Introduction to Selecting Milling Tools

IImportant decisions for the selection of cutting tools for

standard milling operations

The variety of shapes and materials machined on modern milling machines makes it impera-
tive for machine operators to understand the decision-making process for selecting suitable
cutting tools for each job.

This course curriculum contains 16-hours of material for instructors to get their students
ready to make basic decisions about which tools are suitable for standard milling operations.

2016 MachiningCloud, Inc. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
Audience ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Purpose ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Lesson Objectives........................................................................................................................ 2
Where to Start: A Blueprint and a Plan .......................................................................................... 3
Decision 1: What type of machining is needed? ............................................................................ 7
Decision 2: What is the workpiece material? ................................................................................. 7
ISO Material Classifications......................................................................................................... 8
Decision 3: What are the capabilities of my machine? ................................................................ 10
Decision 4: What machining operations are needed?.................................................................. 11
Decision 5: In what order should operations be performed? ...................................................... 15
Points to be considered for pockets and slots .......................................................................... 16
Decision 6: What types of tools are needed? ............................................................................... 17
Tool Material ............................................................................................................................. 17
Facing Tool ................................................................................................................................ 18
Contouring Tool ........................................................................................................................ 19
Drilling Tools ............................................................................................................................. 19
Pocketing Tool........................................................................................................................... 20
Decision 7: Are the required tools available? ............................................................................... 21
Searching for tools in an online database ................................................................................ 21
Download the MachiningCloud App ......................................................................................... 21
Install the MachiningCloud App on your computer ................................................................. 21
Search for cutting tools in the MachiningCloud online databases ........................................... 22
Decision 8: What feeds and speeds should I use? ........................................................................ 31

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Introduction
Milling tools remove material by their movement in the machine and from their shape. Factors
that must be considered when selecting milling tools include the type of material being
machined, the shapes of internal and external profiles, the amount of stock to be removed
along internal and external profiles, the desired finish of the part surfaces, and the capabilities
of the machine.

Audience
This class is intended for milling operators and students in a milling operator training program
who understand how to set up and run a milling machine. Students should be able to identify
common types of milling tools, tool holders, and tool materials. Students should also be able to
read and understand blueprints and perform basic shop math.

Purpose
This class teaches the decision-making process of selecting cutting tools for basic milling
operations. The student will start with a blueprint and learn the thought process for selecting a
tool material based on the part material and selecting tool type, tool shape, and tool holder
based on the shape of external and internal profiles. Students finish with a machining process
plan for the operations, tools, and cutting data to machine a simple milled part.

Lesson Objectives
At the end of this class, you will know how to:

Use a blueprint to identify areas for material removal on the outside, face, and inside of
the stock such as faces, contours, pockets and holes
Analyze a blueprint to identify the standard types of milling operations that are required
to machine the part: facing, contouring, pocketing, drilling
Choose the order in which milling operations are to be applied
Analyze the geometry of the identified machining features to decide which tools and
tool holders are suitable to machine the geometry
Select a tool material based on the part material
Compare the types of cutting tools to use for facing, contouring, pocketing, and drilling
Download and install the MachiningCloud App, an online database of cutting tool data
Use the MachiningCloud App to search for a tool and its related items in an electronic
catalog
Calculate spindle speeds and feed rates

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Where to Start: A Blueprint and a Plan
All machining jobs have to start somewhere, and thats usually with a drawing of the finished
part. The drawing tells you important information about the size and shape of the part and the
stock material.

In this class, you will learn how to use a blueprint to make decisions about how to machine the
basic milled part shown below.

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Most machining jobs are accompanied by a process plan that lists important information for the
machine operator such as the type and order of operations, the cutting tool used for each
operation, and the cutting specifications for each operation.

You will use the drawing and the blank machining process plan on the next pages to begin the
decision-making process of choosing machining operations and the cutting tools to make the
part.

