The subject matter in general relates to cutting tools. More particularly,
5 but not exclusively, the subject matter relates to a cutting tool to increase the tool
life and perform precision cutting.
BACKGROUND
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in
understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the
10 information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject
matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[001] With increasing needs for multi features in electronic devices, such as
phones, dash boards of cars, the printed circuit boards (PCB) are getting more
densely populated with electronic components. The PCB mechanically supports
15 and electrically connects electrical or electronic components, such as transistors,
resistors using conductive tracks, pads and other features etched from one or more
sheet layers of copper which is laminated onto and/or between sheet layers of a nonconductive substrate.
[002] To accommodate more electronic components and ensure precise fitting
20 into the device a precise cutting of the PCB BOARD is essential. US patent
application 10/112,959 discloses a conventional rotary drilling and cutting tool that
is used for manufacturing printed circuit boards. These cutting tools are
traditionally made of carbide. The US patent application 10/278,073 discloses a
drilling/routing made of dense cemented carbide. However, with the conventional
25 cutting tool that is used to cut the PCB’s into shape and size, there is no support
while grinding the flutes. Due to this the helix angle in the front area is different
than required. This reduces the cutting efficiency of the cutting tool and also
adversely affects the precision cutting. Due to lack of reinforced cutting edge in
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conventional router precision cutting of PCB Boards is not possible.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[003] In view of the foregoing limitations inherent in the state of the art, some
of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein
5 satisfy, are listed herein below.
[004] It is an object of the present disclosure to propose a high precision router
for performing cutting operation on a specimen.
[005] It is another object of the present disclosure to propose a high precision
router with variable helix angle.
10 [006] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a high
precision router with a reinforced cutting edge defined in its cutting portion.
[007] It is still yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a high
precision router that increases the precision of the cutting operation.
[008] It is still yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a high
15 precision router with enhanced tool life.
[009] It is still yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a high
precision router that provides a high surface finish.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed
20 description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a
preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a high
precision router. The concepts are further described below in the detailed
25 description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential
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features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope
of the claimed subject matter.
[0012] The present invention relates to a high precision router for performing
cutting operation on a specimen. The high precision router comprises a shank
5 configured to allow the high precision router to be held by an operating machine, a
cutting portion configured for cutting the specimen and a neck portion configured
to connect the shank to the cutting portion. The cutting portion defines a plurality
of cutting edges. Each of the plurality of the cutting edges defines a plurality of
land. The cutting edge further defines a margin between two successive lands.
10 [0013] Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will
become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood,
however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating
specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since
various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will
15 become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out
and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present
subject matter, it is believed that the present disclosure will be better understood
20 from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other
elements, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 discloses a high precision router 100 for performing cutting
operation on a specimen; and
25 [0016] FIG. 2 discloses a graphical comparison of the helix angle along the
flute length between the high precision router 100 and a conventional high precision
router;
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[0017] FIG. 3 discloses a graphical comparison of performance between the
high precision router 100 and the conventional high precision router; and
[0018] FIG. 4 discloses a comparison of printed circuit boards manufactured
using a conventional high precision router and the high precision router 100 of the
5 present invention.
[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the
purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from
the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and
methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles
10 of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It
should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to
15 clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided
herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the
contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives
falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the
appended claims.
20 [0021] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised
that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of
the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects,
and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are
intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
25 [0022] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As
used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the
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plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “consisting”
and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features,
integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the
5 presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,
elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0023] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the
functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example,
two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may
10 sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts
involved.
[0024] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", “third”, and the like in
the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be
construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly
15 indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first"
and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further
20 understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context
of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense
unless expressly so defined herein.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, disclosed is a high precision router 100 for
25 performing cutting operation on a specimen (not shown), in accordance with an
embodiment. The high precision router 100 may comprise a shank 102, a cutting
portion 104, and a neck portion 106.
[0027] The shank 102 may be configured to allow the high precision router 100
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to be held by an operating machine (not shown). The operating machine may be
configured to rotate the high precision router 100 at a speed whereby the high
precision router 100 may perform the intended cutting operation on the specimen.
[0028] In an embodiment, the specimen may be a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
5 [0029] The cutting portion 104 of the high precision router 100 may be
configured to perform the cutting operation on the specimen.
[0030] In an embodiment, the cutting portion 104 may define a plurality of
cutting edges 114. The cutting edges 114 may define a flute 108 between them. The
flute 108 may be configured to allow the movement of the chips (not shown) that
10 are chipped off the specimen during the cutting operation.
