CUTTING SPEED, FEED & DEPTH OF CUT IN

MACHINE TOOLS

CUTTING SPEED (V)

It is the speed at which the metal is removed by the cutting tool from
the workpiece. In case of lathe machine cutting speed Cutting speed is
defined as the speed at which the work moves with respect to the tool. It
is expressed in meter/min. or mm/min.

Cutting speed (V) = π DN / 1000 m/min

Where, D = diameter of the workpiece (mm)

N = rpm of the work

Cutting speed is the rotational speed of either workpiece or cutting

tool (based on which is rotating). It is measured by the unit—revolution per
minute (rpm) and designated by N. For example, cutting speed in turning
is 295rpm.

In case lathe operations, such as turning, grooving, centre drilling,

parting, etc., a cylindrical workpiece is used. Here the workpiece is rotated
at certain speed while the cutting tool is kept fixed. Therefore, the rotational
speed of cylindrical workpiece is known as Cutting Speed, which is
measured in rpm.

On the other hand, for milling, drilling and grinding operations, the
cutting tool (known as milling cutter, drill and grinding wheel, respectively)
is of cylindrical shape and thus it rotates at certain speed while the
workpiece is kept fixed. So in this case, the rotational speed of the cutting
tool is nothing but Cutting Speed, which is also measured in rpm.
Cutting speed depends upon the following factors:

i. Tool material.

ii. Work material.

iii. Depth of cut.

iv. Tool geometry.

v. Type of machine tool.

vi. Surface quality required.

FEED (f)

It is the relative motion of tool in one revolution of workpiece. It is

expressed in mm/rev.

The maximum feed is limited by the following factors:

i) Cutting edge strength

ii) Rigidity and allowable deflection

iii) Surface finish required

iv) Tool chip space.

DEPTH OF CUT (t)

It is the total amount of metal removed per pass of the cutting tool.
It is expressed in mm. It can vary and depending upon the type of tool and
work material. Mathematically, it is half of difference of diameters.

Depth of cut (t) = D-d/2 mm