5/8/2018 Speeds and Feeds 101 - In The Loupe - Machinist Blog

Speeds and Feeds 101

October 2, 2017 / 2 Comments / in CNC Machining, Machining Techniques, Milling /

Understanding Speeds and Feed Rates

NOTE: This article covers speeds and feed rates for milling tools, as opposed to turning tools.

Before using a cutting tool, it is necessary to understand tool cutting speeds and feed rates, more often referred to as “speeds
and feeds.” Speeds and feeds [http://www.harveytool.com/cms/SpeedsFeeds_228.aspx] are the cutting variables used in every
milling operation and vary for each tool based on cutter diameter, operation, material, etc. Understanding the right speeds and
feeds for your tool and operation before you start machining is critical.

It is rst necessary to de ne each of these factors. Cutting speed, also referred to as surface speed, is the difference in speed
between the tool and the workpiece, expressed in units of distance over time known as SFM (surface feet per minute). SFM is
based on the various properties of the given material. Speed, referred to as Rotations Per Minute (RPM) is based off of the SFM
and the cutting tool’s diameter.

While speeds and feeds are common terms used in the programming of the cutter, the ideal running parameters are also
in uenced by other variables. The speed of the cutter is used in the calculation of the cutter’s feed rate, measured in Inches Per
Minute (IPM). The other part of the equation is the chip load. It is important to note that chip load per tooth and chip load per
tool are different:

Chip load per tooth is the appropriate amount of material that one cutting edge of the tool should remove in a single
revolution. This is measured in Inches Per Tooth (IPT).

Chip load per tool is the appropriate amount of material removed by all cutting edges on a tool in a single revolution. This is
measured in Inches Per Revolution (IPR).

A chip load that is too large can pack up chips in the cutter, causing poor chip evacuation and eventual breakage. A chip load that
is too small can cause rubbing, chatter, de ection, and a poor overall cutting action.

Material Removal Rate

Material Removal Rate (MRR), while not part of the cutting tool’s program, is a helpful way to calculate a tool’s ef ciency. MRR
takes into account two very important running parameters: Axial Depth of Cut (ADOC), or the distance a tool engages a
workpiece along its centerline, and Radial Depth of Cut (RDOC), or the distance a tool is stepping over into a workpiece.

The tool’s depth of cuts [http://www.harveyperformance.com/in-the-loupe/depth-of-cut/] and the rate at which it is cutting can
be used to calculate how many cubic inches per minute (in3/min) are being removed from a workpiece. This equation is
extremely useful for comparing cutting tools and examining how cycle times can be improved.

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Speeds and Feeds In Practice

While many of the cutting parameters are set by the tool and workpiece material, the depths of cut taken also affect the feed
rate of the tool. The depths of cuts are dictated by the operation being performed – this is often broken down into slotting,
roughing, and nishing [http://www.harveyperformance.com/in-the-loupe/part- nish-reference-guide/] , though there are many
other more speci c types of operations.

Many tooling manufacturers provide useful speeds and feeds charts calculated speci cally for their products. For example,
Harvey Tool provides the following chart for a 1/8” diameter end mill, tool #50308 [http://www.harveytool.com/prod/Square-
Miniature-End-Mills/Miniature-End-Mills/Browse-Our-Products_255/Miniature-End-Mills---Square---Stub---
Standard_212.aspx_Q_keywords_E_50308] . A customer can nd the SFM for the material on the left, in this case 304 stainless
steel. The chip load (per tooth) can be found by intersecting the tool diameter on the top with the material and operations (based
on axial and radial depth of cut), highlighted in the image below.

The following table calculates the speeds and feeds for this tool and material for each operation, based on the chart above:

Other Important Considerations

Each operation recommends a unique chip load per the depths of cut. This results in various feed rates depending on the
operation. Since the SFM is based on the material, it remains constant for each operation.