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2016 MachiningCloud, Inc. Where to Start: A Blueprint and a Plan | 5
2016 MachiningCloud, Inc. Where to Start: A Blueprint and a Plan | 6
Decision 1: What type of machining is needed?
As you look at a blueprint, the first question you need to answer is what type of machining is
needed. Machining operations can be generally classified as:

Turning Turning is used to produce rotational, typically axially symmetric, parts that
have features such as holes, grooves, tapers, and various diameter steps.
Milling Milling is typically used to produce parts that are not axially symmetric and
have features such as holes, slots, pockets, and contours.
Hole Making Hole making is a class of machining operations that are specifically used
to cut a cylindrical feature in a workpiece. Hole making can be performed on a variety of
machines. Hole making operations typically include drilling, reaming, tapping, and
boring.
This blueprint shows a part with length, width, and depth. It also has flat horizontal faces and
vertical walls. The blueprint also shows several holes of different sizes.
So, to start, you know you need:
1. Milling operations
2. Hole making operations

Decision 2: What is the workpiece material?

The workpiece material and the quantity of material that needs to be removed helps you
determine suitable cutting tools.
Is the part made of metal, is it soft or hard, and what kind of metal? Or is it wood? Plastic?
Materials are generally selected based on strength, weight and price considerations.
Parameters to be considered:

Material type
Chip forming
Material hardness
Alloy elements

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ISO Material Classifications
There is such a wide variety of materials used in the metal cutting industry that standards have
been established to identify them through a code and color.

ISO
Material Notes
Class
Steel is the most common material group, ranging from
unalloyed to high-alloyed material including steel
P Steel
castings. The machinability is normally good, but differs
depending on material hardness and content.
Stainless steels are materials alloyed with a minimum
of 12% chromium, other alloys can be nickel and
M Stainless Steel molybdenum. Different conditions make this a large
family. They all expose cutting edges to a great deal of
heat, notch wear and built-up-edge.
Cast iron is a short-chipping type of material. Grey cast
iron (GCI) and malleable cast irons (MCI) are quite easy
K Cast Iron to machine, while others are more difficult. All cast
irons contain silicon carbide (SiC), which is very
abrasive to the cutting edge.
Non-ferrous metals are softer types of metals such as
aluminum, copper, brass, etc. Aluminum with a silicon
N Non Ferrous
content (Si) of 13% is very abrasive. Generally, high
cutting speeds and long tool life can be expected.
Heat-resistant super alloys include a great number of
high-alloyed iron, nickel, cobalt and titanium-based
S HRSA and Titanium materials. They are sticky, create built-up-edge, work
harden and generate heat. They are difficult to cut and
have a short tool life.
This group covers steels with a hardness between 45-
65 HRc and also chilled cast iron around 400-600 HB.
H Hardened Steel The hardness makes them difficult to machine. The
materials generate heat during cutting and are abrasive
to cutting edges.

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The material is significant because:

Part material has an influence on the material you choose for your cutting tools
Part material and tool material together have an influence on the spindle speeds and
feed rates you choose for your machining operations
The blueprint in this lesson lists the material as 6061-T6 Aluminum 95 HB.

6061: This number designates the alloy. This aluminum alloy contains primarily
magnesium and silicon. It is one of the most common aluminum alloys for general-
purpose work.
T6: This number designates the tempering. This metal has an ultimate tensile strength
of at least 42,000 psi.
95 HB: This number designates the hardness of the metal on the Brinell scale.
The ISO material classification for this part material is:

N - Non Ferrous

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Decision 3: What are the capabilities of my machine?
Most machine shops have a variety of machines for a variety of tasks. Before deciding which
machine to use for a job, you must consider the type of work being done and whether the
machine you need is available.
Parameters to be considered when choosing a machine:

Condition of the machine

o Available power
o Stability
o Horizontal/vertical machine
o Spindle type and size
o Number of axes/configuration
o Workpiece clamping
Tool holding
o Holding strength/rigidity
o Axial/radial runout
o Tool overhang
All features of this part can be reached by a tool mounted on a vertical tool spindle. This part
can be machined using a standard mill.

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Decision 4: What machining operations are needed?
A machining process defines a process in which a piece of raw material is cut into a desired final
shape and size by a series of machining operations.
Common types of milling operations include the following:

Side Milling Facing Slotting Plunging & Ramping

Pocketing

Machining of an Machining of a Machining Axial feeding Axial feeding

edge surface on top face on the between two into a part along into a part along
the part. part. edge surfaces. the Z axis. the Z axis as well
Requires a as X or Y.
center cutting Requires a
end mill. center cutting
end mill.

