KEVOS® MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Equivalent Chip Thickness (ECT) and Cutting Forces
What equivalent chip thickness, removal rate, cutting force and power does this turning cut give?
Equivalent chip thickness from feed, depth of cut and cutting edge length (Woxén–Colding), the metal removal rate, the main cutting force from a specific cutting force, the feed-plane force and its axial and radial components from the chip flow angle, and the power.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Feed per revolution | mm/rev | Feed per revolution. |
| Depth of cut | mm | Depth of cut. |
| Engaged cutting edge length | mm | Length of cutting edge in contact (depends on depth, lead angle and nose radius). |
| Cutting speed | m/min | Cutting speed. |
| Specific cutting force at this ECT | N/mm² | Specific cutting force for the material at the ECT (from tests or tooling data). |
| Feed-plane force ÷ cutting force (F_H ÷ F_C) | Ratio of the feed-plane force to the cutting force (about 0.3–0.4 roughing, 0.5–0.6 finishing per the handbook). | |
| Chip flow angle | ° | Chip flow angle (about 30° roughing, 60° finishing at 15° lead angle). |
Method and formulas
- ECT = area ÷ CEL ≈ feed × depth ÷ CEL (handbook example: 0.8 × 3 ÷ 4 = 0.6 mm).
- MRR = 1000 V × ECT × CEL mm³/min.
- F_C = area × K_c; F_H = ratio × F_C; F_A = F_H cos(CFA), F_R = F_H sin(CFA).
- Power = F_C × V ÷ 60,000 kW.
- Example: 0.8 mm/rev × 3 mm over a 4 mm edge gives ECT = 0.6 mm.
Limitations
- Area approximated as feed × depth; K_c and the force ratio vary with ECT and speed.
- Nose radius and lead angle enter through the cutting edge length.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Estimate turning forces and power for a new cut
- Compare roughing and finishing conditions on one basis
- Estimate radial force for deflection checks
Who it is for
- Machinists
- CNC programmers
- Manufacturing engineers
What you get
- Equivalent chip thickness
- Metal removal rate
- Cutting, axial and radial forces and power
Interpreting the result
- When the product of feed and depth is held constant, tool life stays about constant at the same speed and edge length.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1132–1141. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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