Understanding Cutting Tool Speeds And Feeds

By Author: Radikha Iyer
Total Articles: 4
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A cutting tool is the machine/tool which is used to cut and remove the material from the piece of a material. The cutting is possible through either single point tool or the multiple pointed tools. The single point tools are used for the shaping, turning and planning the material and cut them with single point, whereas, the multiple point is used for grinding, milling or drilling purpose. These tools are supposed to be harder than the material to be cut. The speeds and feeds are very important for the long life of the tool.

The speeds and feeds are the two type of velocities at which the machine runs. They are also called the cutting speed and the feed rate. Both of these are important and play an equal role in the cutting process.

Cutting Speed- it is defined as the rate of the speed used at the surface of the material. The cutting speed of the material is different from the one another. The cutting speed is normally the tangential speed when it moves on the surface of the material piece. In the same way when the cutting speed is considered during the drilling and milling, the diameter of the tool is taken into ...
... consideration. When the turning and boring is considered, the surface from the both sides can be taken into consideration. For every material there is an optimum speed for the different cutting machines, and with this speed the RPM can be measured.

Things that affect the speed of the cutting process are:

-The material that need to be cut or machined.
-The material from which the cutter is made – carbide, carbon steel, HSS.
-The life of the cutter according to its purchase.

Feed Rate- it is the velocity on which the cutter is fed or moves on the material. In the turning and boring process, it is measured in units – Distance per Revolution. And in the milling process, it is measured as Distance per Time.

The feed rate depends upon the following things:

-The type of tool being used.
-The expectations of the finished surface.
-The power of the spindle.
-Machine’s rigid quality.
-The strength, characteristics and resistance of the material to be cut.
-The cutting Width.

The feed rate of the single point tools is clear and straightforward. In the multiple point tools the feed rate is dependent upon the number of teeth on the cutter as well as the type of material to be cut.

Here we notice that both the speed and feeds have its importance and not only one thing is given importance.

Pramit K Patel has been a part of the Engineering Industry since last 18 years. His industry experience in Metal Working inspires him to write about the same. He is currently the head of Bipico, a renowned Industrial Tool Supplier in India and abroad.