Customer needs must also be considered in the process. What cutting quality to they want? Do
they want the finish to be rough or smooth? Are there edge life requirements?
Other parameters to be considered for a milled part:

Geometric shape
o Planar surfaces
o Deep cavities
o Thin walls
o Slots
Tolerances
o Dimensional accuracy
o Surface finish
o Part distortion
o Surface integrity

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Lets take a closer look at the geometry of this part.

This part has many common milling features: planar faces, sharp and rounded corners, holes,
and a rounded slot.

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Observations Machining Requirements
First, take a look at the What do you need to do to make the outside dimensions of
overall size and shape of the part the proper size?
the stock and the part.
A Facing operation can be applied to the top of the stock to
The stock is a 0.75 thick reduce the height of the stock by 0.125.
plate that is 4.0 long x
3.0 wide. A Side Milling (contouring) operation can be applied to the
outside edges of the stock to make sure the part is the proper
The part is also 4.0 long x size.
3.0 wide, but the
thickness is only 0.625.
Next, take a look around Since this contour has a single edge, a Side Milling (contouring)
the edges of the part. operation can be applied to produce the shoulder area.

There is a shoulder area

inside the part boundary
that is a minimum of
0.125 wide. It is 0.250
deep. The walls are
vertical.

The profile has a sharp

corner, a chamfer corner,
a rounded corner, and an
inverted radius corner.

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Most milled parts have A single Spot Drilling operation can be applied to all the holes
holes that allow the part to create a starting point for each hole.
to be attached to other
components.

This part has a total of six

holes.
There are four 1/4"
holes that go
completely through the
part
There are two precise
3/8 holes that go
completely through the
part

A Drilling operation can be applied to the 1/4" holes with a

0.25 twist drill.

The precise 3/8 holes should be drilled first with a twist drill
that is slightly smaller than the finished hole. Then, a Drilling
operation can be applied with a reamer that is the exact
diameter required.
Now take a look at any This slot has no open edges, so a Pocketing operation must be
features inside the applied that will plunge the tool into the material to remove all
boundary of the part. the material inside the slot.

There is a slot that is 3/8

wide with a total length of
1.125 that goes
completely through the
part.

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Decision 5: In what order should operations be performed?
There are many ways to program the same workpiece and all may produce the same finished
part. Your goal is to seek the most efficient, timely and accurate way to produce each part.
Operations are typically organized by which ones remove the most material to the least. For
example, if a part had a pocket feature with holes at the bottom of the pocket, the material
inside the pocket would be milled out before the holes are drilled. Otherwise, the operator
would waste time drilling holes in material that will be removed anyway.
Other points to consider when deciding the order of operations:

Minimize tool changes

Minimize the travel distance between operations
Maintain consistency so machine operators know what to expect
The best way to start is by machining the raw stock to the outer boundaries of the part. In other
words, you need to size the part.
In this case, the raw stock needs to be machined to 4.0 long X 3.0 wide X 0.625 thick.
1. A facing operation is typically performed first. Facing produces a smooth flat surface at
the top of the part. All other operations can then be performed from a uniformly flat
surface.
2. Follow the facing operation with an operation to contour around the outside edges of
the part. Now the top of the part is flat and the outside walls are perpendicular.
You can start filling out your machining process plan using the information from the blueprint.

Your next choice is whether to drill the holes or mill the profiles. Either choice will have the
same result because the milling and drilling operations do not depend on each other.
For this lesson, you will drill the holes next.
3. When a part has several holes, the location of each hole is usually pre-drilled to a very
shallow depth to create a good starting point for the later drilling operations. This is

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 called Center Drilling because the center of each hole is the only concern for this
operation. One tool with a small diameter is used to pre-drill all the holes.
4. The next step is to drill the holes with the largest diameter. In this case, those are the 2
holes with the 3/8 diameter. However, since they require reaming, you will use a drill
that is slightly smaller than 3/8.
5. Drill holes with the next smaller diameter. In this case, the 1/4" holes.
6. Ream holes that require a precise diameter. In this case, those are the holes that were
drilled in step 4.

