What SFM should I use for 5052 Aluminum?

Lakeshore Carbide – General Purpose End Mill Speeds & Feeds lists 500–1100 SFM for carbide end mills in the "Aluminums" row. Start at the low end and adjust for your machine.

What chip load for a 1/2" end mill in 5052 Aluminum?

The published range for 3/8–1/2" carbide end mills is .0025–.0045" per tooth. At 500 SFM a 3-flute 1/2" end mill runs about 3820 RPM and 28.6 IPM.

Are these values for HSS tools, drilling or turning?

The end mill chart covers carbide end mills. The "Speeds by tool material" table adds published HSS, turning-insert and drilling rows for 5052 Aluminum where a source lists them (LittleMachineShop, Sandvik Coromant).

5052 Aluminum Speeds and Feeds (Milling, Drilling, Turning)

Carbide end mills in 5052 Aluminum: 500–1100 SFM. Also called AA5052. Chart row used: “Aluminums” (H32).

Starting point: carbide end mills

RPM and IPM use the low end of the published range (500 SFM and the lowest chip load for each diameter range). RPM = SFM × 12 ÷ (π × D); IPM = RPM × flutes × chip load.

5052 Aluminum — inch end mills
Diameter	Chip load (in/tooth)	RPM	IPM · 2 flute	IPM · 3 flute
1/8"	.0007	15,279	21.4	32.1
1/4"	.0009	7,639	13.8	20.6
3/8"	.0015	5,093	15.3	22.9
1/2"	.0025	3,820	19.1	28.6
3/4"	.0035	2,546	17.8	26.7
1"	.0050	1,910	19.1	28.6

5052 Aluminum — metric end mills (inch chip-load range the size falls in)
Diameter	Chip load (in/tooth)	RPM	IPM · 2 flute	IPM · 3 flute
3 mm	.0007	16,170	22.6	34.0
6 mm	.0009	8,085	14.6	21.8
10 mm	.0025	4,851	24.3	36.4
12 mm	.0025	4,043	20.2	30.3
16 mm	.0035	3,032	21.2	31.8
20 mm	.0050	2,426	24.3	36.4

Full published chip-load ranges

1/32-1/8": .0007–.0016"
1/8-1/4": .0009–.0020"
1/4-3/8": .0015–.0040"
3/8-1/2": .0025–.0045"
1/2-3/4": .0035–.0080"
3/4-1": .0050–.0100"

Calculator — prefilled for 5052 Aluminum

Results for Milling

Spindle RPM: 3,820
Feed: 38.2 IPM
Chip load: 0.0023 in

MRR: 1.43 in³/min
Power: — HP
Torque: — lbf·ft
Programmed fz: 0.0025 in
Actual SFM: 500
Spindle use: 32%

Pick a material in the library below to estimate spindle power and torque.

Operation Type

Milling

Turning

Material library

Auto-adjust cutting data

Material & condition

Cutting tool material

Tool coating

Tool & coating guidance

Grade, edge geometry and coating determine usable cutting data. Sharp polished edges can suit nonferrous work; substrate and geometry still govern. Coated vs uncoated carbide changes turning data only; no coating speed multiplier is inferred.

Tool & cut parameters

Manual values

SFM (Surface Feet/Min)

Cutter Diameter (in)

Number of Flutes

Axial depth of cut (in)

Feed per Tooth (in)

Machine RPM limit

Chip thinning & cutter body

Cutter body

Chip-thinning compensation

Radial engagement (% of diameter)

Entering angle KAPR (°)

Radial factor ×1.09Angle factor ×1.00Programmed fz 0.0025 inMax chip hex 0.0023 in

Fixed-angle peripheral estimate: hex = fz × radial factor × sin(KAPR). No radial correction at ≥50% engagement. Not a centered face-milling or ball-nose model. Sandvik geometry reference

Insert styles, guidelines & formulas

RPM = (SFM × 12) / (π × D) | Feed = RPM × programmed fz × effective zc | MRR = WOC × DOC × feed | HP = Kp × C × MRR × 1.1 ÷ 0.8 (Machinery's Handbook)

Milling Insert Styles

Square (SEMT/SNMG)

