What SFM should I use for Ti-6Al-4V · STA?

Lakeshore Carbide – General Purpose End Mill Speeds & Feeds lists 80–220 SFM for carbide end mills in the "Titanium – Hard" row. Start at the low end and adjust for your machine.

What chip load for a 1/2" end mill in Ti-6Al-4V · STA?

The published range for 3/8–1/2" carbide end mills is .0008–.0017" per tooth. At 80 SFM a 3-flute 1/2" end mill runs about 611 RPM and 1.5 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 Ti-6Al-4V · STA where a source lists them (LittleMachineShop, Sandvik Coromant).

Ti-6Al-4V · STA Speeds and Feeds (Milling, Drilling, Turning)

Carbide end mills in Ti-6Al-4V · STA: 80–220 SFM. Also called Grade 5 STA, Ti64 aged. Chart row used: “Titanium – Hard” (Solution treated and aged).

Starting point: carbide end mills

RPM and IPM use the low end of the published range (80 SFM and the lowest chip load for each diameter range). RPM = SFM × 12 ÷ (π × D); IPM = RPM × flutes × chip load.

Ti-6Al-4V · STA — inch end mills
Diameter	Chip load (in/tooth)	RPM	IPM · 2 flute	IPM · 3 flute
1/8"	.0003	2,445	1.5	2.2
1/4"	.0004	1,222	1.0	1.5
3/8"	.0006	815	1.0	1.5
1/2"	.0008	611	1.0	1.5
3/4"	.0012	407	1.0	1.5
1"	.0015	306	0.9	1.4

Ti-6Al-4V · STA — 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	.0003	2,587	1.6	2.3
6 mm	.0004	1,294	1.0	1.6
10 mm	.0008	776	1.2	1.9
12 mm	.0008	647	1.0	1.6
16 mm	.0012	485	1.2	1.7
20 mm	.0015	388	1.2	1.7

Full published chip-load ranges

1/32-1/8": .0003–.0008"
1/8-1/4": .0004–.0009"
1/4-3/8": .0006–.0013"
3/8-1/2": .0008–.0017"
1/2-3/4": .0012–.0032"
3/4-1": .0015–.0040"

Calculator — prefilled for Ti-6Al-4V · STA

Results for Milling

Spindle RPM: 611
Feed: 2.0 IPM
Chip load: 0.0007 in

MRR: 0.07 in³/min
Power: — HP
Torque: — lbf·ft
Programmed fz: 0.0008 in
Actual SFM: 80
Spindle use: 5%

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 0.0008 inMax chip hex 0.0007 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 Ti-6Al-4V · STA by operation and tool material. Rows marked * are estimates.

Ti-6Al-4V · STA — speeds by tool material
Operation	Tool	SFM	Feed	Source row
milling	Solid carbide end mill	80–220	0.0008–0.0017 in/tooth	Lakeshore Carbide · Titanium – Hard
milling	Uncoated carbide (H13A)	105–125	0.0040–0.0080 in hex	Sandvik milling (large engagement) · CMC 23.22 Titanium alpha+beta aged, beta alloys (Rm 1050 MPa)
milling	Coated carbide (GC1030)	120–145	0.0040–0.0080 in hex	Sandvik milling (large engagement) · CMC 23.22 Titanium alpha+beta aged, beta alloys (Rm 1050 MPa)
turning	Uncoated carbide (H13A)	150–235	0.0040–0.0200 in/rev	Sandvik turning · CMC 23.22 Titanium alpha+beta aged, beta alloys (Rm 1050 MPa)
turning	Coated carbide (GC1115)	155–245	0.0040–0.0200 in/rev	Sandvik turning · CMC 23.22 Titanium alpha+beta aged, beta alloys (Rm 1050 MPa)

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.
Heat is the enemy: Use high-pressure coolant, keep engagement consistent, and stay at the low end of the speed range.

Common questions

What SFM should I use for Ti-6Al-4V · STA?: Lakeshore Carbide – General Purpose End Mill Speeds & Feeds lists 80–220 SFM for carbide end mills in the "Titanium – Hard" row. Start at the low end and adjust for your machine.
What chip load for a 1/2" end mill in Ti-6Al-4V · STA?: The published range for 3/8–1/2" carbide end mills is .0008–.0017" per tooth. At 80 SFM a 3-flute 1/2" end mill runs about 611 RPM and 1.5 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 Ti-6Al-4V · STA where a source lists them (LittleMachineShop, Sandvik Coromant).

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