The last two features to consider are the contour for the shoulder around the outside of the
part and the slot in the middle of the part.

Points to be considered for pockets and slots

The slot could be milled a few different ways. When you are milling a pocket or slot, you must
consider how chips will be evacuated out of the pocket because there is no other direction to
go but up. In a large pocket or hardened metal, this causes a problem with the cutter getting
clogged or re-cutting the same chips.
One strategy for this type of slot is to drill each end with a 3/8 twist drill and then mill only the
web of material between the two holes. The pre-drilled holes provide an easy exit for the chips.
Another strategy for pocket milling is to use two cutters and two operations, one to rough the
pocket and the second to finish the pocket. The roughing operation would remove most of the
material except for a small amount of stock on the walls and/or floors. The finishing operation
mills the pocket to the final size.
Finally, if a pocket has an open edge along one of the sides, the tool should always approach
the part from that edge instead of plunging into the pocket. When milling starts at an open
edge, the chips do not get trapped inside the pocket.
To keep things simple for this lesson, you will use a single milling operation for the slot because
the depth is only 0.625 and the material is relatively soft.

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 7. Create a milling operation to contour around the inner profile to a depth of 0.250.
8. Create a milling operation to pocket all the material inside the slot profile.

Decision 6: What types of tools are needed?

You now know the operations you need to machine this part and the order of those operations.
The next step is to decide the type and size of tool to use for each operation.
Parameters to be considered:

Type of operation
Part material/tool material
Solid cutter/indexable
Number of flutes/teeth
Depth of cut
Maximum diameter
45 degree face mill or 90 degree
Center cutting/non-center cutting

Tool Material
Milling tools are available as solid High Speed Steel (HSS), solid carbide, and solid bodies with
indexable inserts. HSS provides good wear resistance and costs less than carbide. Carbide is
considerably harder, more rigid, and more wear resistant than HSS.
This part is made of aluminum, a relatively soft metal. In this case, High Speed Steel (HSS) will
work well and cost less than carbide tools.

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Facing Tool
Several types of tools could be used for a facing operation: a solid HSS end mill, a solid carbide
end mill, an indexable end mill, or a face mill.
Face mills are designed specifically to create a flat surface. They remove material with the
bottom of the cutter much faster than an end mill. Face mills are large-diameter tools, usually
starting at a diameter of 1.5 or 2. Face mills also feature an array of inserts that can be easily
replaced as the edges get worn. Face mills with a 45 lead angle are used most frequently,
although 90 shoulder mills are also available for compact spaces.

It is neither economical nor practical to use solid end mills for facing. First, using a solid end mill
to cut primarily with the bottom of the tool and not the edges not only underutilizes the cutting
edges, but when the cutting edges get worn the entire tool must be replaced. Second, a solid
end mill cuts faces slower than a face mill. In a production machining environment, time is
money.
An indexable end mill features replaceable inserts like a face mill, but again it is not designed
specifically for facing. When considering tooling, you must take into account the intended use
of the cutter and the efficiency of cutting time.
The face of this part is only 4 x 3, so a face mill with a 2 diameter is more than adequate.
Face mills of this size typically have 4 inserts.

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Contouring Tool
End mills are used for contouring along walls. For aluminum, a 2-flute or 4-flute end mill could
be used.
For simplicity in this lesson, the outer contour of the part is roughed and finished with one
operation and one tool. For versatility, a 3/4" 4-flute solid end mill is a good choice.

Drilling Tools
HSS twist drills are by far the most common tool used for drilling operations. Twist drills are
available in many sizes and diameters.

For the 1/4" holes, choose a twist drill the same size
For the 3/8 precision hole, choose a drill that is slightly smaller. In this case, 23/64
(3/8 = 24/64).
The size of the center drill must be smaller than the smallest hole. The size of a center drill is
designated by a number.
Center Drill Dimensions

Size Body Dia. Tip Dia. Tip Length

00 1/8 .025 .030
0 1/8 1/32 .038
1 1/8 3/64 3/64
2 3/16 5/64 5/64
3 1/4 7/64 7/64
4 5/16 1/8 1/8
5 7/16 3/16 3/16
6 1/2 7/32 7/32
7 5/8 1/4 1/4
8 3/4 5/16 5/16

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Reamers are available in precise fractional sizes, with straight flutes or helical flutes. Straight
flute reamers are designed for general purpose reaming in most ferrous and non-ferrous
materials.

