Feed Rate Calculator

Work out feed rate instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Feed Rate Calculator

Table feed is the product of spindle speed, the number of cutting edges and the chip each edge is asked to remove. Chip load, not feed rate, is the quantity that governs tool life and surface finish, so the same cutter run at double the rpm must be fed twice as fast to keep the chip the same.

Formula

Feed rate

IPM = rpm x number of teeth x chip load per tooth

Worked example

With the default values below, Feed Rate Calculator returns Table feed rate of 12.80. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Spindle speedminimum 1 rpm: 800 rpm
Number of cutting edgesminimum 1: 4
Chip load per toothminimum 0 in/tooth: 0.004 in/tooth

Results

Table feed rate: 12.80 in/min
Feed in metric units: 325.1 mm/min
Feed per revolution: 0.0160 in/rev
Chip load per tooth: 0.1016 mm

Step by step

1Values used
2Feed rate
3Table feed rate= 12.80 in/min
4Feed in metric units= 325.1 mm/min
5Feed per revolution= 0.0160 in/rev
6Chip load per tooth= 0.1016 mm

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Feed Rate figure worked out?

IPM = rpm x number of teeth x chip load per tooth. Table feed is the product of spindle speed, the number of cutting edges and the chip each edge is asked to remove.

What happens if the chip load is too small?

The edge rubs instead of cutting, which work-hardens the surface and generates heat. Counter-intuitively, feeding too lightly is a common cause of premature tool failure.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 3 inputs: Spindle speed, Number of cutting edges, Chip load per tooth. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.