Calculate CNC milling feed rate from chip load, spindle speed and number of cutting teeth. Also calculate chip load from a known feed rate.
Enter CNC parameters to calculate feed rate.
How do I calculate CNC feed rate? Multiply chip load per tooth by spindle RPM and the number of effective cutting teeth.
What is chip load? Chip load is the theoretical amount of feed assigned to each cutting tooth during one spindle revolution.
What is feed rate? Feed rate is the linear distance the CNC tool travels per unit of time, normally expressed as mm/min or inches/min.
Does more flutes mean a higher feed rate? Mathematically, yes, if chip load and RPM remain constant. However, the appropriate chip load depends on the cutter and machining conditions.
Does RPM affect feed rate? Yes. With constant chip load and flute count, increasing RPM increases feed rate proportionally.
Can I calculate chip load from feed rate? Yes. Select the chip-load mode and enter feed rate, RPM and effective flute count.
Can I calculate RPM from feed rate? Yes. Select the RPM mode and enter feed rate, chip load and flute count.
What does effective cutting teeth mean? It is the number of teeth being treated as active cutting edges in the calculation. Actual tooth engagement can vary with cutter geometry and machining conditions.
Can this be used for CNC routers? Yes. The basic feed-per-tooth relationship also applies to CNC routers and other rotary cutting machines.
How do I choose a suitable chip load? Start with the cutter manufacturer's recommended values for the specific tool, material, diameter and machining conditions, then account for machine rigidity and engagement.
Does this calculator account for radial engagement? No. It calculates the basic feed-rate relationship. Radial and axial engagement can affect the appropriate machining parameters and actual chip thickness.