A Cutting Data entry defines the machining parameters for one tool assembly line, one operation type, and one workpiece material. It is the source that the machining calculator pre-populates and the setup sheet prints for each operation.
Calculated speeds, feeds and depths are starting values. Before you machine, check the tool geometry, units, cutting parameters and the machine’s limits against the tool manufacturer’s data and your shop’s procedures. See section 10 of the Terms of Service .
Field
Description
Operation Type The machining operation this entry applies to. See Operation types below.
Material The workpiece material from the Materials Library. Used to filter compatible entries in the machining calculator and on project operations.
Unit System Metric (mm, m/min) or Inch (in, sfm). All parameter values are stored and displayed in the selected unit system.
Vc Cutting speed. m/min (metric) or sfm (inch). Manufacturer-recommended value for this tool-material combination.
fz Feed per tooth (milling, drilling, reaming) or feed per revolution (turning, boring, parting). mm or in.
ap Axial depth of cut along the tool axis. mm or in.
ae Radial engagement as a percentage of the cutting diameter. Milling operations only.
dm Workpiece or bore diameter. mm or in. Turning, boring, parting, grooving, and threading only.
The following values are computed from the inputs above and displayed read-only. See Formulas for how each is derived.
Field
Symbol
Unit (metric / inch)
Description
Spindle Speed n rpm
Rotational speed at the working diameter.
Feed Rate vf mm/min / in/min
Linear feed speed of the tool or workpiece.
Material Removal Rate Q cm³/min / in³/min
Volume of material removed per minute.
Chip Thickness he mm / in
Equivalent mean chip thickness.
Cutting Power Pc kW / hp
Estimated power at the cutting point. Only shown when the workpiece material has a specific cutting force (kc ) value defined.
Torque Tc Nm / ft·lb
Estimated spindle torque. Only shown when kc is available.
Group
Operations
Milling Face milling, Slot milling, Shoulder milling, Copy milling, Disc milling
Turning External turning, Internal turning, Parting-off, Grooving
Threading External threading, Internal threading
Hole Making Drilling, Step drilling, Deep hole drilling, Cylindrical reaming, Profile reaming, Boring, Counterboring, Countersinking, Trepanning
Broaching Circular broaching, Linear broaching
Trepanning and Broaching entries store Vc, fz, ap, and ae like any other operation, but the machining calculator does not derive Spindle Speed, Feed Rate, or the other Calculated Outputs for these two groups — those fields are blank for these operation types.
Applies to all operations:
Unit system
Formula
Metric
n = Vc × 1000 / (π × Dw )
Inch
n = Vc × 12 / (π × Dw )
Dw (working diameter) is the effective cutting diameter at the programmed depth. For turning, parting, boring, and threading it equals dm . For milling it is derived from tool geometry — see below.
Insert geometry
Formula
Square or flat
Dw = Dc when ap ≥ re ; Dw = Dc − 2re + 2√(ap (2re − ap )) when ap < re
Ball nose
Dw = Dc × sin(arccos(1 − 2ap / Dc ))
Angled (κr < 90°)
Dw = Dc + 2ap / tan(κr)
Operation group
Formula
Milling, drilling, reaming
vf = n × zeff × fz
Turning, boring, parting, grooving
vf = n × fz
Threading (metric)
vf = n × tp (tp = thread pitch in mm)
Threading (inch)
vf = n / tpi
Operation group
Formula (metric)
Milling
Q = ap × ae × Dw × vf / 100,000 (ae in %)
Turning, boring
Q = Vc × ap × fz
Parting, grooving
Q = Vc × cw × fz (cw = cutting width)
Drilling
Q = Vc × Dc × zeff × fz / 4
Reaming, counterboring
Q = Vc × ap × zeff × fz × (1 − ap / Dw )
Requires the workpiece material to have a specific cutting force value (kc ).
Operation group
Formula (metric)
Milling
Pc = ap × ae × Dw × vf × kc / 60,000,000 (ae in %)
Turning, boring
Pc = Vc × ap × fz × kc / 60,000
Parting, grooving
Pc = Vc × cw × fz × kc / 60,000
Drilling
Pc = Q × kc / 60,000
Reaming, counterboring
Pc = Vc × ap × zeff × fz × kc × (1 − ap / Dw ) / 60,000
Unit system
Formula
Metric
Tc = Pc × 30,000 / (π × n )
Inch
Tc = Pc × 16,501 / (π × n )
