MES & Shop FloorFree worksheetPDF, Excel, Word exportPrecision Machining

Turning Speeds, Feeds and Cycle Time Setup Sheet

A tidy setup sheet saves the next shift from guessing. Enter each turning operation with its diameter, speed, feed and cut length, and the sheet calculates rpm, feed rate and cutting time, then totals the part so you can compare with the quoted cycle.

Download:

Spindle rpm	Feed rate (mm/min)	Cutting time (min)
1,061	318	0.2513
1,137	341	0.2346
1,530	153	0.5228
1,061	212	0.1414
735	44	0.0908

Total cutting time

1.2408

Total cut length (mm)

274

Operations

Parts per hour (cutting time only)

48.3563

Cutting time uses the diameter in each row at constant spindle speed and ignores rapids, tool changes, approach, load and unload. Add those for a full cycle time. For CSS mode on a lathe, spindle speed changes with diameter, so rpm shown is for the stated diameter only.

Connect setup data to ERP routings

Optional: talk to us about pulling cutting parameters and times into routings and quotes.

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How to use the sheet

Replace the example rows with your operations. Enter the diameter at which each cut occurs, the surface speed and the feed per revolution from your tooling data, and the length of the cut. The sheet works out spindle rpm, programmed feed in mm/min and the cutting time. Add rows for each pass, cut-off or drill operation. Export to Excel to attach to the traveller or program package.

Use the largest diameter in the pass for the rpm cap check.
Check each rpm against the chuck's rated maximum speed.
List the tool and insert so the next operator loads the right one.

Formulas used

Spindle speed is n = 1,000 x vc / (pi x D). Feed rate is vf = n x f. Cutting time is length divided by feed rate. The summary line converts total cutting time to parts per hour for cutting alone. Real cycle time also includes rapid moves, tool changes, spindle ramp, measuring and part handling, which often add 30 to 100 percent depending on the job.

Worked example

In the example, roughing at 60 mm and 200 m/min gives about 1,061 rpm and 318 mm/min, so an 80 mm cut takes 0.25 minutes. Finishing at 52 mm, 250 m/min and 0.1 mm/rev gives about 1,530 rpm and 153 mm/min for 0.52 minutes. The five operations total roughly 1.6 minutes of cutting. If the quote assumed 1 minute, the sheet shows the shortfall before the job runs.

Common mistakes

Teams often forget that cutting time at a stepped diameter changes, leave out the approach and overtravel in cut length, or program feed in mm/min while the table is in mm/rev. Another is quoting from cutting time alone, which makes cycle times look unrealistically short. Compare sheet results with actual cycle times from the first article and update the sheet so future quotes improve.

Include approach and overtravel in cut length.
Do not exceed the chuck or fixture maximum rpm.
Update speeds and feeds after the first article run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the sheet handle constant surface speed (G96)?

Partly. It shows rpm for the diameter you enter, so for a facing cut enter the average diameter for an approximate time. A true CSS facing time needs the integral of a changing rpm, which the sheet does not model.

What units does it use?

Metric: diameter and length in mm, speed in m/min and feed in mm per revolution. For inch jobs, convert SFM by multiplying by 0.3048 and IPR by 25.4.

Is cutting time the same as cycle time?

No. Cycle time also includes rapid moves, tool changes, spindle starts, part loading and in-process measuring. Cutting time is the lower bound, useful for comparing parameters rather than quoting alone.

Can I add more rows?

Yes. Add as many operations as you need, then export to Excel. The totals and parts per hour recalculate for the rows present.

If cutting time estimates should flow into ERP routings and quotes, Netray can help connect programs and setup data to routing and costing records.

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