SOLID CARBIDE ROUTER BITS
Technical Data for Solid Carbide Bits
General operating RPM for solid carbide spiral tooling is between 10,000 and 20,000 revolutions per minute. The higher the RPM the better the surface finish. However, this generates more wear on the cutting edge. The goal is to select the balance of lowest RPM with best surface finish.
FORMULAS
Chip Load = Feed Rate / (RPM x # Flute)
Feed Rate (IPM) = RPM x # Flutes x Chip Load
Speed (RPM) = Feed Rate / (# Flutes x Chip Load)
The chart below is based on 3/4″ Material and using the bit at a full depth of cut.
When ramping into material reduce the feed rate to 60-75% until the bit has completed the entry (ex. 3″).
Feed Rate for Solid Carbide Bits
Feed Rate for Solid Carbide Spirals.xl.xlsx| # Flutes | Tool Diameter | Feed Rate | Feed Rate | Feed Rate | Feed Rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood | Softwood/Plywood | MDF/Particleboard | HPL | |||||
| 10,000 RPM | 20,000 RPM | 10,000 RPM | 20,000 RPM | 10,000 RPM | 20,000 RPM | 10,000 RPM | ||
| 1 | 1/8" | 30-50 | 60-100 | 40-60 | 80-120 | 40-70 | 80-140 | 30-50 |
| 1/4" | 90-110 | 180-220 | 110-130 | 220-260 | 130-160 | 260-320 | 90-120 | |
| 3/8" | 150-180 | 300-360 | 170-200 | 340-400 | 200-230 | 400-460 | 150-180 | |
| 1/2" & up | 190-210 | 380-420 | 210-230 | 420-460 | 250-270 | 500-540 | 230-250 | |
| 2 | 1/8" | 60-100 | 120-200 | 80-120 | 160-240 | 80-140 | 160-280 | 60-100 |
| 1/4" | 180-220 | 360-440 | 220-260 | 440-520 | 260-320 | 520-640 | 180-240 | |
| 3/8" | 300-360 | 600-720 | 340-400 | 680-800 | 400-460 | 800-920 | 300-360 | |
| 1/2" & up | 380-420 | 760-840 | 420-460 | 840-920 | 500-540 | 1000-1080 | 460-500 | |
| 3 | 1/8" | 90-150 | 180-300 | 120-240 | 240-360 | 120-210 | 240-420 | 90-150 |
| 1/4" | 270-330 | 540-660 | 330-660 | 660-780 | 390-480 | 780-960 | 270-360 | |
| 3/8" | 450-540 | 900-1080 | 510-1020 | 1020-1200 | 600-690 | 1200-1380 | 450-540 | |
| 1/2" & up | 570-630 | 1140-1260 | 630-1260 | 1260-1380 | 750-810 | 1500-1620 | 690-750 | |
| *Recommended Values Only | ||||||||
| CHIP LOAD | Tool Diameter | Hardwood | Softwood/Plywood | MDF/Particleboard | HPL | |||
| 1/8" | .003" - .005" | .004" - .006" | .004" - .007" | .003" - .005" | ||||
| 1/4" | .009" - .011" | .009" - .013" | .013" - .016" | .009" - .012" | ||||
| 3/8" | .015" - .018" | .017" - .020" | .020" - .023" | .015" - .018" | ||||
| 1/2" & up | .019" - .021" | .021" - .023" | .025" - .027" | .023" - .025" | ||||
| Tool Diameter | Hard Plastic | Soft Plastic | Solid Surface | Acrylic | ||||
| 1/8" | .002" - .004" | .003" - .006" | .002" - .004" | .003" - .005" | ||||
| 1/4" | .006" - .009" | .007" - .010" | .006" - .009" | .008" - .010" | ||||
| 3/8" | .008" - .010" | .010" - .012" | .008" - .010" | .010" - .012" | ||||
| 1/2" & up | .010" - .012" | .012" - .016" | .010" - .012" | .008" - .010" |
*For deeper cuts reduce chip load by 25-50%