one inner ring has an abrasive surface thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the cutter body has a plurality of insert pockets about the periphery include the at least one insert pocket and a cutting insert is secured in each of the insert pockets.  
     
     
         3 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the finish ring is concentric with the periphery of the cutter body.  
     
     
         4 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting insert performs a rough milling operation and the abrasive material performs a finish milling operation.  
     
     
         5 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting insert has a cutting edge tipped with a material suitable for removing material from a workpiece.  
     
     
         6 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting insert is adjustable relative to the cutter body.  
     
     
         7 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment element supported relative to the cutter body and adjustable in an axial direction relative to the cutter body to move the cutting insert in an axial direction relative to the cutter body.  
     
     
         8 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element has a tapered hole and a slot extending from the tapered hole to an edge of the adjustment element, the tapered screw being adapted to be tightening into the tapered hole to expand the slot and the adjustment element to move the cutting insert in an axial direction.  
     
     
         9 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is formed of an abrasive material comprising aluminum oxide.  
     
     
         10 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is formed of an abrasive material comprising diamond.  
     
     
         11 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is formed of an abrasive material comprising cubic boron nitride.  
     
     
         12 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is formed of a randomly arranged abrasive material.  
     
     
         13 . The milling cutter of  claim 12 , wherein the abrasive surface is formed of an abrasive material arranged in a pattern.  
     
     
         14 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is formed of an abrasive material bonded to a mesh material that is affixed to the cutter body.  
     
     
         15 . The milling cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is electroplated to the cutter body.  
     
     
         16 . The milling cutter of  claim 1  wherein the abrasive surface is formed as a single piece.  
     
     
         17 . The milling cutter of  claim 1  wherein the abrasive surface is formed of multiple discrete portions.  
     
     
         18 . The milling cutter of  claim 1  wherein the cutting insert is a ceramic cutting insert.  
     
     
         19 . The milling cutter of  claim 1  wherein the cutting insert is a cemented carbide cutting insert.  
     
     
         20 . The milling cutter of  claim 1  wherein the cutting insert is a PCD tipped cutting insert.  
     
     
         21 . The milling cutter of  claim 1  wherein the cutting insert is a PCBN tipped cutting insert.