RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)
The speed by which the tool or spindle is rotating
SFM (Surface Per Minute)
The manufacturer's suggested working velocity of the tool based on geometry, substrate, coatings and workpiece material
IPM (Inches Per Minute)
The feedrate by which the workpiece material passes by the endmill during production
IPT (Inches Per Tooth)
the manufacturer's suggested feedrate, measured in .001" increments, as applied to each tooth of the endmill, aka "chip load"
Feed Rate
The distance traveled by the workpiece as the tool revolves one time only
If you know these...
Then the math becomes easy...
Suggested Surface Feet Per Minute (SFM)
(see above for material suggestions) Diameter of Tool
RPM = SFM X 3.82, ÷ Diameter of tool
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) Diameter of Tool
SFM = .262 X RPM X Diameter of tool
RPM
Chipload Per Tooth
(feed per tooth per revolution)
Number of teeth
IPM = RPM X chipload per tooth X Number of flutes
IPM (inches per minute) RPM (revolutions per minute)
Number of Flutes on tool
IPT = IPM ÷ RPM ÷ Number of flutes
IPM (inches per minute) RPM (revolutions per minute)
IPR = IPM ÷ RPM
A working example to calculate RPMs…
Whereby you want to run a 3/8" diameter, 4 fluted endmill at the suggested 200 SFM. What are your suggested RPMs?
RPMs = SFM X 3.82, ÷ Diameter of tool So… 200 SFM X 3.82, ÷ .375"… equals 2,037 RPM
A working example to calculate the SFM… for the same 3/8" diameter tool when you know that your spindle runs at 18,000 RPMs…
SFM = .262 X RPM X Diameter of tool So… .262 X 18,000 X .375"… equals 1,768.5 SFM
A working example to find the work material's suggested feed-rate, for the same 3/8" diameter, 4 fluted tool, when I know the spindle is running at 2,500 RPM and a chip load of .0025" per tooth…
IPM = RPM X Chip Load per Tooth X Number of Teeth So….2,500 X .0025" X 4… equals 25 IPM (inches per minute)
A working example to see if your chip-load is correct, for a 3/8" diameter, 2 fluted tool routing aluminum at 5,000 RPMs at 45 IPM feed…
IPT = IPM ÷ RPM ÷ Number of flutes So…. 45 ÷ 5,000 ÷ 2 flutes…equals .0045" per tooth