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End Mill Feeds and Speeds: Master Milling Efficiency

The most important aspect of milling with end mills is to run the tool at the proper RPM (revolutions per minute or spindle speed)  and IPM (inches per minute or feed rate).  We have broken these recommendations down into material categories so you can make better decisions with how to productively run your end mills.  Certain high performance mills have very specific running parameters relative to their material families.  We have listed these also as individual recommendations by coating family.  These documents are downloadable in pdf formats by clicking the links below.


When choosing the right cutting parameters to run, most people focus on the speed  which relates to the machine RPMThis is a mistake!  Focus on on the proper feed per tooth (FPT) first, and then adjust the speed.  Often when a part is programmed, and is being proven out for production, the programmer will choose conservative parameters and encounter chatter.  Chatter is nothing more that part vibration or noise, because the tool is not cutting properly.  Usually, the first response is to slow the RPM and the chatter will go away.  This often works, but this is unproductive.  What has just happened is that by reducing the speed and keeping the feed constant, the FPT has increased.  And most likely the FPT before was too low in the first place and that was what caused the chatter.

 

Follow the steps below to master milling productively:

 

  1. Choose the material to be machined from the left side of the chart.  Aluminum and Titanium speed and feeds are under the green non-ferrous section
  2. Choose the correct FPT for that material based on the diameter of your mill. FPT is in inches per tooth (IPT) or millimeters per tooth (MMPT).
  3. Choose the proper chip load factor (CLF) based on the radial depth of cut.
  4. Now choose the right surface feet per minute (SFM) or surface meters per minute (SMM)
  5. Use the SFM and the diameter of the mill to calculate the RPM of your machine spindle.
  6. Use the RPM, IPT, and CLF and the number of flutes to calculate the feed rate or IPM.
  7. If you want to be conservative, choose a slightly lower SFM, but always choose the recommended FPT.


The speeds and feeds formulas are in the bottom of the charts below.  If you follow these guidelines, you will have a much greater success rate in part programming, and you will be milling more efficiently.


Note:  These cutting feeds and speeds charts work with Accupro, Niagara, Data Flute, SPETool and all end mill brands.  We will have all of Harvey Tool speeds and feed charts loaded soon.

 

Use our Speeds and Feeds Calculator to save time!

 

We have created an excellent speeds and feeds calculator which incorporates these charts into the calculations.  It generates ranges of SFM or SMM and allows you to decide what SFM is appropriate.  It then automatically calculates the RPM.  Then it gives you a range for FPT and allows you to decide what is appropriate.  Then it automatically calculates the IPM or millimeters per minute (MMPM).  Try it out!  It is easy to understand.

 

Feeds and Speeds Data for Specific Material Families

Aluminum Feeds and Speeds

Stainless Steels Speeds and Feeds

 

Jump To The Milling Formulas

 
End Mill Speeds And Feeds Chart - AlTiN Coated Carbide

SMM = SFM X .3048

 

Speeds

Feeds - IPT (inches/tooth) and MMPT (mm/tooth)

Material

Group

Examples

SFM

1/8"

3mm

3/16"

5mm

1/4"

6mm

5/16"

8mm

3/8"

10mm

1/2"

12mm

5/8"

16mm

3/4"

20mm

1"

25mm

 

Steels P

Mild - 1018

(.2-.3 Carbon)

500

 

.0006"

.016mm

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0033"

.084mm

 

.0041"

.104mm

Mild - 4140

(.4-.5 Carbon)

350

Tool Steels

A2/D2/H13/P20

280

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.0009"

.023mm

 

.0013"

.033mm

 

.0016"

.041mm

 

.0019"

.048mm

 

.0021"

.053mm

 

.0026"

.066mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

Forgings

180

 

Cast

Irons

K

Soft

600

 

.0006"

.016mm

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0033"

.084mm

 

.0041"

.104mm

Medium

400

Hard Chilled

350

Malleable

300

 

Stainless Steels

M

Free Machining

350

.0006"

.016mm

.0011"

.028mm

.0017"

.043mm

.002"

.051mm

.0025"

.064mm

.0028"

.071mm

.0032"

.081mm

.0033"

.084mm

.0041"

.104mm

Ferritic

280

Austenitic

304/316

250

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.0009"

.023mm

 

.0013"

.033mm

 

.0016"

.041mm

 

.0019"

.048mm

 

.0021"

.053mm

 

.0026"