Pocketing Tool
To cut an enclosed slot or pocket, the tool cannot enter from the side and has to plunge down
into the material. For plunge cutting, a center cutting end mill is required.
The radius at both ends of the slot is 0.1875, so you cannot use a tool with a diameter greater
than 0.375.
For simplicity and efficiency in this lesson, you will use a 3/8 end mill to cut both the inner
profile and the slot.

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Decision 7: Are the required tools available?
Machine shops usually have a range of cutting tools in their tool crib to choose from. When you
create a process plan, you must ensure that the tools you specified are actually available either
in the tool crib or from your cutting tool vendor.
Cutting tool manufacturers provide catalogs of their cutting tools both in print and on their
website. Searching for a specific tool in a catalog can be time-consuming and confusing.
However, an online application makes it simpler and easier to search for the tools you need
from different cutting tool manufacturers.

Searching for tools in an online database

MachiningCloud is an independent provider of CNC cutting tool product data. A single source of
access to the most current product data from a variety of suppliers, in digital format, available
from your desktop. MachiningCloud provides the most up-to-date information, directly
obtained from the manufacturers. The data is formatted very closely to each manufacturers
catalog system so it is familiar to users.

Download the MachiningCloud App

MachiningCloud is a cloud-based software, so it can be downloaded and instantly installed on
your desktop computer or tablet. All your information is always available on any device upon
logging into your account.
1. From your computer or mobile device, open your Internet browser.
2. Enter the following URL address: https://www.machiningcloud.com
3. On the home page, click DOWNLOAD APP.
4. Choose your desired platform from the dropdown list. Choices include Android, iPad,
Windows Desktop.
5. Then click Download MachiningCloud.
6. On your desktop, look for your software to be downloading. If you are prompted to
Open/Run or Save the file, click the Save button.
7. On your mobile device, tap Install.

Install the MachiningCloud App on your computer

1. On your desktop, click the downloaded program to start the installation.
2. Choose your preferred language and click OK.
3. Scroll through and read the End User License Agreement. Accept the terms of the
license agreement and click Next.
4. Choose the Standard installation and click Next.
5. Click Install. Installation of the app only takes a few seconds.
6. Click Run App.

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 7. You will need to sign up for a free account so you can store your tooling data in the
cloud. Click Sign up for an account.
8. Type your information in the mandatory fields. You must enter your:
First Name
Last Name
Your Email
Confirm Email
9. When you are finished entering information, click Register. You will be prompted for a
password.
10. Enter a unique Password and then enter the same password to Confirm Password.

Search for cutting tools in the MachiningCloud online databases

The MachiningCloud has partnered with several cutting tool manufacturers. This lesson will
show you how to select a tool manufacturer and search for tools in their online database.
You are not restricted to one manufacturer in the MachiningCloud. You will see how to select
cutting tools from different tool manufacturers and add them to your personal tool list.
1. Tap or double-click the MachiningCloud icon on your desktop or device to launch the
App.
2. On the Home page, tap or click Select Tool Manufacturer.
Several tool manufacturers are available. You will first take a look at the Kennametal
database of tools.
3. Choose Kennametal.
You are returned to the Home page automatically and the logo for Kennametal is
displayed at the top of the screen.
Search for a Face Mill
1. On the Home page, click Search for a tool in the electronic catalog.

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 2. You will see choices for different types of machining. Click or tap Milling.

3. Now your choices are narrowed to solid or indexable end mills. Tap or click
Indexable Milling.

4. Tap or click Milling Inch Tools.

5. Tap or click Face Mills.

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 6. Notice the Filters window at the right side of the screen.

You can narrow your search by entering information about the face mill you are
looking for. Each time you enter new information, tools that do not match your
criteria are removed from the list. This helps you narrow your search.
7. Under Key Filters, set Workpiece Material to N Non-Ferrous Materials and click
Apply Filter.

Workpiece Material is added to the top of the filter list. It can be removed anytime
by clicking the small x.

