Triangular-shaped indexable cutting insert having recessed side surfaces and rotary cutting tool

Abstract

An indexable cutting insert has opposing upper and lower end surfaces, and a peripheral surface including three side surfaces circumferentially alternating with three corner surfaces. The three side surfaces define an imaginary triangle and an imaginary hexagon. Each corner surface intersects the upper end surface to form an upper corner peripheral edge having a primary cutting edge. In a top view, each triangle side traverses two upper corner peripheral edges, imaginary lines tangential to the end points of each primary cutting edge are either collinear or form an obtuse angle greater than 175 degrees, each primary cutting edge has a primary length greater than half the hexagon side length, and at least one triangle side traverses each primary cutting edge. The insert is removably secured in a rotary cutting tool such that one of the upper corner peripheral edges contains an axially forwardmost point of the insert's upper peripheral edge.