.066mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

Martensitic

210

PH

17-4 PH

160

 

Special Alloys S

Titanium

6AL-V4

240

.0003"

.008mm

.0005"

.013mm

.0007"

.018mm

.001"

.025mm

.0012"

.030mm

.0014"

.036mm

.0017"

.043mm

.0019"

.048mm

.0025"

.063mm

Co-Based Alloys

Stellite

140

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.001"

.025mm

 

.0012"

.030mm

 

.0015"

.038mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.003"

.076mm

 

.003"

.076mm

Ni-Based Alloys

Inconel 625/718

140

Fe-Based Alloys

Incoloy 800-802

160

Hardened

Steels H

35-45Rc

270

.0004"

.010mm

.001"

.025mm

.0012"

.030mm

.0015"

.038mm

.0017"

.043mm

.002"

.051mm

.0025"

.064mm

.003"

.076mm

.003"

.076mm

45-55Rc

200

55-65Rc

70

Speeds and Feeds Formulas

Speeds - Inch

SFM = surface feet per minute

RPM = SFM X 3.82 / Tool Diameter

Speeds - Metric

SMM = surface meters per minute

RPM = SMM X 318.06 / Tool Diameter

Radial Depth of Cut in Percentage of Diameter

50%

30%

20%

15%

10%

5%

1%

CLF = chip load factor

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.3

5.0

Feeds - Inch

IPM = inches per minute IPT = inches / tooth

IPM = RPM X number of teeth X CLF X IPT

 

Feeds - Metric

MMPM = mm per minute MMPT = mm / tooth

MMPM = RPM X number of teeth X CLF X MMPT

 
 
 
End Mill Speeds And Feeds - TiN Coated Carbide

SMM = SFM X .3048

 

Speeds

Feeds - IPT (inches/tooth) and MMPT (mm/tooth)

Material

Group

Examples

SFM

1/8"

3mm

3/16"

5mm

1/4"

6mm

5/16"

8mm

3/8"

10mm

1/2"

12mm

5/8"

16mm

3/4"

20mm

1"

25mm

 

Steels P

Mild - 1018

(.2-.3 Carbon)

420

 

.0006"

.016mm

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0033"

.084mm

 

.0041"

.104mm

Mild - 4140

(.4-.5 Carbon)

300

Tool Steels

A2/D2/H13/P20

240

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.0009"

.023mm

 

.0013"

.033mm

 

.0016"

.041mm

 

.0019"

.048mm

 

.0021"

.053mm

 

.0026"

.066mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

Forgings

150

 

Cast

Irons

K

Soft

540

 

.0006"

.016mm

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0033"

.084mm

 

.0041"

.104mm

Medium

360

Hard Chilled

300

Malleable

270

 

Stainless Steels

M

Free Machining

360

.0006"

.016mm

.0011"

.028mm

.0017"

.043mm

.002"

.051mm

.0025"

.064mm

.0028"

.071mm

.0032"

.081mm

.0033"

.084mm

.0041"

.104mm

Ferritic

240

Austenitic

304/316

220

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.0009"

.023mm

 

.0013"

.033mm

 

.0016"

.041mm

 

.0019"

.048mm

 

.0021"

.053mm

 

.0026"

.066mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

Martensitic

180

PH

17-4 PH

150

 

Special Alloys S

Titanium

6AL-V4

210

.0003"

.008mm

.0005"

.013mm

.0007"

.018mm

.001"

.025mm

.0012"

.030mm

.0014"

.036mm

.0017"

.043mm

.0019"

.048mm

.0025"

.063mm

Co-Based Alloys

Stellite

120

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.001"

.025mm

 

.0012"

.030mm

 

.0015"

.038mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.003"

.076mm

 

.003"

.076mm

Ni-Based Alloys

Inconel 625/718

120

Fe-Based Alloys

Incoloy 800-802

150

Hardened

Steels H

35-45Rc

240

.0004"

.010mm

.001"

.025mm

.0012"

.030mm

.0015"

.038mm

.0017"

.043mm

.002"

.051mm

.0025"

.064mm

.003"

.076mm

.003"

.076mm

45-55Rc

180

55-65Rc

60

Speeds and Feeds Formulas

Speeds - Inch

SFM = surface feet per minute

RPM = SFM X 3.82 / Tool Diameter

Speeds - Metric

SMM = surface meters per minute

RPM = SMM X 318.06 / Tool Diameter

Radial Depth of Cut in Percentage of Diameter

50%

30%

20%

15%

10%

5%

1%

CLF = chip load factor

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.3

5.0

Feeds - Inch

IPM = inches per minute IPT = inches / tooth

IPM = RPM X number of teeth X CLF X IPT

 