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 8. Set Cutting Diameter to 2 (you will need to scroll down the list of diameter sizes).
Now the number of available cutters is reduced.
9. Set No. of Flutes (Z) to 4 and click Apply Filter.
Each time you enter new criteria, the number shown in parentheses is updated with
the number of tools in the database that match your criteria.

10. You want a face mill with a 45 lead angle, so click or tap Dodeka 45.

11. There is one tool that meets your criteria. Select the tool so you can save it to your
list of tools.
12. Click Add To.

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 13. Choose My Tools to add the tool to your personal list of tools under My Workshop.

14. Click Open to view details about the tool assembly. The shell for the face mill has
been added to the assembly. Now you need to add inserts to your face mill.
15. Click Add Insert.
You are taken to a new page where you can search for inserts and add them to your
face mill.
16. In the Filters list, set Workpiece Material to N Non-Ferrous Material and click Apply
Filter.
17. The search is narrowed to an HNGJ (hexagonal) insert. Select the insert in the list.
18. Click Add to Tool Assembly.

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 19. You are returned to the Tool Assembly page. At the side of the screen, click 3D
Viewer. Use your mouse or the motion icons on the screen to rotate and zoom the
3-dimensional model of your tool assembly.

Search for End Mills from a different tool manufacturer

Now you will go back to the Home page so you can select a different cutting tool
manufacturer.
1. At the top left corner of the screen, click Home.
2. Click Select Tool Manufacturer.
3. Select Iscar.
4. When you return to the Home page, click Search for a tool in the electronic catalog.
5. Click or tap Milling.

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 6. You are looking for a contouring tool, so click or tap Shouldering.

7. In the Filters list, set Workpiece Material to N (for Non Ferrous) and click Apply
Filter.

8. Quite a few types of end mills are available. In the main screen, scroll down and
select Solid Carbide Endmills for Machining Aluminum.

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 You are looking for two end mills, one with a diameter of .375 and the other with a
diameter of .750 inch.
9. Select a tool with a diameter D of 0.375 and a cutting length ap of 0.75.

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 10. Select a tool with a diameter D of 0.75 and a length L of 5.
11. Click Add To.

12. Choose My Tools to add both tools to your tool list.

Your list of tools is saved in the cloud and you can return to it at any time by clicking My
Workshop and then My Tools.

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Decision 8: What feeds and speeds should I use?
Specific materials will run better at certain SFMs. Surface Feet Per Minute (SFM) is a
combination of the tool diameter and RPM. SFM is a constant, with RPM as a variable based
upon tool diameter.
When the SFM constant is known for a specific material, the formula below can be used to
determine spindle speed for milling various materials.
RPM = SFM x (12/Pi) / Tool Diameter
Feed rate can be defined as Inches Per Minute (IPM) or Inches Per Tooth (IPT).
The value for IPM is easily calculated with the following formula:
IPM = RPM x Recommended IPT x Number of Flutes
The recommended IPT for aluminum falls in a range from .001 for a 1/8 end mill up to .007 for
a 1 cutter.
Speeds and feeds can vary greatly depending on the type to end mill that you use for
aluminum.
1. If we assume the SFM for aluminum is 500, then the RPM for the facing operation with a
2 face mill is:
RPM = 500 x 3.82 / 2.0 = 955 RPM
2. If we assume the IPT for a 2 cutter is .010, then the IPM for a face mill with 4 inserts is:
IPM = 955 x .010 x 4 = 38 IPM
3. Enter the Speed and Feed values for the facing operation in your machining process
plan.

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 4. Calculate the spindle speed and feed rate for the rest of the tools:
0.750 End Mill, 4 flutes: 500 SFM, .006 IPT
#3 Center Drill: 325 SFM, .004 IPT
23/64 Drill, 2 flutes: 325 SFM, .004 IPT
0.375 Reamer, 6 flutes: 100 SFM, .004 IPT
0.250 Drill, 2 flutes: 325 SFM, .004 IPT
0.375 End Mill, 4 flutes: 500 SFM, .003 IPT

You now have a complete process plan with the operations, tools and machining data to cut a
milled part.
Important: Make sure that the maximum RPM recommended for the cutter is not exceeded.

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