Rotary cutting tool

Abstract

A rotatable cutting tool is disclosed and includes an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The cutting tool further includes at least one helical flute extending over a cutting length of the elongate body, the helical flute having a first end and a second end. The helical flute includes a leading cutting wall having an edge, a trailing cutting wall having an edge, and a flute surface between the leading cutting wall and the trailing cutting wall, the flute surface including a curved surface portion including a constant radius from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body. The cutting tool further includes a plurality of reliefs evenly spaced along the leading and trailing walls of the helical flute, each of the reliefs forming a semi-circular cutout on the flute surface, and wherein the reliefs in the trailing cutting wall are longitudinally offset from the reliefs in the leading cutting wall.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rotatable cutting tool, comprising:
 an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end;   at least one helical flute extending over a cutting length of the elongate body, the helical flute having a first end and a second end, the helical flute comprising:
 a leading cutting wall having an edge; 
 a trailing cutting wall having an edge; and 
 a flute surface between the leading cutting wall and the trailing cutting wall, the flute surface including a curved surface portion including a constant radius from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; and 
   a plurality of reliefs evenly spaced along the leading and trailing walls of the helical flute, each of the reliefs forming a semi-circular cutout on the flute surface, and wherein the reliefs in the trailing cutting wall are longitudinally offset from the reliefs in the leading cutting wall.   
     
     
         2 . A rotatable cutting tool, comprising:
 an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end;   a plurality of helical flutes extending over a cutting length of the elongate body, the helical flutes each having a first end and a second end, each helical flute comprising:
 a leading cutting wall having an edge; 
 a trailing cutting wall having an edge; and 
 a flute surface between the leading cutting wall and the trailing cutting wall, the flute surface including a curved surface portion including a constant radius from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; and 
   upon each helical flute, a plurality of reliefs evenly spaced along the leading and trailing walls of the helical flute, each of the reliefs forming a semi-circular cutout on the flute surface, and wherein the reliefs in the trailing cutting wall are longitudinally offset from the reliefs in the leading cutting wall.   
     
     
         3 . The cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein the reliefs located along one the edges are equally spaced along the edge. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein the reliefs on a first of the helical flutes are longitudinally offset from the reliefs on a second of the helical flutes, wherein the offset is configured to provide a smooth cut upon a workpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein the helical flutes each have an angle of 30° with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein each semi-circular cutout for one of the helical flutes has a radius equal to between twenty five percent and seventy five percent of a distance between the edge of the leading cutting wall and the edge of the trailing cutting wall of the helical flute. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein each semi-circular cutout for one of the helical flutes has a radius equal to fifty percent of a distance between the edge of the leading cutting wall and the edge of the trailing cutting wall of the helical flute.