Feeds - Metric

MMPM = mm per minute MMPT = mm / tooth

MMPM = RPM X number of teeth X CLF X MMPT

 
 
End Mill Speeds And Feeds Chart - Uncoated Carbide

SMM = SFM X .3048

 

Speeds

Feeds - IPT (inches/tooth) and MMPT (mm/tooth)

Material

Group

Examples

SFM

1/8"

3mm

3/16"

5mm

1/4"

6mm

5/16"

8mm

3/8"

10mm

1/2"

12mm

5/8"

16mm

3/4"

20mm

1"

25mm

 

Steels P

Mild - 1018

(.2-.3 Carbon)

350

 

.0006"

.016mm

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0033"

.084mm

 

.0041"

.104mm

Mild - 4140

(.4-.5 Carbon)

250

Tool Steels

A2/D2/H13/P20

200

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.0009"

.023mm

 

.0013"

.033mm

 

.0016"

.041mm

 

.0019"

.048mm

 

.0021"

.053mm

 

.0026"

.066mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

Forgings

125

 

Cast

Irons

K

Soft

450

 

.0006"

.016mm

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0033"

.084mm

 

.0041"

.104mm

Medium

300

Hard Chilled

250

Malleable

225

 

Stainless Steels

M

Free Machining

300

.0006"

.016mm

.0011"

.028mm

.0017"

.043mm

.002"

.051mm

.0025"

.064mm

.0028"

.071mm

.0032"

.081mm

.0033"

.084mm

.0041"

.104mm

Ferritic

200

Austenitic

304/316

180

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.0009"

.023mm

 

.0013"

.033mm

 

.0016"

.041mm

 

.0019"

.048mm

 

.0021"

.053mm

 

.0026"

.066mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

 

.0028"

.071mm

Martensitic

150

PH

17-4 PH

125

 

Special Alloys S

Titanium

6AL-V4

175

.0003"

.008mm

.0005"

.013mm

.0007"

.018mm

.001"

.025mm

.0012"

.030mm

.0014"

.036mm

.0017"

.043mm

.0019"

.048mm

.0025"

.063mm

Co-Based Alloys

Stellite

100

 

.0004"

.010mm

 

.001"

.025mm

 

.0012"

.030mm

 

.0015"

.038mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.002"

.051mm

 

.0025"

.064mm

 

.003"

.076mm

 

.003"

.076mm

Ni-Based Alloys

Inconel 625/718

100

Fe-Based Alloys

Incoloy 800-802

125

Hardened

Steels H

35-45Rc

200

.0004"

.010mm

.001"

.025mm

.0012"

.030mm

.0015"

.038mm

.0017"

.043mm

.002"

.051mm

.0025"

.064mm

.003"

.076mm

.003"

.076mm

45-55Rc

150

55-65Rc

50

Non- Ferrous N

Al/Al Alloys

500

 

.0011"

.028mm

 

.0017"

.043mm

 

.0022"

.056mm

 

.0027"

.068mm

 

.0032"

.081mm

 

.0042"

.107mm

 

.0065"

.165mm

 

.0085"

.216mm

 

.0092"

.234mm

Brass/Bronze

400

Mg/Mg Alloys

700

Plastics/Bakelite

800

Speeds and Feeds Formulas

Speeds - Inch

SFM = surface feet per minute

RPM = SFM X 3.82 / Tool Diameter

Speeds - Metric

SMM = surface meters per minute

RPM = SMM X 318.06 / Tool Diameter

Radial Depth of Cut in Percentage of Diameter

50%

30%

20%

15%

10%

5%

1%

CLF = chip load factor

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.4

1.8

2.3

5.0

Feeds - Inch

IPM = inches per minute IPT = inches / tooth

IPM = RPM X number of teeth X CLF X IPT

 

Feeds - Metric

MMPM = mm per minute MMPT = mm / tooth

MMPM = RPM X number of teeth X CLF X MMPT

 
TITAN VI-Pro Speeds and Feeds Charts
4 Flute 5 Flute 6 Flute
4 Flute VI-Pro Feeds And Speeds 5 Flute VI-Pro Feeds And Speeds 6 Flute VI-Pro Feeds And Speeds