CalculationMachining Time: Milling
Machining Time: Milling
Calculates per-part milling time for face milling, profile milling, grooving, and pocketing from path length, feed rates, and lead-in and lead-out.
How to use the result
Main machining time covers only the portion of milling time during which the tool is cutting. Tool changes, clamping, and inspection are auxiliary time; cycle time combines all of them.
Check that the machine can actually achieve the calculated spindle speed and table feed. On short paths with frequent direction changes, the machine often cannot reach the programmed feed rate.
For pockets with small corner radii or islands, the actual path may be considerably longer. The result is a preliminary estimate, not a simulation.
Formulas
n = vc · 1000 / (π · D)vf = fz · z · nface milling: distance per pass = l + 2 · la + 2 · sa with la = (D − √(D² − ae²)) / 2contour milling, open: la = √(ae · (D − ae)); closed outside/inside: contour length ± π · DSlot: center-point path = slot length − Dpocket, zigzag: passes = b / ae + 1, distance = passes · a + b with a = length − D, b = width − Dth = distance / vf (plunging with the percentage plunge feed) Sources: Tabellenbuch Metall (Europa-Lehrmittel): primary machining time and approach distances for milling; REFA: work-study methods, time categories within order time; DIN 6580 / DIN 6581 (machining terminology)