Tool-In-Hand System for Tool Designation

There exist many standard systems for designation of cutting tools that quantitatively express information about various features of that tool. For example, a single point cutting tool can be designated by American Standards Association (ASA) system, Orthogonal Rake System (ORS), and Normal Rake System (NRS). All these systems display few features of a cutting tool in the form of tool signature. However, there exist many trivial information which are usually not expressed in any of these standard tool designation systems because such salient features can be spotted or identified just by observing the tool.

What is Tool-In-Hand system?

Tool-In-Hand system basically refers to the identification of few useful salient features just by observing the cutting tool in bare eyes. Usually, it does not fetch any quantitative value (like value of principal cutting edge angle is 60º). The following sections provide list of few common features of various tools that can easily be visualized in bare eyes.

Tool-In-Hand system for turning tool

  • Right hand tool or left hand tool.
  • What are rake surface, principal flank surface and auxiliary flank surface?
  • What is tool nose?
  • What type of shank it has?
  • Sometime, coated or uncoated.
  • Insert based or plain.
  • Basic tool material, if engraved in tool body.

Tool-In-Hand system for drill

  • How many flutes it has?
  • What are face and flank surfaces?
  • What are cutting edges and margin?
  • Whether chisel edge is modified?
  • Type of shank.
  • Diameter, point angle, flute length, helix angle, material, etc., if engraved in tool body.

Tool-In-Hand system for milling cutter

  • Type of cutter.
  • Number of teeth/flute.
  • Rake surface, primary flank surface, secondary flank surface, whichever applicable.
  • Insert based or plain.
  • Diameter, material, etc., if engraved in tool body.

References

  • Book: Machining and Machine Tools by A. B. Chattopadhyay (Wiley).