Calculate Feed Rate
Feed Rate = RPM × Flutes × Chip LoadExample: 18,000 RPM × 2 flutes × 0.014 in = 504 IPM.
Feed Speed Guides
CNC Router Tooling / Feed Rate / Chip Load / Tool Life
Repeatable Feeds And Speeds For Production Routing
Build CNC feed rates around the tool, the material, and the finished part.
Feed rate is the result of spindle speed, flute count, chip load, cutter diameter, material, depth of cut, hold-down, chip evacuation, tool sharpness, and machine rigidity. A controlled standard protects edge quality, spindle load, cycle time, and tool life.
Control RPMSpindle speed must work with flute count, feed, material, and cutter geometry.
Maintain Chip LoadThe cutter should remove a real chip instead of polishing the material into dust.
Stabilize The CutVacuum, spoilboard condition, chip evacuation, and cut sequence protect the part.
Measure The ResultTrack edge quality, cycle time, tool temperature, tool life, and remake rate.
Core Calculations
Two formulas create the starting point.
Use consistent units. Feed rate can be inches per minute or millimetres per minute, while chip load must use the matching linear unit.
The calculated number is not an automatic production setting. Confirm it against cutter recommendations, machine capability, pass depth, hold-down, extraction, and the actual finished edge.
RPM
Flute Count
Chip Load
Feed Rate
Calculate Chip Load
Chip Load = Feed Rate ÷ RPM ÷ FlutesExample: 300 IPM ÷ 18,000 RPM ÷ 2 flutes = 0.0083 in per tooth.
Listen To The Cut / Read The Chip / Inspect The Edge
A cutter making dust is usually rubbing. A cutter screaming is usually overloaded.
The working zone produces a clean chip, stable sound, consistent edge, manageable spindle load, secure parts, and predictable tool life. Test one variable at a time and save the successful setting in the shop’s tooling library.
Starting Reference
Chip-load and feed-rate ranges by material.
These are practical starting references—not guaranteed production settings. Begin in scrap, inspect the chip and edge, listen to the spindle, and adjust one variable at a time.
MDF / Particleboard / TFL
Common nesting materials that generally need a real chip, stable hold-down, and strong dust extraction.
1/4"0.013"–0.016" chip load390–480 IPM @ 15k, 2F
3/8"0.020"–0.023" chip load600–690 IPM @ 15k, 2F
1/2"0.025"–0.027" chip load750–810 IPM @ 15k, 2F
Plywood / Softwood Panels
Watch veneer tear-out, glue lines, internal voids, vibration, and sheet flatness. Compression geometry is a strong first test.
1/4"0.011"–0.013" chip load330–390 IPM @ 15k, 2F
3/8"0.017"–0.020" chip load510–600 IPM @ 15k, 2F
1/2"0.021"–0.023" chip load630–690 IPM @ 15k, 2F
Hardwood
Usually slower and steadier than MDF. Watch grain direction, burning, tear-out, tool deflection, and chip evacuation.
1/4"0.009"–0.011" chip load270–330 IPM @ 15k, 2F
3/8"0.015"–0.018" chip load450–540 IPM @ 15k, 2F
1/2"0.019"–0.021" chip load570–630 IPM @ 15k, 2F
HPL / Laminate
Abrasive and chip-sensitive. Tool sharpness, cutter geometry, direction, support, and finish-pass strategy matter heavily.
1/4"0.009"–0.012" chip load270–360 IPM @ 15k, 2F
3/8"0.015"–0.018" chip load450–540 IPM @ 15k, 2F
1/2"0.019"–0.021" chip load570–630 IPM @ 15k, 2F
Phenolic / Compact Laminate
Dense, abrasive, and unforgiving. Reduce engagement, use a rigid setup, control heat, and expect faster tool wear.
1/4"0.004"–0.006" chip load120–180 IPM @ 15k, 2F
3/8"0.006"–0.008" chip load180–240 IPM @ 15k, 2F
1/2"0.008"–0.010" chip load240–300 IPM @ 15k, 2F
Acrylic / Plastics
Heat control is critical. Use plastic-specific geometry, produce real chips, clear the kerf, and stop the cutter from rubbing.
1/4"0.004"–0.009" chip load120–270 IPM @ 15k, 2F
3/8"0.008"–0.014" chip load240–420 IPM @ 15k, 2F
1/2"0.010"–0.018" chip load300–540 IPM @ 15k, 2F
Reference feed values assume 15,000 RPM and two flutes. Depth of cut, cutter manufacturer guidance, tool projection, machine rigidity, vacuum, material density, and chip evacuation may require substantial adjustment.
Cutter Geometry
The feed rate must match the tool type.
The same material can require a different feed strategy when the shop changes from compression to downcut, upcut, roughing, O-flute, ball nose, V-groove, or spoilboard tooling.
01
Two-Sided Panels
Compression Bits
Best starting point for melamine, TFL, plywood, and laminated panels where top and bottom face quality both matter.
02
Top Face Finish
Downcut Bits
Push chips downward and can protect the top face, but may pack chips into the cut when evacuation is weak.