General purpose, 90° lead angle

Round (RPMW/RCKT)

Ramping, 3D contouring, high feed

Triangular (TPMX)

Light cuts, finishing

Octagonal (ONMU)

Face milling; HFM suitability is body-specific

Milling Guidelines

Start at 70% of max SFM, increase gradually
Chip load too low → rubbing & heat buildup
Use climb milling when machine rigidity allows
Radial engagement >50% → reduce feed per tooth
Round inserts: best for ramp-in and 3D surfaces

Open in the full calculator workspace

Speeds by tool material

Published starting ranges for 5052 Aluminum by operation and tool material. Rows marked * are estimates.

5052 Aluminum — speeds by tool material
Operation	Tool	SFM	Feed	Source row
milling	HSS *	165	0.0025–0.0045 in/tooth	LittleMachineShop · Wrought aluminum (6061-T6, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series)
milling	Cobalt HSS (M35/M42) *	165	0.0025–0.0045 in/tooth	LittleMachineShop · Wrought aluminum (6061-T6, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series)
milling	Solid carbide end mill	500–1100	0.0025–0.0045 in/tooth	Lakeshore Carbide · Aluminums
milling	Uncoated carbide (H10)	2650–3050	0.0040–0.0080 in hex	Sandvik milling (large engagement) · CMC 30.11 Wrought aluminum, not aged
milling	Coated carbide (GC1030)	2750–3200	0.0040–0.0080 in hex	Sandvik milling (large engagement) · CMC 30.11 Wrought aluminum, not aged
milling	Cermet (CT530)	2900–3400	0.0040–0.0080 in hex	Sandvik milling (large engagement) · CMC 30.11 Wrought aluminum, not aged
milling	PCD (CD10)	5250–6150	0.0040–0.0080 in hex	Sandvik milling (large engagement) · CMC 30.11 Wrought aluminum, not aged
turning	HSS	500–600	0.0040 in/rev	LittleMachineShop · Wrought aluminum (6061-T6, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series)
turning	Cobalt HSS (M35/M42) *	500–600	0.0040 in/rev	LittleMachineShop · Wrought aluminum (6061-T6, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series)
turning	Uncoated carbide (H10)	820–6550	0.0060–0.0310 in/rev	Sandvik turning · CMC 30.11 Wrought aluminum, not aged
turning	PCD (CD10)	820–6550	0.0020–0.0160 in/rev	Sandvik turning · CMC 30.11 Wrought aluminum, not aged
drilling	HSS	350–400	—	LittleMachineShop · Wrought aluminum (6061-T6, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series)
drilling	Cobalt HSS (M35/M42) *	350–400	—	LittleMachineShop · Wrought aluminum (6061-T6, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series)

Machinist tips

Chip thinning: At light radial engagement (under half the cutter diameter) the real chip is thinner than the feed per tooth. Raise the feed to keep the chip at the chart value, or the tool rubs and wears.
Climb vs conventional: On a rigid CNC, climb mill so each tooth starts thick and exits thin. Use conventional milling on machines with backlash or on hard scale skins.
Coolant and chip evacuation: Flood coolant or a strong air blast keeps chips from welding to the flutes. Use 2 or 3 flutes for room to clear chips.

Common questions

What SFM should I use for 5052 Aluminum?: Lakeshore Carbide – General Purpose End Mill Speeds & Feeds lists 500–1100 SFM for carbide end mills in the "Aluminums" row. Start at the low end and adjust for your machine.
What chip load for a 1/2" end mill in 5052 Aluminum?: The published range for 3/8–1/2" carbide end mills is .0025–.0045" per tooth. At 500 SFM a 3-flute 1/2" end mill runs about 3820 RPM and 28.6 IPM.
Are these values for HSS tools, drilling or turning?: The end mill chart covers carbide end mills. The "Speeds by tool material" table adds published HSS, turning-insert and drilling rows for 5052 Aluminum where a source lists them (LittleMachineShop, Sandvik Coromant).

5083 Aluminum speeds and feeds 5086 Aluminum speeds and feeds 2011 Aluminum speeds and feeds

Sources

Starting values only. Adjust for rigidity, tool manufacturer data and machine.

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