Chip Load Calculator

[jbuell]

What load number do I enter in the "CHIP LOAD in Inches/Flute" field in the Chip Load Calculator? If a chip load for a two flute bit is .005 do I enter .005 or multiply it by the number of flutes and enter .010?

[richards]

Just enter the chip size that you want. I use 0.015 for plywood and 0.020 for particle board. The default setting of 0.005 is very small, something that I would use when cutting aluminum or plastics. Remember that using a very small chip load will also cause the cutter to run hot and hot cutters burn up in a hurry. Using 0.015 to 0.025, I usually get a full day's work out of a 3/8-inch spiral cutter.

The formula used by the calculator takes into account the number of flutes on the cutter.