Speed rate and feed rate – How to find the right cutting data

Speed and feed calculator, formulas & Co

Acrylic glass, wood, carbon or plastics – each material must be processed with a suitable end mill for the result to look as good as the idea. In addition, the speed and feed rate need to be adjusted accordingly. You will quickly gather your own empirical values, but there are also specific formulas for calculating the speed rate and other values. The easiest way is to use the free STEPCRAFT Milling Calculator. You can find it in the App Store and the Play Store. Simply select your machine, your material and your end mill and the STEPCRAFT Milling Calculator will show you the appropriate speed rate and cutting data in no time.

n = Revolutions per minute (rpm)
vc = Cutting speed (m/min)
d = Tool diameter in millimeters (mm)
z = Number of teeth
fz = Tooth feed (mm/tooth)
vf = Feed rate (mm/min)

PDF DOWNLOAD

The end mill speed is calculated with the following formula:
   n [rpm] = (vc [m/min] *1000) / 3.14 * ø d1 [mm])

Example calculation:
   vc = 500 m/min (selected from chart)
   d = ø 8 mm

19904 rpm = (500 *1000) / (3.14 * 8)

If the maximum speed of the milling motor is lower than the calculated value, the maximum speed of the milling motor needs to be inserted into the formula for the feed calculation.

The end mill feed rate is calculated with the following formula:

   vf = n * z * fz

Example calculation for aluminum (wrought alloy) with 8 mm end mill 2-flute:
   n = 19904 rpm from upper formula
   fz = 0,064 from chart
   z = 2

2547,77 mm/min = 19904 * 2 * 0,064

End mills and their CNC applications

Type of tool	Characteristics	Applications
End mill 2-flute fish (downcut)	for thin material very clean cutting edges	plastic wood
End mill 2-flute fish (upcut)	universal end mill good immersion capacity	wood non-ferrous metals plastic
End mill diamond toothed	high endurance	GFK CFK PCB
End mill spiral toothed (downcut)	for thin material very clean cutting edges	softwood plywood
End mill spiral toothed (upcut)	chipbreaking	softwood plywood
End mill radius	finishing cutter 3D carving	wood non-ferrous metals plastic
End mill single flute	low friction large flute	low-melting plastics
V-bit	single flute	universal PCB engravings

Benchmark for Speed and Feed

	ø Cutting Speed m/min.*	End Mill Diamater
		ø 1 mm	ø 2 mm	ø 3 mm	ø 4 mm	ø 5 mm	ø 6 mm	ø 8 mm	ø 10 mm	ø 12 mm
		Feed Rate in mm / Tooth / Revolution
Cast Aluminum > 6 % Si	200	0,010	0,010	0,010	0,015	0,015	0,025	0,030	0,038	0,050
Wrought Aluminum Alloy	500	0,010	0,020	0,025	0,050	0,050	0,050	0,064	0,080	0,100
Soft Plastic	600	0,025	0,030	0,035	0,045	0,065	0,090	0,100	0,200	0,300
Hard Plastic	550	0,015	0,020	0,025	0,050	0,060	0,080	0,089	0,100	0,150
Hard Wood	450	0,020	0,025	0,030	0,055	0,065	0,085	0,095	0,095	0,155
Soft Wood	500	0,025	0,030	0,035	0,060	0,070	0,090	0,100	0,110	0,160
MDF	450	0,050	0,070	0,100	0,150	0,200	0,300	0,400	0,500	0,600
Brass, Copper, Bronze	365	0,015	0,020	0,025	0,025	0,030	0,050	0,056	0,065	0,080
Steel	75	0,010	0,010	0,012	0,025	0,030	0,038	0,045	0,050	0,080

*The stated cutting speeds are average values. In result of the milling process and the type of end mill adjustments might be necessary .Roughing: Reduction of up to 25 % – Finishing: Increase of up to 25 % – HSS end mill: Reduction of up to 50 % (hard materials) – VHM end mill: Increase of up to 25 %

Practical Tip

Immersion Depth

While milling a groove, we recommend the following immersion depth:

Material	D-Series	M-Series	Q-Series
Non-ferrous Metals	up to a diameter 0,05 times higher	up to a diameter 0,2 times higher	up to a diameter 0,3 times higher
Wood, Plastics	up to a diameter 0,5 times higher	up to a diameter 0,75 times higher	up to a diameter 1,0 times higher
Rigid Foam	up to a diameter 3,5 times higher	up to a diameter 5,0 times higher	up to a diameter 5,0 times higher

During contour milling, we recommend a lateral infeed of approx. 25 % of the end mill diameter while applying 100 % immersion depth.

The immersion depth is conditional to the milling motor, the structure and the stability of the machine. This means a reduction of the values is required, when using a less powerful and / or lighter milling motor.

End Mill Length Selection

To avoid increasing vibration of the end mill, we recommend clamping the bit as short as possible or as long as necessary.

Cooling / Lubricating

The cooling of non-ferrous metals occurs in best case with a lubrication system in combination with lubricant. Furthermore, the lubricating improves the surface quality and the service life of the tool. Lubricating with soap solution is suitable on acrylic glass. This improves an excellent surface.

Downcut Milling

In downcut milling, the end mill pulls itself into the workpiece, which can lead to the gantry or the Z-axis beeing pulled uncontrolled (backlash of lead screw) in the direction of the workpiece during the removal of larger chips. This causes a less precise milling pattern and can even result in the breakage of the end mill, if the chip building is too large.

Assuming backlash-free ball screws are used, the downcut is preferred over the upcut milling.

Upcut Milling

During upcut milling, the end mill pushes away from the workpiece, which, when only removing little chips, quickly causes the cutting edge to push out of the workpiece. This leads to chatter marks which create an unclean surface and reduce the endurance of the end mill.

The upcut milling is favored on machines with threaded lead screws which contain backlash.

Relief-grinded End Mills

The maximum possible infeed is usually reduced to the spiral length of the end mill, otherwise the shank will rub on the workpiece. Due to the relief-grinded shank, depths over several infeeds up to the maximum effective lengths are possible, thus, exceeding the spiral length.

Lubrication System 20-50 ml/h

increasing lube

Dependence of lubrication system on production process

Milling
Drilling
Grinding
Lapping
Turning
Grating
Honing

increasing material qualification

Suitability of lubrication system for cutting materials

Cu Alloy
Al Casting Alloy
Steel ferritic
Mg Alloy
Wrought Aluminum Alloy
Pearlitic
Cast Iron
Stainless Steels

choose your language