5. Calculation and Setting Method of the Feed Speed for the Cutting Blade
Another important factor that affects the "quality of the cut surface" and "tool life" in aluminum cutting operations is the "feed rate."
In cutting machines equipped with automatic feeding devices, it is essential to accurately understand and appropriately set the feed amount (Feed) and the feed per tooth (fz). ▶️ What is feed speed (Vf)? It is a value that indicates how fast the material is fed in relation to the rotation of the blade. ✅ The unit is usually mm/min (millimeters per minute). ✅ Even with manual operation, it unconsciously affects the actual working speed. ▶️ What is feed per tooth (fz)? fz is a value that represents the thickness cut by a single blade. ✅ Calculation formula for fz (Note: For alternating blade types, two blades are considered as one blade) fz (mm/tooth) = Vf (mm/min) ÷ (Z ÷ 2 × N) - Vf: Feed speed (mm/min) - Z: Number of blades (for triple chip, Z ÷ 2) - N: Rotational speed (rpm) ▶️ Recommended fz guidelines by material Material | Recommended fz | Notes Pure aluminum/soft materials | 0.02–0.10 | Focus on sharpness. Slightly faster feed is acceptable. General aluminum alloys | 0.02–0.07 | Focus on balance. Good finishing as well. Thick plates/hard materials | 0.02–0.05 | Feed should be cautious to prevent friction and welding.
basic information
Practical Example: Back-calculation of Feed Speed ▶️ Example: Rotational speed 3000rpm, number of blades 100, fz = 0.06 mm/blade Vf = 0.06 × (100÷2) × 3000 = 9,000 mm/min (9m/min) → For triple blades, since 2 blades perform one cutting operation, it is calculated as half of the usual amount. ▶️ In the case of manual feeding Even with the same rotational speed and number of blades, if calculated with fz = 0.02: Vf = 0.02 × (100÷2) × 3000 = 3000 mm/min (3m/min) → This is within a range that can be controlled manually. ▶️ Points for Proper Feed Settings ✅ The basic principle is to "push through without stopping at a constant speed." ✅ Stopping or slowing down midway can cause heat to concentrate on the cutting edge, leading to welding or chipping of the blade. ▶️ Recommendations: ✅ In automatic feeding mechanisms, use servo control or inverter control for deceleration and stop control. ✅ During manual feeding, maintain a stable posture and force, and be aware of the amount of cut per tooth.
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Applications/Examples of results
▶️Technical support from Okumura Machinery Manufacturing Our cutting machine (URKM series) allows for numerical setting of feed speed. Additionally, during the initial setup support (OKUMURA SELECT), we provide guidance on the optimal combination of feed speed and peripheral speed.
Detailed information
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The feed rate per blade fz refers to the value that represents the thickness cut by a single blade. Appropriate fz guidelines by material: | Pure aluminum / Soft materials | 0.02–0.10 | Focus on sharpness. A slightly faster feed is acceptable. | | General aluminum alloys | 0.02–0.07 | Focus on balance. Good finishing as well. | | Thick plates / Hard materials | 0.02–0.05 | Feed should be cautious to prevent friction and welding. |
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When cutting thick plates, what happens if the rotation speed is not correct?" "If the rotation speed is not right, it negatively affects the performance of the cutting tool. In particular, if the rotation speed of the tool is high but the feed rate is slow, the cutting edge can become too hot. When heat builds up, chips can weld to the cutting edge, making the cutting process less smooth." "That would be a problem..." "Yes, it is important to match the correct rotation speed and feed rate. By the way, there are related videos where you can see cutting scenes with optimally adjusted rotation speeds and feed rates, so you can refer to how the work progresses in practice.