Spindle Speed Cap

As shown above, the cutter speed (RPM) is de ned by the SFM (based on material) and the cutter diameter. With miniature
tooling and/or certain materials the speed calculation sometimes yields an unrealistic spindle speed. For example, a .047” cutter
in 6061 aluminum (SFM 1,000) would return a speed of ~81,000 RPM. Since this speed is only attainable with high speed air
spindles, the full SFM of 1,000 may not be achievable. In a case like this, it is recommended that the tool is run at the machine’s
max speed (that the machinist is comfortable with) and that the appropriate chip load for the diameter is maintained. This
produces optimal parameters based on the machine’s top speed.

Effective Cutter Diameter

On angled tools the cutter diameter changes along the LOC. For example, Helical tool #07001
[http://www.helicaltool.com/prod/Chamfer-Mills/Browse-by-Product-Name/High-Performance-End-Mills_405/Chamfer-Mills-
--Helical-Flute--3---5-Flute---High-Performance_372.aspx_Q_keywords_E_07001] , a at-ended chamfer cutter
[http://www.harveyperformance.com/in-the-loupe/multiple-uses-chamfer-mill/] with helical utes, has a tip diameter of .060”

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5/8/2018 Speeds and Feeds 101 - In The Loupe - Machinist Blog
and a major/shank diameter of .250”. In a scenario where it was being used to create a 60° edge break, the actual cutting action
would happen somewhere between the tip and major/shank diameters. To compensate, the equation below can be used to nd
the average diameter along the chamfer.

Using this calculation, the effective cutter diameter is .155”, which would be used for all Speeds and Feeds calculations.

Non-linear Path
Feed rates assume a linear motion. However, there are cases in which the path takes an arc, such as in a pocket corner or a
circular interpolation [http://www.harveyperformance.com/in-the-loupe/machining-circular-tool-paths/] . Just as increasing the
DOC increases the angle of engagement on a tool, so does taking a nonlinear path. For an internal corner, more of the tool is
engaged and, for an external corner, less is engaged. The feed rate must be appropriately compensated for the added or lessened
engagement on the tool.

This adjustment is even more important for circular interpolation. Take, for example, a threading application involving a cutter
making a circular motion about a pre-drilled hole or boss. For internal adjustment, the feed rate must be lowered to account for
the additional engagement. For external adjustment, the feed rate must be increased due to less tool engagement.

Take this example, in which a Harvey Tool threadmill #70094 [http://www.harveytool.com/prod/Thread-Milling-

Cutters/Holemaking---Threading/Browse-Our-Products_271/Thread-Milling-Cutters---Multi-Form-UN-
Threads_156.aspx_Q_keywords_E_70094] , with a .370” cutter diameter, is machining a 9/16-18 internal thread in 17-4 stainless
steel. The calculated speed is 2,064 RPM and the linear feed is 8.3 IPM. The thread diameter of a 9/16 thread is .562”, which is
used for the inner and outer diameter in both adjustments. After plugging these values into the equations below, the adjusted
internal feed becomes 2.8 IMP, while the external feed becomes 13.8 IPM.

Click here [http://harveytool.com/secure/Content/Documents/SF_70000.pdf] for the full example.

Conclusion
These calculations are useful guidelines for running a cutting tool optimally in various applications and materials. However, the
tool manufacturer’s recommended parameters are the best place to start for initial numbers. After that, it is up to the machinist’s
eyes, ears, and experience to help determine the best running parameters, which will vary by set-up, tool, machine, and material.

Click the following links for more information about running parameters for Harvey Tool
[http://www.harveytool.com/cms/ResearchTechnicalInformation_10.aspx] and Helical [http://www.helicaltool.com/] products.

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2
REPLIES

Scott Leese
January 12, 2018 at 4:41 pm

Very helpful blog post for a young machinist, is there an article in pdf form available for download?

Reply

Tim Lima
January 15, 2018 at 11:09 am

Hi Scott! Thanks for your feedback and question. If you select “Print” in the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen, that
will get you started. Then, change the “Destination” eld to “Save as PDF.” Hopefully that works for you – Please let us
know if you have any other questions.

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