Near-Net Shaped Cutting Tools and Processes and Devices for Making the Same

Abstract

A near-net shape cutting tool has a main cooling passage along a longitudinal axis of the near-net shape cutting tool and at least one arcuate cooling channel having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with the main cooling passage, the second end spaced from the main cooling passage and providing a coolant exit in one or both of a radial surface and an axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A near-net shape cutting tool comprising:
 a main cooling passage along a longitudinal axis of the near-net shape cutting tool; and   at least one arcuate cooling channel having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with the main cooling passage, the second end spaced from the main cooling passage and providing a coolant exit in one or both of a radial surface and an axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool.   
     
     
         2 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one arcuate cooling channel is a plurality of arcuate cooling channels, each having a first end engaging the main cooling passage and a second end configured to create a respective coolant exit on one or both of the radial surface and the axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         3 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein first ends of the plurality of arcuate cooling channels are arranged in a helical configuration around the main cooling passage, and second ends of the plurality of arcuate cooling channel are configured to create coolant exits on the axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool at varying locations around and longitudinally along the axial surface. 
     
     
         4 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 1 , having a largest diameter, the near-net shape cutting tool further comprising at least one non-linear shaped surface formed in an axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool to produce the at least one non-linear shaped surface between the largest diameter and the main cooling passage mold. 
     
     
         5 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 4 , further comprising an embossed insignia on the at least one non-linear shaped surface. 
     
     
         6 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-linear groove in the axial surface, wherein at least one coolant exit is located in the at least one non-linear groove. 
     
     
         7 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a center indicator on each longitudinal end of the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         8 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one arcuate cooling channel has a non-circular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion of a length, and the coolant exit is shaped as the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . A near-net shape cutting tool, comprising:
 a main cooling passage along a longitudinal axis of the near-net shape cutting tool;   a non-linear cooling channel having a first end and a second end, the first end engaging the main cooling passage;   a non-linear groove formed in an axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool, the non-linear cooling channel extending between the main cooling passage and one of the axial surface and a radial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool.   
     
     
         10 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein the non-linear cooling channel provides a coolant exit in the non-linear groove. 
     
     
         11 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 9 , further comprising an embossed insignia on a surface of the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         12 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 9 , further comprising a center indicator on each longitudinal end of the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         13 . A near-net shape cutting tool, comprising:
 a main cooling passage along a longitudinal axis of the near-net shape cutting tool;   a first inclined surface inclining from a center of a longitudinal end of the near-net shape cutting tool to a first point on a plane between the longitudinal axis and an outer diameter of the near-net shape cutting tool;   a second inclined surface inclining from a second point on the plane to the outer diameter of the near-net shape cutting tool;   a wall extending between the first point and the second point, the wall extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the wall forms an axial surface having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the near-net shape cutting tool; and   a cooling channel having a first end and a second end, the first end engaging the main cooling passage and the second end forming a coolant exit in one of the first inclined surface, the second inclined surface and the wall.   
     
     
         14 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 13 , wherein the cooling channel is an arcuate cooling channel extending non-linearly and away from the main cooling passage to form an arc. 
     
     
         15 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of arcuate cooling channels, each having a respective first end engaging the main cooling passage and a respective second end configured to create a coolant exit on one or both of the radial surface and the axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         16 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 15 , wherein first ends of the plurality of arcuate cooling channels are arranged in a helical configuration around the main cooling passage, and second ends of the plurality of arcuate cooling channel are configured to create coolant exits on the axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool at varying locations around and longitudinally along the axial surface. 
     
     
         17 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one non-linear shaped surface formed in an axial surface of the near-net shape cutting tool to produce the at least one non-linear shaped surface between the outer diameter and the main cooling passage mold. 
     
     
         18 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising an embossed insignia on the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         19 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising a center indicator on each longitudinal end of the near-net shape cutting tool. 
     
     
         20 . The near-net shape cutting tool of  claim 13 , wherein the cooling channel has a non-circular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion of a length of the cooling channel, and the coolant exit is shaped as the non-circular cross-sectional shape.