Machining Guidelines

Note: Speeds and Feeds are only general starting points and may vary depending on specific applications.

Milling

Working Material

Application

Cutting Speed
fpm

Cutting Speed
m/min

Chip Load
ipt

Chip Load
mm/t

ALUMINUM
Aluminum
(5–8% Si) (356, 308, 242, 208)		 Rough Milling 2000–5000 610–1525 0.010–0.020 0.254–0.508
Aluminum
(5–8% Si) (356, 308, 242, 208)		 Finish Milling 2000–6000 610–1830 0.005–0.010 0.127–0.254
Aluminum Cast
(8–12% Si) (354, 357, 380)		 Rough Milling 1500–4000 460–1220 0.007–0.015 0.178–0.381
Aluminum Cast
(8–12% Si) (354, 357, 380)		 Finish Milling 1500–5000 460–1525 0.004–0.008 0.102–0.204
Aluminum Cast
(12–18% Si) (390)		 Rough Milling 1000–2000 305–610 0.005–0.010 0.127–0.254
Aluminum Cast
(12–18% Si) (390)		 Finish Milling 1000–3000 305–915 0.002–0.006 0.050–0.150

OTHER MATERIALS
Babbitt Milling 700–1100 210–335 0.003–0.010 0.076–0.254
Brass Milling 2000–4000 610–1220 0.001–0.008 0.025–0.200
Bronze Milling 900–1350 275–410 0.003–0.008 0.076–0.200
Carbon Milling 500–2000 150–610 0.0003–0.012 0.008–0.305
Carbon Fiber Materials Milling 500–2000 150–610 0.003–0.015 0.076–0.381
Copper Milling 750–1500 230–460 0.001–0.008 0.025–0.200
Glass Fiber Material Milling 750–1500 230–460 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Green Ceramic Materials Milling 500–1500 150–460 0.002–0.010 0.050–0.254
Unfilled Plastic Milling 1000–4000 305–1220 0.003–0.020 0.076–0.508
Wood Milling 3300–9800 1000–3000 0.004–0.030 0.102–0.762

Turning

Working Material

Application

Cutting Speed
fpm

Cutting Speed
m/min

Chip Load
ipt

Chip Load
mm/r

ALUMINUM
Aluminum
(5–8% Si) (356, 308, 242, 208)		 Rough Turning 2000–5000 610–1525 0.010–0.025 0.254–0.635
Aluminum
(5–8% Si) (356, 308, 242, 208)		 Finish Turning 2000–6000 610–1830 0.005–0.010 0.127–0.254
Aluminum Cast
(8–12% Si) (354, 357, 380)		 Rough Turning 1500–4000 460–1220 0.007–0.020 0.178–0.508
Aluminum Cast
(8–12% Si) (354, 357, 380)		 Finish Turning 1500–5000 460–1525 0.004–0.008 0.102–0.204
Aluminum Cast
(12–18% Si) (390)		 Rough Turning 1000–2000 305–610 0.005–0.010 0.127–0.254
Aluminum Cast
(12–18% Si) (390)		 Finish Turning 1000–3000 305–915 0.002–0.006 0.050–0.150

OTHER MATERIALS
Babbitt Turning 700–1100 210–335 0.003–0.010 0.076–0.254
Brass Turning 2000–4000 610–1220 0.003–0.015 0.076–0.381
Bronze Turning 900–1350 275–410 0.003–0.010 0.076–0.254
Carbon Turning 500–2000 150–610 0.005–0.015 0.127–0.381
Carbon Fiber Materials Turning 500–2000 150–610 0.003–0.020 0.076–0.508
Copper Turning 750–1500 230–460 0.003–0.010 0.076–0.254
Glass Fiber Material Turning 750–1500 230–460 0.001–0.015 0.025–0.381
Green Ceramic Materials Turning 500–1500 150–460 0.002–0.020 0.050–0.508
Unfilled Plastic Turning 1000–4000 305–1220 0.003–0.020 0.076–0.508
Wood Turning 3300–9800 1000–3000 0.004–0.030 0.102–0.762

Drilling

Working Material

Application

Cutting Speed
fpm

Cutting Speed
m/min

Chip Load
ipt

Chip Load
mm/r

ALUMINUM
Aluminum
(5–8% Si) (356, 308, 242, 208)		 Drilling 2000–6000 610–1830 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Aluminum Cast
(8–12% Si) (354, 357, 380)		 Drilling 1500–5000 460–1525 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Aluminum Cast
(12–18% Si) (390)		 Drilling 1000–3000 305–915 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254

OTHER MATERIALS
Babbitt Drilling 700–1100 210–335 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Brass Drilling 2000–4000 610–1220 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Bronze Drilling 900–1350 275–410 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Carbon Drilling 500–2000 150–610 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Carbon Fiber Materials Drilling 500–2000 150–610 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Copper Drilling 750–1500 230–460 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Glass Fiber Material Drilling 750–1500 230–460 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Green Ceramic Materials Drilling 500–1500 150–460 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Unfilled Plastic Drilling 1000–4000 305–1220 0.001–0.010 0.025–0.254
Wood Drilling 3300–9800 1000–3000 0.003–0.025 0.076–0.635

Speed and Feed for Graphite

Tool 
Diameter

Soft Graphite Chipload

Medium Graphite Chipload

Hard Graphite Chipload

Roughing (ipt)

Finishing (ipt)

Roughing (ipt)

Finishing (ipt)

Roughing (ipt)

Finishing (ipt)
1/32″ 0.0006–0.0008 0.0005–0.0006 0.0005–0.0006 0.0004–0.0005 0.0004–0.0005 0.0003–0.0004
1/16″ 0.0013–0.0015 0.0010–0.0013 0.0010–0.0013 0.0008–0.0010 0.0008–0.0010 0.0005–0.0008
3/32″ 0.0019–0.0023 0.0015–0.0019 0.0015–0.0019 0.0011–0.0015 0.0011–0.0015 0.0008–0.0011
1/8″ 0.0025–0.0030 0.0020–0.0025 0.0020–0.0025 0.0015–0.0020 0.0015–0.0020 0.0010–0.0015
3/16″ 0.0038–0.0045 0.0030–0.0038 0.0030–0.0038 0.0023–0.0030 0.0023–0.0030 0.0015–0.0023
1/4″ 0.0050–0.0060 0.0040–0.0050 0.0040–0.0050 0.0030–0.0040 0.0030–0.0040 0.0020–0.0030
5/16″ 0.0063–0.0075 0.0050–0.0063 0.0050–0.0063 0.0038–0.0050 0.0038–0.0050 0.0025–0.0038
3/8″ 0.0075–0.0090 0.0060–0.0075 0.0060–0.0075 0.0045–0.0060 0.0045–0.0060 0.0030–0.0045
7/16″ 0.0088–0.0105 0.0070–0.0088 0.0070–0.0088 0.0053–0.0070 0.0053–0.0070 0.0035–0.0053
1/2″ 0.0100–0.0120 0.0080–0.0100 0.0080–0.0100 0.0060–0.0080 0.0060–0.0080 0.0040–0.0060
Speeds and Feeds are only general starting points and may vary depending on specific application.

Cutting Speeds for Graphite

Graphite Hardness

Cutting Speed
square ft/min
Soft Graphite 1000–2000 sfm
Medium Graphite 750–1500 sfm
Hard Graphite 500–1250 sfm
Use maximum RPM suggested if RPM is higher than the machine capabilities.

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