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Nomenclature and Definitions

Actual Size
The actual measured diameter of a reamer.
Alternate
Reamer features which differ from each other in turn in a regular sequence such as cutting edges, chip breakers, chamfers, or flutes
Angle of Taper
The included angle of taper on a taper tool or taper shank
Angular Flute
A flute which forms a cutting face lying in a plane intersecting the reamer axis at an angle. It is unlike a helical flute in that it forms a cutting face which lies in a single plane
Arbor Hole
The central mounting hole in a Shell Reamer – typically tapered at 1/8" per foot
Axial Rake
The angle between the cutting face of a reamer and its axis, measured along the direction the tool moves. This applies only to cutting edges that are not helical or spiral.
Axial Relief
The relief measured in the axial direction between a plane perpendicular to the axis and the relieved surface
Axis
The imaginary straight line which forms the longitudinal centerline of a reamer, usually established by rotating the reamer between centers
Back-Off
See preferred term Relief
Back Taper
A slight decrease in diameter, from front to back in the flute length of reamers
Barrel
See preferred term Body
Bevel
An unrelieved angular surface of revolution (not to be confused with chamfer)
Blade
A tooth or cutting element inserted in a reamer body; it may be adjustable and/or replaceable
Blending Radius
A relieved radius joining the chamfer and the periphery
Body
1) The fluted full diameter portion of a reamer, inclusive of the chamfer, starting taper, and bevel
2) The principal supporting member for a set of reamer blades, usually including the shank
Burnishing Reamer
A finishing reamer intended to take a light scraping cut and impart a fine finish
Cam Relief
A specially shaped relief behind the cutting edge. It helps reduce friction between the tool and the workpiece while cutting.
Chambering Reamer
A reamer for forming a shell chamber in a firearm.
Chamfer
The angular cutting portion at the entering end of a reamer (see also Secondary Chamfer)
Chamfer Angle
The angle between the axis and the cutting edge of the chamfer measured in an axial plane at the cutting edge
Chamfer Length
The length of the chamfer measured parallel to the axis at the cutting edge
Chamfer Relief
The axial relief on the chamfer of the reamer
Chamfer Relief Angle
The axial relief angle at the outer corner of the chamfer
Chip Breakers
Notches or grooves in the cutting edge of some taper reamers designed to break the continuity of the chips
Chucking Reamer
A type of precision reamer designed to be held in a chuck, typically used in lathes or drilling machines.
Circular Land
See preferred term Margin
Clearance
The space created by the relief behind the cutting edge or margin of a reamer
Concentric/Concentricity
See preferred terms Total Indicator Variation and Relative Eccentricity
Core
The central portion of a reamer below the flutes which joins the lands
Core Diameter
The diameter at a given point along the axis of the largest circle which does not project into the flutes
Core Reamer
A roughing reamer with relatively few, deep wide flutes to provide ample room for chips in reaming cored holes
Cutter Sweep
The section removed by the milling cutter or grinding wheel in entering or leaving a flute
Drift
A flat tapered bar for forcing a taper shank out of its socket
Drift Slot
A slot through a socket at the small end of the tapered hole to receive a drift for forcing a taper shank out of the socket
Duplex Lead Reamer
A reamer with one or more flutes having a different lead than the other flutes. This produces a continuous change in flute spacing (e.g. Morse Taper Duplex)
Eccentric Relief
A convex relieved surface behind the cutting edge
Eccentricity
The amount by which the reamer's cutting surface is offset from its axis. It is usually defined as half the Total Indicator Variation (TIV).
End Cutting
A general term describing the extent to which a reamer cuts on the end. Four types are recognized:
1) End Cutting on the chamfers only 180°
2) End Cutting to the bottom of the flutes (Core Diameter) 180°
3) End Cutting to the center hole or a specified diameter of circle 180°
4) End Cutting to the center of reamer
End Relief
See preferred term Axial Relief
External Center
The pointed end of a reamer
Feed
The axial advance in inches per revolution of the reamer with respect to the workpiece
Flat Relief
A relieved surface behind the cutting edge which is essentially flat
Flute Length
The length of the flutes not including the cutter sweep
Flutes
Longitudinal channels formed in the body of the reamer to provide cutting edges, permit passage of chips and allow cutting fluid to reach the cutting edge
Full Indicator Reading (FIR)
See preferred term Total Indicator Variation
Gage Line
The axial position on a taper where the diameter is equal to the basic large end diameter of the specified taper
Grinding Recess
A clearance or undercut for the edge or corner of a grinding wheel, usually necessary at a change of diameter
Guide
A cylindrical portion following the flutes of a reamer to maintain alignment
Half-Round Reamer
A reamer with a transverse cross-section of approximately half a circle and having one cutting edge – sometimes referred to as a "D" reamer
Heel
The trailing edge of the land in direction of rotation for cutting
Helical Flute
A flute which is formed in a helical path around the axis of a reamer (sometimes called a "spiral flute")
Helical Rake
The angle at which a helical flute cutting edge meets the body of the reamer. This angle affects how the tool enters the material and removes chips.
