2/9/2015 13:03 PM Cutting Speeds 1 of 3
Recommended Cutting Speeds using High-Speed Steel Tools.
For Reamers use 1/2 to 2/3 speed given in this Table.
For Carbide tools double the speeds.
Hardness, Cutting Hardness, Cutting
Bhn Speed, Bhn Speed,
sfpm sfpm
Carbon Steel Tool Steel
AISI-1019, 1020, 120-150 80-120 Water Hardening 150-250 70-80
1030, 150-170 70-90 Cold Work 200-250 20-40
1050, 1060, 1070, 170-190 60-80 Shock Resisting 175-225 40-50
1090 190-220 50-70 Mold 100-200 50-70
220-280 40-50 High-Speed Steel 200-250 30-40
280-350 30-40 250-275 15-30
350-425 15-30
Gray Cast-Iron 110-140 90-140
125-175 60-80 150-190 80-100
175-225 50-70 190-220 60-80
Alloy Steel 220-260 50-70
AISI-1320, 3120, 225-275 45-60
275-325 35-55 260-320 30-40
4012,
4120, 4720, 4820, 325-375 30-40
5020, 375-425 15-30 Malleable Iron
Ferritic 110-160 120-140
6120, 8720, 9315, etal
Pearlitic 160-200 90-110
200-240 60-90
240-280 50-60
135-185 40-50
225-275 30-40
Stainless Steel 135-185 50-60 Bearing Bronze 30-100
Standard 135-175 55-70
Austenitic (annealed) 150-300
Cold-Drawn 175-225 50-60
Brass & Bronze
Ferritic 275-325 30-40
Martensitic 375-425 15-30 Aluminum 200-300
(annealed) Cast 150-250
135-185 80-100 Heat Treated 150-300
Tempered 225-275 60-90 Wrought Cold Drawn 140-300
135-185 100-120 Wrought Heat Treated
135-185 100-130
Free Machining 600-1000
Austenitic (annealed) 275-325 50-60 Plastics
Cold-Drawn 375-425 30-40
Ferritic
Martensitic
(annealed)
Tempered
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2/9/2015 13:03 PM Cutting Speeds 2 of 3
Spindle RPM for Cutter Diameter
Material SFPM 1/8" 1/4" 1/2" 3/4" 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" 6"
Tool & SS Steel 30 900 450 220 150 110 60 40 30 45 20
Cast Steel 35 1000 530 260 180 130 70 45 33 27 22
Cast Iron 50 1500 760 380 250 190 95 64 48 38 32
Carbon Steel 60 1800 910 450 300 230 115 76 57 46 38
Mild Steel 70 2100 1000 530 350 260 130 90 67 53 44
Bronze 100 3000 1500 760 500 380 190 130 95 76 64
Brass 200 6000 3000 1500 1000 760 380 250 190 150 130
Aluminum 300 9100 4560 2280 1500 1140 570 380 280 220 190
Plastic 1000 30000 15000 7600 5000 3800 1900 1200 950 760 640
Speeds in Surface Feet per Minute are specified for High-Speed Steel drill bits, and are approximate for normal
drilling operations.
Speeds should be halved when using Carbon Steel bits and can be doubled for Carbide bits. Use coolant
judiciously.
For Milling operations speeds may be increased by 50%. Lathe turning speeds may be increased by 100%.
The best rule of thumb for proper cutting speed is the color of the chip when cutting steel.
Using a high-speed steel drill bit the chips should never be turning brown or blue.
Straw colored chips indicate that you are on the maximum edge of the cutting speed for your cutting
conditions.
When using Carbide bits, chip colors can range from amber to blue, but never black.
A dark purple color will indicate that you are on the maximum edge of your cutting conditions.
the formula for Spindle RPM, given Cutting Speed in feet-per-minute and Cutter Diameter in inches is:
conveniently enough the above formula approximately reduces to this:
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FLYCUTTING -- Depth of cut on flat surfaces with H.S.S. cutters.
Mild steel -- .030 in.
Brass -- .045 in.
Alluminum -- .060 in.
END MILLING -- Spiral flute H.S.S. endmills.
Maximum depth of cut and tool offset into material when cutting along one edge.
The amount of material removed per pass is a box of this size in both directions.
Cutters up to 1/4" diameter -- 1/8 of diameter
1/8" cutter -- 1/64 or .016"
3/16" cutter -- .024"
Cutters 1/4" and over -- 1/4 of diameter
1/4" cutter -- 1/16 or .063"
1/2" cutter -- 1/8 or .125"
SLOT CUTTING -- H.S.S. spiral fluted endmills.
Incrimental depth of cut when all edges of the cutter are in contact with material.
Spindle speed should be halved from that recommended for drilling.
Slotting Depth for Cutter Diameter
Material 1/8" 3/16" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4"
Mild Steel .025 .030 .045 .070 .100 .200 .250
Brass .027 .040 .060 .100 .140 .250 .300
Aluminum .030 .045 .065 .110 .150 .300 .350
KEYWAY CUTTING -- H.S.S. disc cutters (i.e. saw blades).
Spindle speed for Cisc Cutter Diameter
Material 2" 2.5" 3" 3.5" 4"
Mild Steel 65 55 45 38 33
Brass 115 95 75 65 55
Aluminum 190 155 125 110 95
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