03
Chip Evacuation
Upcut Bits
Pull chips upward and clear the kerf well, but can damage top veneers or decorative faces if poorly matched.
04
Plastic Cutting
O-Flute Bits
Designed for plastics and acrylics where chip evacuation and heat control are critical.
05
High Removal
Roughing Bits
Useful where material-removal rate matters. Final finish may require a separate cleanup pass.
06
Profiles and 3D
Ball Nose Tools
Used for reliefs, curved machining, mold work, and finishing passes. Step-over becomes as important as feed.
07
Engraving
V-Groove Tools
Used for signage, grooves, engraving, chamfers, and decorative details. Tip size and depth heavily affect feed.
08
Machine Setup
Spoilboard Cutters
Used to flatten spoilboards and restore vacuum performance. Feed depends on diameter, insert style, depth, and extraction.
System Variables
Depth, vacuum, projection, and extraction change the answer.
Feed charts assume a stable setup. Deep engagement, weak vacuum, a dirty spoilboard, poor extraction, small parts, dull tooling, or long projection can require major adjustment.
Depth Near Tool DiameterMany chip-load references assume a depth of cut near the tool diameter. This is a practical starting point for many sheet-goods operations.
Two Times DiameterFor deeper passes, reduce load and test. Greater engagement increases heat, deflection, spindle load, and the chance of part movement.
Three Times DiameterDeep cuts in MDF, plywood, hardwood, phenolic, or compact laminate require conservative testing, rigid hold-down, and excellent evacuation.
Small PartsSmall nested parts often need onion skinning, tabs, reduced feed, improved vacuum zoning, or a different cut sequence.
Dust CollectionMDF dust, melamine chips, plywood strings, and plastic curls affect heat, tool life, surface finish, and cleanup.
Tool ProjectionLonger stick-out increases deflection and chatter. Keep projection as short as practical for the required cut depth.
Collets and HoldersWorn collets and dirty holders create runout, chatter, heat, poor edges, tool wear, and broken cutters.
Machine RigidityA heavy industrial router can carry settings that a lighter machine cannot. Standards must match the actual machine.
Cut Diagnostics
Symptoms of the wrong feed rate.
Diagnose the process by reading the chip, sound, edge, heat, dust, cutter, spindle load, and part stability after the cut.
01
Too Slow
Dust Instead of Chips
The cutter is rubbing rather than cutting. Increase feed, lower RPM, use fewer flutes, or inspect tool sharpness.
02
Too Slow
Burning or Heat
Common in hardwood, plywood, acrylic, and MDF when spindle speed is high and feed is too low.
03
Too Fast / Unstable
Chatter
The cutter, spindle, sheet, or machine is vibrating. Reduce load and inspect hold-down, projection, and collets.
04
Overloaded
Broken Cutters
Often caused by excessive chip load, deep engagement, poor hold-down, deflection, or feed too aggressive for the machine.
05
Geometry / Support
Top-Face Chip-Out
May require compression or downcut geometry, sharper tooling, better hold-down, a direction change, or a finish pass.
06
Transition / Support
Bottom-Face Breakout
Common when the compression transition, upcut length, spoilboard support, or final-pass strategy is wrong.
07
Heat Problem
Melted Plastic
Use O-flute geometry, reduce RPM, improve evacuation, increase chip size, and stop rubbing.
08
Process Problem
Short Tool Life
Often caused by wrong chip load, abrasive panels, weak extraction, runout, dirty holders, or no tool-life tracking.
Production Standard
Build the full feed-rate system.
Feed-rate discipline should become part of the tooling library, operator training, maintenance routine, and production reporting system.
Machine Standards
Build a Tool Library
Document tool diameter, flute count, material, RPM, feed, plunge, pass depth, finish pass, and expected tool life.
Dust and Chips
Control Chip Evacuation
Good feed rates still fail when chips remain in the kerf. Extraction affects heat, finish, cleanup, and tool life.
Production Feedback
Measure the Real Result
Track edge quality, remakes, tool life, cycle time, operator notes, material conditions, and actual settings by material.
Feed Rate Troubleshooting Request
Send us the cut. We’ll help diagnose the feed, speed, and tooling issue.
Use this form when the CNC is burning cutters, breaking tools, chipping panels, fuzzing MDF, melting plastic, leaving chatter, moving small parts, producing weak edgebanding preparation, or running below the required output.
- Dust instead of chips.
- Burning, heat, or darkened tooling.
- Chatter, vibration, or wavy edges.
- Top-face chip-out or bottom-face breakout.
- Broken cutters or short tool life.
- Melting plastic or rewelded chips.
- Small parts moving during nested cutting.
- Production running below the required rate.
Repeatable CNC Production
Stop guessing at feeds and speeds. Build a standard the shop can repeat.
Send the machine, material, cutter, RPM, feed rate, engagement, hold-down method, and visible defect. Titan can help identify whether the problem is chip load, geometry, extraction, runout, material behaviour, or production workflow.