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Spindle Speed (RPM) Calculator for Milling

Optimize your machining processes with our online cutting parameters calculator. Select the operation type (turning, milling, drilling or threading) and instantly get the critical calculations for your shop: cutting speed (Vc), revolutions per minute (RPM), feed per revolution or per tooth, machining time and the theoretical roughness (Ra / Rz) based on the insert nose radius. To fine-tune those values live at the machine, use the interactive machining calculator.

Cutting calculator

Material, power and warnings

Pick material and tool: that gives you the Vc and feed ranges, and also whether your machine can take the cut.

Power, torque and warnings

RPM and feed only tell you how fast it spins. This tells you whether your machine can take it: metal removal rate, the power you have to ask of the spindle, torque and the process warnings that usually cost you a tool.

Pick a material above to estimate power: the specific cutting force depends on it.

Fill in material, diameter, Vc/RPM and feed to see the power.

Rough estimate: kc1.1 is defined per material family and the tool's real geometry matters. Use it to decide whether a cut fits the machine, not as a substitute for a dry run.

Do you want to adjust these values live?

Here you get the recommendation (Vc, feed, roughness, threading). In the interactive machining calculator you can move Vc, diameter, RPM and feed with linked scales, locks and time/power estimation.

Open interactive calculator →

Spindle speed in milling: formula, example and table

n = 1000 × Vc / (π × D)

Vc is the cutting speed in m/min, D the cutter diameter in mm and n the spindle speed in rpm. In milling the diameter that counts is the cutter diameter.

Worked example: Medium-carbon steel C45 / 1045 in milling, Ø12 mm, Vc 230 m/min → n = 1000 × 230 / (π × 12) = 6101 rpm.

With small cutters the calculated rpm soon exceed the spindle maximum: a Ø3 cutter in aluminium would ask for over 50,000 rpm. In that case run at the spindle maximum and keep the feed per tooth, not the table feed from the chart.

Speeds for coated carbide at mid Vc of the range; with HSS use about a third. Diameters typical for milling.
MaterialVc (m/min)n Ø6 (rpm)n Ø12 (rpm)n Ø20 (rpm)
Low-carbon steel S235 / St372751458972954377
Medium-carbon steel C45 / 10452301220261013661
Alloy steel 42CrMo4 / 41401951034551733104
16MnCr5 carburizing steel2051087654383263
Austenitic stainless 304 / 1.430195504025201512
Austenitic stainless 316 / 1.440180424421221273
Martensitic stainless 420 / 1.4021145769238462308
Gray cast iron GG25 / EN-GJL-2502001061053053183
GGG50/EN-GJS-500 nodular cast iron175928446422785
Aluminum 6082 / AlMgSi142522547112736764
Aluminum 7075 / AlZnMgCu38520425102126127
Brass CuZn39Pb33501856892845570
Titanium Ti6Al4V6031831592955
Inconel 718301592796477
Hardened steel 50-55 HRC115610130501830

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