Feeds & Speeds

What is feed?

Feed is how far the cutter travels over time. For milling feed is usually called IPM (inches per minute) or IPT (inches per tooth). Inches per tooth is how much material 1 tooth on a cutter will cut per revolution. Feed varies depending on the work piece material and the size of the cutter. Soft materials like aluminum, plastics and wood can be feed at a faster rate than steel or stainless. Smaller cutters will need a smaller feed per tooth because of chip clearance and strength.


What is Speed?

Speed is the RPM or also called Surface Speed (SFM). This is how far the circumference of the tool travels per minute. Two main factors that determine speed (rpm) are material and cutter size. Different types of materials have different cutting speeds. Plastics are soft and cut easy , while stainless is very tough and has a low cutting speed. To find out what the cutting speed for the material you will be cutting i have listed a chart below.


Online Calculator
Feeds and speeds examples


Materials

Soft Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Under 32 HRC

Materials

Hard Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Over 32 HRC

Feed (Inch/Tooth) 
End Mill Diameter

1/8"

3/16"

1/4"

3/8"

1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

1"


Aluminum+Aluminum Alloys

 

440, 356, 380, C61300

500-1000

.001

.002

.002

.003

.004

.005

.006

.007

2024-T4/T6, 2014, 6061-T6/T651, 7075-T6

800-2000

Copper

 

Navel Brass, High Silicon Bronze, A-17, C-17200

800-1000

.001

.001

.002

.0025

.003

.004

.004

.005

Yellow Brass, High Lead Brass, Red Brass

800-1500

Copper Alloys

 

Nickel Silver, Beryllium Copper, Oxygen-Free Copper

700-1000

.001

.001

.002

.0025

.003

.004

.004

.005

Alum/Bronze, Low Silicon Bronze

800-1000

Magnesium

 

Nickel Silver, Beryllium Copper, Oxygen-Free Copper

700-1000

.001

.002

.002

.003

.004

.006

.008

.009

De-CAt, Extruded

1000 min

Plastics,Acrylics, Phenolics

 

Polycarbonate

200-500

.001

.002

.003

.004

.006

.008

.001

.015

Polysulfone

200-600

Carbon, Graphites

 

 

 

.040

.040

.060

.080

.010

.001

.015

.020

Carbon, Graphites

200-400

 

Materials

Soft Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Under 32 HRC

Materials

Hard Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Over 32 HRC

Feed (Inch/Tooth) 
End Mill Diameter

1/8"

3/16"

1/4"

3/8"

1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

1"


Precipitation

 

17/4, 17/7, AF-71, Custom 450/636, 15/7 Mo, 21-6-9

90-150

.0005

.0005 

.001

.001

.002

.002

.004

.006

13/8, 15/5, AM-350/355

80-250

Austenic

 

304, 310, 314, 316, 321, 330, 347, 348, 21-6-9

100-150

.0001

.0002

.0005

.001

.0015

.002

.003

.004

200 Series, 302, 303, 304L, 316L

100-350

Martensitic

 

420, 430F, 440C, 446

100-175

.0001

.0002

.0005

.0005

.001

.001

.003

.004

403, 410, 416

100-250

 

Materials

Soft Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Under 32 HRC

Materials

Hard Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Over 32 HRC

Feed (Inch/Tooth) 
End Mill Diameter

1/8"

3/16"

1/4"

3/8"

1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

1"


Cobalt Base

 

Air-Resist 13/213/215, Haynes 21/36, NASA CO-W-RE

40-80

.0004

.0005 

.001

.001

.001

.001

.0015

.002

Stellite, HS-21, HAYNES25/188, x-40, L-605

60-100

Nickel Base

 

Hastalloy-C/B/X, INCONEL 718/X/W, Waspalloy, Rene 41-95

50-90

.0005

.0005

.001

.001

.002

.0025

.003

.004

INCONEL 600/625, Nickel 200-270, Monel 400-405

 

Iron Base

 

A-286, Haynes 556, Discoly, V57

60-120

.0005

.0005

.001

.0015

.002

.0025

.003

.004

Incoly 600-802, Multimet N-155, Timkin 16-25-6

80-130

 

Materials

Soft Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Under 32 HRC

Materials

Hard Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Over 32 HRC

Feed (Inch/Tooth) 
End Mill Diameter

1/8"

3/16"

1/4"

3/8"

1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

1"

STEELS

High Steeks Strength

 

4340M, EDT-150, HP9-430, 300M, D6-Ac, 11-10

80-180

.0005

.0005 

.001

.001

.001

.0015

.002

.004

4340, 6150, 52100, H-11, H-13

50-250

High Alloy Steels

 

Hy-Tugg, Stressproof, AmorPlate

80-180

.0005

.0005

.001

.001

.001

.0015

.002

.004

A-2/6/10, P-3/10, 01, 02, 06

100-300

Medium Alloy Steels

 

Hy-Tugg, Stressproof, AmorPlate

80-180

.0005

.0005

.001

.002

.0025

.0035

.004

.005

200, 250, 300

150-350

Low Alloy Steels Maraging

 

23XX, 31XX

100-200

.0005

.001

.0015

.002

.003

.004

.005

.006

10XX, 11XX, 13XX

100-400


Materials

Soft Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Under 32 HRC

Materials

Hard Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Over 32 HRC

Feed (Inch/Tooth) 
End Mill Diameter

1/8"

3/16"

1/4"

3/8"

1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

1"

CAST IRON

Ductile Iron

 

Ductile Cast Iron

80-140

.0005

.001

.0015

.002

.002

.003

.004

.005

Ductile Cast Iron

100-400

Cast Iron

 

Malleable, Chilled

90-160

.0005

.001

.002

.003

.004

.005

.006

.008

Gray Cast Iron

100-400

 

Materials

Soft Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Under 32 HRC

Materials

Hard Grades

Speed
S.F.M.

Over 32 HRC

Feed (Inch/Tooth) 
End Mill Diameter

1/8"

3/16"

1/4"

3/8"

1/2"

5/8"

3/4"

1"


Titanium Alloys

50-250

5AL-2.5Sn-Eli, 8Al-1 Mo-1V

90-160

.0005

.0005

.0005

.001

.001

.0015

.002

.004

Commercially, Pure, 6AL-4V, Astm 1/2/3

6 AL-25N-4Zr-2Mo-Si