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
# FlutesTool DiameterFeed RateFeed RateFeed RateFeed Rate
HardwoodSoftwood/PlywoodMDF/ParticleboardHPL
10,000 RPM20,000 RPM10,000 RPM20,000 RPM10,000 RPM20,000 RPM10,000 RPM
11/8"30-5060-10040-6080-12040-7080-14030-50
1/4"90-110180-220110-130220-260130-160260-32090-120
3/8"150-180300-360170-200340-400200-230400-460150-180
1/2" & up190-210380-420210-230420-460250-270500-540230-250
21/8"60-100120-20080-120160-24080-140160-28060-100
1/4"180-220360-440220-260440-520260-320520-640180-240
3/8"300-360600-720340-400680-800400-460800-920300-360
1/2" & up380-420760-840420-460840-920500-5401000-1080460-500
31/8"90-150180-300120-240240-360120-210240-42090-150
1/4"270-330540-660330-660660-780390-480780-960270-360
3/8"450-540900-1080510-10201020-1200600-6901200-1380450-540
1/2" & up570-6301140-1260630-12601260-1380750-8101500-1620690-750
*Recommended Values Only
CHIP LOADTool DiameterHardwoodSoftwood/PlywoodMDF/ParticleboardHPL
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 DiameterHard PlasticSoft PlasticSolid SurfaceAcrylic
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%