Mike, Cutting speeds/feeds in SFPM (surface feet per minute) are guidelines only to start with. Watch any experienced machinist and he will know the correct speeds by feel. Depending on the material, feedrate, rigidity of the machine, the type of tool being used, the cutting fluid, etc. the speeds will change. Typically the home machinist is buying cheap HSS tools and so you have to watch out for tool wear and run a little bit slower to keep the heat down. I personally like to buy endmills and lathe tool blanks that are M42 HSS or better, and that pretty much rules out the chinese stuff. The no brainer way to find out the right speed esp. with plastics is to get some scrap to work with and increase your speeds to get the best finish on your finish cut, run slower with your roughing cuts. On plastics there is no need to use cutting fluid. Cutting fluid is only used to keep the tool sharp. On my lathe I never use cutting fluids, only when using a parting tool. I think its w! ise for you to pick up a copy of Machinery's Handbook, it will serve as a reference for a lifetime. I have one and have gone to it for information on many things unrelated to machining. Hope this helps. Regards, Bob > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Hord" > To: > Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 2:56 PM > Subject: [OT:] Vertical Mill/Lathe Cutting Speeds > > > > Google wasn't very helpful; all I got were advertisements > > and how-to's that say "Be certain to use the right cutting > > speed." > > > > We have a book with several more common metals (alum., > > iron, several types of steel), but I also need to know about > > brass, plexiglas and delryn, among others. The big Q about > > plexi is "What cutting fluid do I use to keep it from releasing > > its toxic smoke?". > > > > I'm really just looking for a nice table I can print out or > > download; I'd hate to buy a copy of "Machinery's Handbook" > > just for this one thing. :-p > > > > Mike H. > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get rid of annoying pop-up ads with the new MSN Toolbar FREE! > > http://toolbar.msn.com/go/onm00200414ave/direct/01/ > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics > > (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.