Resources

Selected Equations, Figures and Tables

On this page you will find suggested starting points for speeds and feeds values.

I am providing suggested settings that I have found work in specific situations and with certain kinds of machines.

Proper feeds and speeds for different machines and different setups, tools, and materials will need to be determined by the machinist through experience.

Along with these recommendations comes the expectation that any variations in your specific machining configuration be considered, and the numbers adjusted accordingly to compensate.

These numbers, for many applications, provide a starting point for machining, but close attention should be made to what actually happens during the machining process. Be prepared to stop a program if things are not going smoothly, adjust settings, and try again.

Keep detailed notes about what happens, what changes you make, and why. It is only through this type of careful experimentation, with an emphasis on safe approaches and operations, that a real understanding of the process will emerge.

Refer to Chapter 5 when deciding on values and figuring out how changes in these values will affect the machining process. Particularly Section 5.3 discusses how adjusting numbers like chipload and spindle speed will change what happens on a machine and how to make changes based on either the limitation of a machine or the results being achieved during the machining process.