KEVOS® MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Taylor Tool Life and Economic Cutting Speed
How long will the tool last at this speed, and what speed gives the lowest cost per part?
Tool life from the Taylor equation (from constants or two test points), and the minimum-cost and maximum-production cutting speeds and tool lives from machine rate, tool cost and tool change time.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor constants | choice | Enter known Taylor constants, or fit them from two tool-life tests in the same conditions. |
| Taylor exponent n | Taylor exponent for the tool and work material (often about 0.1–0.17 for HSS, 0.2–0.5 for carbide). | |
| Taylor constant C (speed for 1 min life) | m/min | Cutting speed giving one minute of tool life. |
| Two tool-life tests | ||
| Test 1 cutting speed | m/min | Speed of the first tool-life test. |
| Test 1 tool life | min | Measured tool life (minutes of cutting to the wear limit) in test 1. |
| Test 2 cutting speed | m/min | Speed of the second test (different from the first). |
| Test 2 tool life | min | Measured tool life in test 2. |
| Planned speed and costs | ||
| Planned cutting speed | m/min | Speed you plan to run. |
| Machine and operator rate | AUD/h | Cost of machine and operator per hour. |
| Tool cost per cutting edge | AUD | Insert cost divided by usable edges, or regrind cost per edge. |
| Tool change time | min | Time to change or index the tool. |
Method and formulas
- V T^n = C. From two tests: n = ln(V₁ ÷ V₂) ÷ ln(T₂ ÷ T₁); C = V₁ T₁^n.
- Tool life at speed V: T = (C ÷ V)^(1/n).
- Minimum cost: T_c = (1/n − 1)(t_c + C_t ÷ C_o), with C_o the cost rate per minute; V_c = C ÷ T_c^n.
- Maximum production: T_p = (1/n − 1) t_c.
- Example: the two tests give n = 0.24271, C = 489.63 m/min; the minimum-cost speed is 240.47 m/min with 18.721 min tool life.
Limitations
- The Taylor equation holds only over the range of the tests and for constant feed, depth and material.
- Non-cutting time and part handling do not affect the optimum speed but do affect total cost.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Choose a cutting speed that minimises cost
- Predict tool changes per shift
- Fit Taylor constants from two tool-life tests
Who it is for
- Manufacturing engineers
- Production planners
- Machinists
What you get
- Taylor constants n and C
- Tool life at the planned speed
- Minimum-cost tool life and speed
- Maximum-production tool life and speed
Interpreting the result
- Run between the minimum-cost and maximum-production speeds; never above the maximum-production speed.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1102–1124, 1132–1140. 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 Taylor Tool Life and Economic Cutting Speed calculator
