Carbide Insert Speeds and Feeds

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Technical Information

Contains information about:
Speeds and Feeds
Troubleshooting
Application Examples
Calculators

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Selecting the Proper Cutting Speed for Carbide Inserts

Cutting speed is determined primarily by the machinability of the material and the hardness of the cutting tool. Machinability describes the ease or difficulty with
which a metal can be cut. The machinability of a material has a direct correlation with the material�s hardness, or its ability to resist penetration or deformation.
There are a number of tests that measure a materials hardness, but the most common test for machinability and hardness is Brinnel. Brinnel or BHN is stated
as a number: the higher the BHN number the harder the material. Different material structures pose different problems for the machinist. With the cutting tool type
being equal, look at what happens to the cutting speed as the materials Brinnel hardness increases.

Remember these are just general speeds and feeds, be sure to check the specifications provided by the manufacturer of your tools for optimal performance

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Recommended Speeds & Feeds For Turning & Grooving
			Surface Speeds (SFM) & Feed Rates (FPR)
Material Group	Material Specs.	Uncoated	PVD TIN Coated		PVD TiALAN Coated
Aluminum	2024, 7071, 7075 etc.	Maximum SFM .001-.010+ FPR	Maximum SFM .001-.010+ FPR	Maximum SFM .001-.010+ FPR	^	^	^
Aluminum - Cast	A356 (A380, A390 Use Diamond)	600-1000 .001-.010+ FPR	800-1000 .001-.010+ FPR	^	^	^	^
Copper	Most Alloys	600-1000 .001-.010 FPR	800-1000 .001-.010 FPR	^	^	^	^
Brass - Bronze	Most Free Machining Alloys	600-1000 .001-.010 FPR	800-1000 .001-.010 FPR	^	^	^	^
Carbon Steels - Soft	1010, 1018, 1025 1117, 12L14	^	300-500 .001-.005 FPR	400-600 .001-.008 FPR	200-300 .001-.08 FPR	300-600 .001-.005 FPR	450-850 .001-.008 FPR
Carbon Steels 25 Rc+	1045, 1070, 1114, A36	^	300-450 .001-.005 FPR	350-550 .001-.006 FPR	200-300 .001-.007 FPR	300-500 .001-.005 FPR	450-750 .001-.007 FPR
Alloy Steels	4130, 4140, 4330 4340, 8620	^	250-450 .001-.004 FPR	350-500 .001-.005 FPR	200-300 .001-.006 FPR	300-500 .001-.004 FPR	400-700 .001-.006 FPR
Alloy Steels 30 Rc+	4130, 4140, 4150 4330, 4340, 52100	^	250-450 .001-.004 FPR	300-500 .001-.005 FPR	200-300 .001-.005 FPR	300-450 .001-.004 FPR	350-600 .001-.005+ FPR
Tool Steels-Annealed	01, W1, S6, P20 A6, D2, H13, etc.	^	200-400 .001-.004 FPR	250-450 .001-.004 FPR	150-300 .001-.004 FPR	200-400 .001-.004 FPR	350-600 .001-.005 FPR
Stainless Steels	201, 202, 301, 302 303, 304, 410, 416	^	250-450 .001-.003 FPR	250-500 .001-.004 FPR	200-300 .001-.005 FPR	300-600 .001-.004 FPR	350-500 .001-.005 FPR
Stainless Steels	304L, 316, 316L, 420 422, 430, 455, 17-4PH	^	200-400 .001-.003 FPR	225-450 .001-.004 FPR	150-275 .001-.04 FPR	250-550 .001-.003 FPR	250-450 .001-.005 FPR
Stainless Steels	316VAR, 13-8MO PH 15-5 PH 36 RC+,440C	^	150-300 .001-.003 FPR	^	150-250 .001-.003 FPR	150-350 .001-.003 FPR	150-300 .001-.004 FPR
Titanium - CP	Commercially Pure	150-400 .001-.006 FPR	250-400 .001-.003 FPR	^	200-300 .001-.003 FPR	250-600 .001-.003 FPR	^
Titanium - Alloys	6AL-4V, 5AL-2.5SN	100-200 .001-.003 FPR	100-200 .001-.003 FPR	^	100-250 .001-.003 FPR	150-350 .001-.003 FPR	^
Titanium - Hardened	Alloys 36 Rc+	75.100 .001-.003 FPR	75-125 .001-.003 FPR	^	75-150 .001-.003 FPR	100-200 .001-.003 FPR	^
High Temp Alloys	Ni 200, Monel, Invar Kovar, Inconel 600	100-150 .001-.003 FPR	100-200 .001-.003 FPR	^	100-250 .001-.003 FPR	100-300 .001-.003 FPR	^
High Temp Alloys	A286, Inconel 625 718, X750, Hastelloy	75.150 .001-.003 FPR	100-150 .001-.003 FPR	^	75-200 .001-.003 FPR	100-200 .001-.003 FPR	^
High Temp Alloys	Hardened Alloys 35 Rc+, Stellite etc.	50-100 .001-.002 FPR	50-125 .001-.002 FPR	^	50-100 .001-.002 FPR	75-150 .001-.003 FPR	^
Core Iron	Low Carbon Iron & Soft Iron Alloys	^	300-500 .001-.004 FPR	300-600 .001-.005 FPR	200-300 .001-.005 FPR	300-600 .001-.005 FPR	450-800 .001-.006 FPR
Gray Cast Iron	150-325 BHN Class 20, 30, 35, 40	200-300 .001-.010+ FPR	200-600 .001-.010+ FPR	^	100-300 .001-.010+ FPR	250-600 .001-.010+ FPR	^
Gray Cast Iron	275-450 BHN Class 50, 55, 60	150-250 .001-.008+ FPR	150-450 .001-.008+ FPR	^	100-250 .001-.008+ FPR	200-500 .001-.008+ FPR	^
Alloy /Ductile Iron	60-40-18, 80-55-06 100-70-03, A536	100-250 .001-.008+ FPR	150-500 .001-.008+ FPR	300-500 .001-.008+ FPR	100-300 .001-.008+ FPR	250-500 .001-.008+ FPR	300-600 .001-.008+ FPR

1. Start near the top of the SFM Range using a Light Feed Rate to Reduce Build-up Edge & Insert Chipping.
2. Adjust RPM & Feeds after Setup to achieve Optimum Tool Life. Use Higher Feed Rates in Soft Materials.
3. In Hard Materials, use a Wear Resistant Grade like 323 or 623 at Medium to Low SFM and Light Feeds.

Formula to Calculate Surface Feet Per Minutes (SFM): SFM = 3.1416 x Part Diameter, Divided by 12 x RPM

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