Machining Guidelines, Speeds and Feeds for Crystallume Tools

General Machining Guidelines

Workpiece
Material

Application

Cutting
Speed (SFM)

Milling Chip Load (ipt)

Turning Chip Load (ipr)

Drilling Chip Load (ipr)

Aluminum
(5-8% Si)

Roughing

2000-5000

.010-.020

.010-.025

Aluminum
(5-8% Si)

Finishing

2000-6000

.005-.010

.005-.010

.001-.010

Aluminum
(8-12% Si)

Roughing

1500-4000

.007-.015

.007-.020

Aluminum
(8-12% Si)

Finishing

1500-5000

.004-.008

.004-.008

.001-.010

Aluminum
(14-18% Si)

Roughing

1000-2000

.005-.010

.005-.015

Aluminum
(14-18% Si)

Finishing

1000-3000

.002-.006

.002-.006

.001-.010

Copper

General

750-1500

.001-.008

.003-.010

.001-.010

Bronze

General

900-1350

.003-.008

.003-.010

.001-.010

Brass

General

2000-4000

.001-.008

.003-.015

.001-.010

Babbitt

General

700-1100

.003-.010

.003-.010

.001-.010

Carbon (Graphite)

General

500-2000

See below

.005-.015

.001-.010

Unfilled Plastic

General

1000-4000

.003-.020

.003-.020

.001-.010

Glass Fiber Materials

General

750-1500

.001-.010

.001-.015

.001-.010

Carbon Fiber Materials

General

500-2000

.003-.015

.003-.020

.001-.010

Green Ceramic Materials

General

500-1500

.002-.010

.002-.020

.001-.010

Wood

General

3300-9800

.004-.030

.004-.030

.003-.025

General Rule for starting feed rates is that you use the same feed rate as you would for a carbide tool.
Adjust the cutting speed first then adjust the feed rate for optimal finish and tool life.

Cutting Speeds and Feeds for Graphite

Chip Load Per Tooth

Tool

Soft Graphite

Medium Graphite

Hard Graphite

Diameter

Roughing

Finishing

Roughing

Finishing

Roughing

Finishing

1/32

.0006-.0008

.0005-.0006

.0005-.0006

.0004-.0005

.0004-.0005

.0003-.0004

1/16

.0013-.0015

.0010-.0013

.0010-.0013

.0008-.0010

.0008-.0010

.0005-.0008

3/32

.0019-.0023

.0015-.0019

.0015-.0019

.0011-.0015

.0011-.0015

.0008-.0011

1/8

.0025-.0030

.0020-.0025

.0020-.0025

.0015-.0020

.0015-.0020

.0010-.0015

3/16

.0038-.0045

.0030-.0038

.0030-.0038

.0023-.0030

.0023-.0030

.0015-.0023

1/4

.0050-.0060

.0040-.0050

.0040-.0050

.0030-.0040

.0030-.0040

.0020-.0030

5/16

.0063-.0075

.0050-.0063

.0050-.0063

.0038-.0050

.0038-.0050

.0025-.0038

3/8

.0075-.0090

.0060-.0075

.0060-.0075

.0045-.0060

.0045-.0060

.0030-.0045

7/16

.0088-.0105

.0070-.0088

.0070-.0088

.0053-.0070

.0053-.0070

0035-.0053

1/2

.0100-.0120

.0080-.0100

.0080-.0100

.0060-.0080

.0060-.0080

.0040-.0060

(Speeds and Feeds are only general starting points and may vary depending on specific applications)

Cutting Speed

Soft Graphite

1000-2000sfm

Medium Graphite

750-1500sfm

Hard Graphite

500-1250sfm

(Use maximum RPM if suggested RPM is higher than the machines capabilities)