[0031] In an embodiment, the flute 108 may be configured to allow coolant to
flow for regulating the operating temperature.
[0032] The plurality of the cutting edges 114 may define a plurality of land
110. The cutting edge 114 further defines a margin 112 between two successive
15 lands 110. The margin 112 thus defined provides the high precision router 100 with
a prolonged life that is longer than a high precision router without a margin.
Furthermore, the margin 112 also helps in providing precision cuts to the specimen
when compared to a high precision router without a margin.
[0033] In an embodiment, the reinforcement 112 defined on the cutting edges
20 114 may provide variable helix angle.
[0034] In an embodiment, the cutting portion 104 may be made of tungsten
carbide.
[0035] In an embodiment, the neck portion 106 may be configured to connect
the shank 102 to the cutting portion 104.
25 [0036] Referring to FIG. 2, disclosed is a graphical comparison of the helix
angle along the flute length between the high precision router 100 and a
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conventional high precision router. As seen from the figure, the helix angle of the
conventional high precision router remains the same along the length of the flute.
However, with the high precision router 100 of the present invention defining the
margins 112, the helix angle varies along the length of the flute. Thus, the helix
5 angle in the conventional high precision router is uniform, whereas the helix angle
in the high precision router 100 is variable.
[0037] As an example, the helix angle of the conventional high precision router
may remain constant at 20°, whereas the helix angle of the high precision router
100 with margins 112, varies at 22°, 20° and 18°. With the varied helix angle, it is
10 possible to keep the rake angle same throughout the cutting portion 104.
[0038] FIG. 3 discloses a graphical comparison of performance between the
high precision router 100 and the conventional high precision router. The Y axis
shows the width cut by the router (high precision router 100 and the conventional
high precision router). The X axis shows the life of the router (high precision router
15 100 and the conventional high precision router) in meters. The life of the router,
when used to cut the specimen, is usually measured in meters.
[0039] As can be seen from the FIG. 3, the high precision router 100 can be
used to provide wider cuts for a longer period as compared to the conventional high
precision router.
20 [0040] FIG. 4 discloses a comparison of PCB manufactured using the
conventional high precision router and the high precision router 100. As seen in the
FIG. 4, the PCB manufactured using the conventional high precision router has a
distorted finishing along edges 402, whereas the PCB manufactured using the high
precision router 100 has a high surface finish as seen by edge 404.
25 TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE
[0041] The present disclosure proposes a high precision router for performing
cutting operation on a specimen.
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[0042] The present disclosure further proposes a high precision router with
variable helix angle.
[0043] The present disclosure further proposes a high precision router with
reinforcement defined in its cutting portion.
5 [0044] The present disclosure further proposes a high precision router that
increases the precision of the cutting operation.
[0045] The present disclosure further proposes a high precision router with
enhanced tool life.
[0046] The present disclosure further proposes a high precision router that
10 provides a high surface finish.
[0047] Furthermore, each of the appended claims defines a separate invention,
which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the
various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context,
all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific
15 embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the
“invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily
all, of the claims.
[0048] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention
disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be
20 referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of
the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be
included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or
patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein
deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of
25 all groups used in the appended claims.
[0049] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the terminology
used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not
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intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several
of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may
be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may
5 subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope
of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0050] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended,
encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and
substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein,
10 including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for
example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0051] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present
disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised
without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure
15 is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the
described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a
person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined
with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the
art.

WE CLAIM
1. A precision router (100) for performing cutting operation on a specimen, the
precision router (100) comprising:
a shank (102) configured to allow the high precision router (100) to
5 be held by an operating machine;
a cutting portion (104) configured for cutting the specimen, wherein,
the cutting portion (104) defines a plurality of cutting edges
(114); and
each of the plurality of the cutting edges (114) defines a
10 plurality of land (110), wherein the cutting edge (114) further
defines a margin (112) between two successive lands (110); and
a neck portion (106) configured to connect the shank (102) to the
cutting portion (104).
2. The precision router (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting portion
15 (104) defines a flute (108) between two successive cutting edges (114).
3. The precision router (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting portion
(104) is made of tungsten carbide.
4. The precision router (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the margins (112)
defined on the cutting edges (114) provide variable helix angle.
20 5. The precision router (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helix angle of
the cutting portion (104) is variable.
6. The precision router (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specimen is
Printed Circuit Board (PCB).