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CNC Feed CalculatorRouter Feed Rate & Speed Calculator

Calculate the correct feed rate, surface speed and chip load for CNC routing. Dial in feeds and speeds by material to get clean edges, long tool life and efficient material removal.

Feed Rate mm/minChip Load CheckSurface SpeedMaterial RemovalPDF Report
CNC

CNC Feed Calculator

Router Feed Rate & Speed Calculator

Tool & Material
mm
flutes
Cutting Parameters
RPM
mm

Auto-set by material; fine-tune as needed.

mm

For material removal rate.

OK
CNC Feeds & Speeds Results
-
mm/min
Feed Rate
-
m/min
Surface Speed
-
mm/tooth
Chip Load
-
cm3/min
Removal Rate
ParameterValueDetail
Feeds & Speeds Calculation
About CNC Feed Calculator
Feeds and speeds determine cut quality, tool life and machining time on a CNC router. The heart of it is chip load - the thickness of material each cutting edge removes per revolution. Get it right and you produce clean edges with long tool life; get it wrong and you either burn and rub (too slow) or chip and snap tools (too fast). This calculator converts spindle speed, flute count and chip load into the exact feed rate to program.
Where Is This Used?
CNC Router ProgrammingNesting OperationsSign MakingCabinet ProductionTool Life OptimizationMachine Setup
Formulas Used
Feed rate (mm/min) = RPM x Number of flutes x Chip loadSurface speed (m/min) = pi x Tool diameter x RPM / 1000Material removal rate = Feed x Depth of cut x Tool dia / 1000Chip load = Feed rate / (RPM x flutes) [to verify]Feed in IPM = Feed mm/min / 25.4 (imperial machines)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chip load and why is it the key number?
Chip load is how much material each flute bites per revolution. It is the single best predictor of cut quality and tool life. Each chip carries heat away from the tool, so a proper chip load keeps the bit cool. Too small and the bit rubs instead of cutting (heat, dulling); too large and it overloads and breaks.
Why does too slow a feed damage the tool?
It seems counter-intuitive, but feeding too slowly means each flute scrapes a chip thinner than the edge radius - it rubs rather than cuts. This generates heat that has nowhere to go (no chip to carry it away), burning the material and rapidly dulling or melting the bit. Faster, within limits, is often safer.
How do flute count and material interact?
More flutes give a finer finish but less chip clearance, so they suit hard, dense materials at lower chip loads. Fewer flutes (1-2) clear chips aggressively, ideal for soft woods, MDF and plastics that would otherwise clog and melt. This tool's chip-load ranges already reflect typical material behaviour.
ResourcesView the formulasFormula Library
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