Helix Angle
The angle formed by a helical flute as it wraps around the reamer. This angle affects chip removal and cutting smoothness.
Hook
A curved (concave) cutting face design that influences how aggressively a reamer cuts. The shape of the hook impacts chip flow and cutting performance, especially in softer materials.
Internal Center
A 60 degree countersink with clearance at the bottom, in one or both ends of a tool, which establishes the tool axis
Irregular Spacing
A deliberate variation from uniform spacing of the reamer cutting edges
Land
The section of the reamer between adjacent flutes
Land Width
The distance between the leading edge of the land and the heel measured at a right angle to the leading edge
Lead
See preferred term Starting Taper
Lead of Flute
The axial advance of a helical or spiral cutting edge in one turn around the reamer axis
Length
The dimension of any reamer element measured parallel to the reamer axis
Limits
The maximum and minimum values designated for a specific element
Line Reamer
A reamer used to ream two or more separated holes on the same axis – frequently with a pilot and guide
Margin
The unrelieved part of the periphery of the land adjacent to the cutting edge
Multiple Diameter Reamer
A reamer with two or more cutting diameters (see also step reamer)
Neck
A section of reduced diameter connecting shank to body, or connecting other portions of the reamer
Negative Rake
Describes a cutting face in rotation whose cutting edge lags the surface of the cutting face
Nominal Size
The designated basic size of a reamer
Notches
See preferred term Chip Breakers
Oil Grooves
Longitudinal straight or helical grooves in shank, guide, or pilot for lubrication or to carry cutting fluid to the cutting edges
Oil Holes
Holes through which a cutting fluid is fed to the cutting edges of a reamer
Overall Length
The extreme length of the complete reamer from end to end, but not including external centers or expansion screws
Periphery
The outside circumference of a reamer
Pilot
A cylindrical portion preceding the entering end of the reamer body to maintain alignment
Positive Rake
Describes a cutting face in rotation whose cutting edge leads the surface of the cutting face
Primary Relief
The relief immediately behind the cutting edge or margin
Pull Reamer
Reamers which are designed to be pulled through long holes (such as gun barrels) while reamer or workpiece is rotated
Radial Rake Angle
See definition under Rake
Radial Relief
A type of relief cut behind the cutting edge, measured outward from the center of the tool. It helps reduce friction during rotation.
Radial Runout
The radial variation from a true circle which lies in the diametral plane and is concentric with the reamer axis. See Total Indicator Variation
Rake
The angular relationship between the cutting face, or a tangent to the cutting face at a given point and a given reference plane or line
Recess
See preferred term Grinding Recess
Relief
The result of the removal of tool material behind or adjacent to the cutting edge to provide clearance and prevent rubbing
Relief Angle
The angle, measured in a transverse plane, between the relieved surface and a plane tangent to the periphery at the cutting edge
Relative Eccentricity
The distance between the axis of one portion and the axis of some other portion of a reamer
Rose Reamer
A type of reamer with lands which are not relieved on the periphery. It has a relatively large amount of back taper
Runout
See Radial Runout
Salvage Hole
A central hole in the front end of a reamer of sufficient depth to provide for reconditioning
Secondary Chamfer
A slight relieved chamfer adjacent to and following the initial chamfer
Secondary Relief
An additional relief behind the primary relief
Shank
The portion of the reamer by which it is held and driven
Size
See terms Actual Size and Nominal Size
Sleeve
A tapered shell designed to fit into a specified socket and to receive a taper shank smaller than the socket
Socket
The tapered hole in a spindle, adaptor or sleeve, designed to receive, hold, and drive a tapered shank
Spiral Flute
On a taper reamer, a flute of constant lead
Squared Shank
A cylindrical shank having a driving square on the back end
Staggered Flutes
See preferred term Irregular Spacing
Starting Radius
A relieved radius at the entering end of a reamer in place of a chamfer
Starting Taper
A slight relieved taper on the front end of a reamer also reffered to as Entry Lead
Step Reamer
A multiple diameter reamer with all lands in each step ground to the same diameter
Straight Flute
Flutes that run parallel to the axis of a reamer
Straight Shank
A cylindrical shank
Subland Reamer
A type of multiple diameter reamer which has independent sets of lands in the same body section for each diameter
Tang
The flattened end of a taper shank which fits a slot in the socket
Tang Drive
Two opposite parallel driving flats on the extreme end of a straight shank
Tangential Rake Angle
A technical angle measured at the outer edge of the cutting face, describing how curved the hooked surface is in relation to a line pointing outward from the tool center. It affects chip removal and cutting forces.
Taper Per Foot
The difference in diameter between two points 12 inches apart measured along the axis
Taper Shank
A shank made to fit a specified (conical) taper socket
Tongue
See preferred term Tang
Total Indicator Reading (TIR)
See preferred term Total Indicator Variation
Total Indicator Variation (TIV)
The difference between the maximum and minimum indicator readings obtained during a checking cycle
Undercut
See preferred term Grinding Recess
Web
See preferred term Core Diameter