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.
Materials Soft Grades |
Speed Under 32 HRC |
Materials Hard Grades |
Speed Over 32 HRC |
Feed
(Inch/Tooth)
|
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Aluminum+Aluminum Alloys |
|
440, 356, 380, C61300 |
500-1000 |
.001 |
.002 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
.005 |
.006 |
.007 |
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2024-T4/T6, 2014, 6061-T6/T651, 7075-T6 |
800-2000 |
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Copper |
|
Navel Brass, High Silicon Bronze, A-17, C-17200 |
800-1000 |
.001 |
.001 |
.002 |
.0025 |
.003 |
.004 |
.004 |
.005 |
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Yellow Brass, High Lead Brass, Red Brass |
800-1500 |
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Copper Alloys |
|
Nickel Silver, Beryllium Copper, Oxygen-Free Copper |
700-1000 |
.001 |
.001 |
.002 |
.0025 |
.003 |
.004 |
.004 |
.005 |
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Alum/Bronze, Low Silicon Bronze |
800-1000 |
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Magnesium |
|
Nickel Silver, Beryllium Copper, Oxygen-Free Copper |
700-1000 |
.001 |
.002 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
.006 |
.008 |
.009 |
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De-CAt, Extruded |
1000 min |
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Plastics,Acrylics, Phenolics |
|
Polycarbonate |
200-500 |
.001 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
.006 |
.008 |
.001 |
.015 |
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Polysulfone |
200-600 |
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Carbon, Graphites |
|
|
|
.040 |
.040 |
.060 |
.080 |
.010 |
.001 |
.015 |
.020 |
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Carbon, Graphites |
200-400 |
Materials Soft Grades |
Speed Under 32 HRC |
Materials Hard Grades |
Speed Over 32 HRC |
Feed
(Inch/Tooth)
|
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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 |
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13/8, 15/5, AM-350/355 |
80-250 |
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Austenic |
|
304, 310, 314, 316, 321, 330, 347, 348, 21-6-9 |
100-150 |
.0001 |
.0002 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
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200 Series, 302, 303, 304L, 316L |
100-350 |
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Martensitic |
|
420, 430F, 440C, 446 |
100-175 |
.0001 |
.0002 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.001 |
.003 |
.004 |
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403, 410, 416 |
100-250 |
Materials Soft Grades |
Speed Under 32 HRC |
Materials Hard Grades |
Speed Over 32 HRC |
Feed
(Inch/Tooth)
|
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Cobalt Base |
|
Air-Resist 13/213/215, Haynes 21/36, NASA CO-W-RE |
40-80 |
.0004 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.001 |
.001 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
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Stellite, HS-21, HAYNES25/188, x-40, L-605 |
60-100 |
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Nickel Base |
|
Hastalloy-C/B/X, INCONEL 718/X/W, Waspalloy, Rene 41-95 |
50-90 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.001 |
.002 |
.0025 |
.003 |
.004 |
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INCONEL 600/625, Nickel 200-270, Monel 400-405 |
|
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Iron Base |
|
A-286, Haynes 556, Discoly, V57 |
60-120 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.0025 |
.003 |
.004 |
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Incoly 600-802, Multimet N-155, Timkin 16-25-6 |
80-130 |
Materials Soft Grades |
Speed Under 32 HRC |
Materials Hard Grades |
Speed Over 32 HRC |
Feed
(Inch/Tooth)
|
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STEELS |
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High Steeks Strength |
|
4340M, EDT-150, HP9-430, 300M, D6-Ac, 11-10 |
80-180 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.001 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.004 |
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4340, 6150, 52100, H-11, H-13 |
50-250 |
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High Alloy Steels |
|
Hy-Tugg, Stressproof, AmorPlate |
80-180 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.001 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.004 |
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A-2/6/10, P-3/10, 01, 02, 06 |
100-300 |
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Medium Alloy Steels |
|
Hy-Tugg, Stressproof, AmorPlate |
80-180 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.002 |
.0025 |
.0035 |
.004 |
.005 |
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200, 250, 300 |
150-350 |
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Low Alloy Steels Maraging |
|
23XX, 31XX |
100-200 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
.005 |
.006 |
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10XX, 11XX, 13XX |
100-400 |
Materials Soft Grades |
Speed Under 32 HRC |
Materials Hard Grades |
Speed Over 32 HRC |
Feed
(Inch/Tooth)
|
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CAST IRON |
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Ductile Iron |
|
Ductile Cast Iron |
80-140 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
.005 |
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Ductile Cast Iron |
100-400 |
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Cast Iron |
|
Malleable, Chilled |
90-160 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.002 |
.003 |
.004 |
.005 |
.006 |
.008 |
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Gray Cast Iron |
100-400 |
Materials Soft Grades |
Speed Under 32 HRC |
Materials Hard Grades |
Speed Over 32 HRC |
Feed
(Inch/Tooth)
|
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Titanium Alloys |
50-250 |
5AL-2.5Sn-Eli, 8Al-1 Mo-1V |
90-160 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.0005 |
.001 |
.001 |
.0015 |
.002 |
.004 |
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Commercially, Pure, 6AL-4V, Astm 1/2/3 |
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6 AL-25N-4Zr-2Mo-Si |