KEVOS® MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Knurling Set-up (Tracking Blank Diameter, Speed, Time)
Will my knurl track on this blank diameter, what diameter should I turn to instead, and what speed and time does the knurling pass need?
Set-up of a straight knurling operation: teeth that fit around the planned blank and the nearest diameters that give a whole number of teeth so the knurl tracks (as the knurling blank diameter tool), whether the planned blank lies within your tolerance of a tracking diameter, spindle speed from the knurling speed, and time for the passes along the length at the feed.
Open the calculatorRuns in your browser. No account needed.
How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Knurl system | choice | Whether the knurl is specified by circular pitch (metric) or diametral pitch (inch). |
| Circular pitch | mm | Circular pitch of the knurl. |
| Diametral pitch (teeth per inch of diameter) | 1/in | Diametral pitch of the knurl. |
| Planned blank diameter | mm | Blank diameter you plan to turn, in millimetres. |
| Diameter tolerance for tracking | mm | How close the blank must be to a tracking diameter. |
| Cutting | ||
| Knurling speed | m/min | Surface speed for knurling (your value for the material). |
| Feed along the work | mm/rev | Axial feed per revolution for knurling along the work. |
| Knurled length | mm | Length to be knurled. |
| Passes | Number of passes along the length. | |
Method and formulas
- Teeth = π D ÷ circular pitch, or P × D (inches) for diametral pitch; tracking diameters give whole numbers of teeth (as the knurling blank diameter tool).
- Distance from the planned blank to the nearest tracking diameter against the tolerance.
- n = 1000 v_c ÷ π D; time = length × passes ÷ (feed × n).
- Example: 20.05 mm gives 62.989 teeth; the nearest tracking diameter is 20.054 mm; knurling takes 47.242 s at 317.52 rpm.
Limitations
- Straight knurling with the knurl axis parallel to the work.
- The knurl raises the diameter; allow for it in the finished size.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Turn the right blank diameter before knurling
- Avoid double tracking on a knurled handle
- Estimate the knurling time
Who it is for
- Machinists
- CNC programmers
- Toolroom staff
What you get
- Teeth on the planned blank and the nearest tracking diameters
- Tracking check
- Spindle speed and knurling time
Interpreting the result
- Turning the blank to a tracking diameter is the surest cure for double tracking.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 991–997. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
WORKOS tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.
Open the Knurling Set-up (Tracking Blank Diameter, Speed, Time) calculator
