KEVOS® MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Turning Cutting Force and Power
What cutting force, power and torque does this turning cut need, and can the machine deliver it?
Cutting force, cutting power, spindle motor power, torque and metal removal rate for a turning cut from specific cutting force, compared with the available machine power.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting speed | m/min | Cutting speed from the tooling recommendation. |
| Feed | mm/rev | Feed per revolution. |
| Depth of cut | mm | Radial depth of cut. |
| Workpiece diameter | mm | Workpiece diameter at the cut. |
| Specific cutting force kc | N/mm² | Specific cutting force for the work material at your chip thickness, from the tool supplier’s data (e.g. about 1500–2100 N/mm² for steels, 500–800 N/mm² for aluminium alloys). |
| Machine efficiency | % | Overall machine efficiency from spindle motor to cutting edge (often 70–85%); check the machine manual. |
| Available spindle power | kW | Rated spindle power at the speed you will run, from the machine power–speed chart. |
Method and formulas
- Cutting force Fc = kc × ap × f.
- Cutting power Pc = Fc × vc ÷ 60 000 (kW); motor power = Pc ÷ η.
- Spindle speed n = 1000 vc ÷ πD; torque = Fc × D ÷ 2000 (N·m).
- Removal rate Q = vc × ap × f (cm³/min).
- Example: 3 mm × 0.3 mm/rev at 200 m/min in kc 2000 steel needs 7.5 kW at the motor.
Limitations
- kc depends on chip thickness, rake angle and tool wear; a worn tool can raise force by 30% or more.
- Power available falls at low spindle speeds on most machines; use the power–speed curve.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a roughing cut against machine power
- Find the depth of cut a lathe can take
- Estimate spindle torque at low speed
Who it is for
- Machinists
- CNC programmers
- Manufacturing engineers
What you get
- Cutting force
- Cutting power and motor power
- Spindle speed and torque
- Metal removal rate
Interpreting the result
- Keep a margin below the available power for tool wear and hard spots.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1084–1101. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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