The Journeymans Guide to CNC Machines

16.5 Surface Finish

It is impossible to achieve a close tolerance unless the finish produced is suitably fine. The economical range of
surface finishes for turning and milling is 64-250 CLA (1.6-6.3 m); the extended range is 24-500 CLA (0.612.6 m). Many factors affect the ability to produce a specific surface finish, feed, state of the cutter, lubrication
and the physical properties of the material; accordingly, consider the values as a practical starting point.
Surface
Finish
Ra m
0.6
0.8
1.6
3.2
6.3
8.0
32

Tolerance
Below

CLA
24
32
64
128
250
320
1280

Code

mm
0.025
0.050
0.100
0.150
0.250

Feed mm / rev

F1
F2
F3
F4

0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10

0.4

0.8

Insert Radius
1.2
1.6

2.4

3.2

Feed in mm / rev
0.12
0.14
0.14
0.17
0.19
0.22
0.29
0.34
0.37
0.43
0.47
0.54
1.08

0.17
0.20
0.26
0.42
0.53
0.66
1.32

0.23
0.30
0.50
0.63
0.78
1.56

0.07
0.08
0.11
0.17
0.22
0.27

0.10
0.12
0.15
0.24
0.30
0.38

0.4

0.8

Insert Radius
1.2
1.6

2.4

3.2

4.75
3.10
1.30

3.7
2.40
1.50
0.60

2.7
1.6
1.1
0.4

1.4
0.8
-

0.9
-

2.0
1.4
0.8
-

Surface Finish Ra m
In addition to feeds, use the values for the depth of cut for each pass for profile milling using ball end cutters.
Surface Finish
Ra m

CLA

0.6
0.8
1.6
3.2
6.3
8.0
32.0

24
32
64
128
256
320
1280

Tolerance
Below
mm
0.025
0.050
0.100
0.150
0.250

Cutter Diameter
16
20
Feed in mm / rev

10

12

0.25
0.30
0.40
0.63
0.80
1.00
2.00

0.28
0.33
0.44
0.69
0.88
1.10
2.20

0.32
0.38
0.51
0.80
1.01
1.26
2.54

0.36
0.43
0.57
0.89
1.13
1.32
2.94

25

32

0.40
0.48
0.63
1.00
1.26
1.41
3.33

0.45
0.54
0.71
1.13
1.43
1.79
3.59

16.6 Feed and Speed Conversion Charts

Feed Rate mm/min

mm/min = mm/revrpm
mm/rev = mm/minrpm
1000

10000
1.6
0.8
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.05

RPM

6.4 3.2
25.6 12.8

10000

1000
M/min

100

100
mm/rev

rpm

= Speed / Circumference
= (M/Min) / (D/1000)
M/min = Revs Circumference
= RPM (D/1000)

10

10

1
1

10

1616-3

100

1000

10000

10

100

500
400
300
200
160
80
40
20
10
5

1000

Diameter (D) mm

RPM
Feedrate Conversion Chart

1616-4
Guidelines

Speed Conversion Chart

169