CNC Tooling, Cutting Parameters & Feeds and Speeds
Everything that touches the cut: tool materials, coatings, geometry, and the cutting parameters (Vc, fz, ap, ae) that actually work on each workpiece material. Written from real shop data — not catalogue copy.
This section is being built.
Pages below are scheduled for the next batch. Items marked (live) are already published; items marked (in progress) are being drafted with data cross-checked against ISO, ASME, and cutting-tool manufacturers (Sandvik Coromant, Kennametal, Iscar).
Cutting Formulas & Theory
- Cutting Speed, Feed & MRR FormulasVc · n · fz · ap · ae — the four numbers behind every machining operation, with worked examples
- Cutting Force & Powerkc (specific cutting force) by material, spindle power check, torque limits
- Tool Wear & Tool Life (Taylor)VB wear criteria, Taylor VTn=C, when to index, cost-per-edge math
Tool Materials & Coatings
- Tool Materials ComparedHSS vs carbide vs ceramic vs CBN vs PCD — hardness, toughness, max speed, application map
- Tool Coatings (TiN / TiCN / TiAlN / DLC)What each coating buys you, in which material, and why — with max working temperature
- Tool Geometry (Helix, Rake, Corner Radius)Helix angle by material, rake vs clearance, when to choose more flutes
Cutting Parameters by Workpiece Material
- Carbon & Alloy Steel (1018, 1045, 4140, 4340)Vc 80–220 m/min, fz guidance, hardening response, chip control
- Stainless Steel (303, 304, 316, 17-4PH)Work-hardening avoidance, sharp tools, lower Vc, plenty of coolant
- Aluminum Alloys (6061, 7075, 2024)High Vc (300–1000 m/min), polished flutes, single-flute for soft grades
- Titanium (Grade 2, Ti-6Al-4V)Low Vc, sharp uncoated carbide, high-pressure coolant, prevent work-hardening
- Superalloys (Inconel 718, Hastelloy)Very low Vc, positive geometry, ceramic tools for hard grades
- Engineering Plastics (POM, PEEK, Nylon)Sharp polished tools, low heat, climb milling, stress-relief before critical dims
Coolant, Vibration & Chip Control
- Coolant Strategies (Flood, MQL, High-Pressure, Dry)When each wins, thermal shock risk, MQL for aluminum and drilling
- Chatter & Vibration DiagnosisStability lobes, tool overhang rule-of-thumb, rigidity checklist
- Chip Breaking & EvacuationChip-breaker geometry, peck drilling cycles, air blast vs vacuum
How this section is built
Every page follows the same template: a decision table at the top (which tool / which parameter for which job), data tables in the middle (cross-checked against ISO 8688, Sandvik Coromant, Kennametal), and a “common mistakes” block at the end. Each numerical recommendation cites its source.