Calculate chip load per tooth, CNC milling feed rate, spindle RPM and material-feed relationships for multi-flute cutting tools.
Enter CNC milling parameters to calculate chip load.
What is CNC chip load? Chip load is the theoretical amount of feed assigned to each cutting tooth for every spindle revolution.
What is the chip load formula? Chip load equals feed rate divided by spindle RPM multiplied by the number of cutting teeth.
How do I calculate feed rate from chip load? Multiply chip load per tooth by spindle RPM and the number of effective cutting teeth.
Does the number of flutes affect chip load? For a fixed feed rate and RPM, adding more flutes reduces the calculated feed per tooth.
Does RPM affect chip load? Yes. If feed rate and flute count remain constant, increasing RPM decreases theoretical chip load per tooth.
What is feed per tooth? Feed per tooth is the distance the cutter advances for each tooth during one spindle revolution. It is commonly used as the chip-load input for milling calculations.
Is chip load the same as actual chip thickness? Not always. Actual chip thickness is affected by cutter engagement, cutter geometry, radial immersion and other machining conditions.
Does tool diameter matter for chip load? Tool diameter is not directly required for the basic chip-load formula, but it is important when determining spindle speed, surface speed and appropriate machining conditions.
Can this calculator be used for CNC routers? Yes. The same basic feed-per-tooth relationship applies to CNC routers and milling machines, provided the appropriate tool and cutting parameters are used.
How do I choose the correct chip load? Use tooling manufacturer recommendations for the specific cutter, workpiece material, cutter diameter, flute count and cutting conditions. Then adjust for machine rigidity and engagement.