CNC Hobby Calc — 3018-PROVER

Parameters

Material Material

Tool

Diameter, mm Flutes

Tool material

Cut parameters Depth of cut ap, mm Stepover ae, mm Machine margin 80% Lower = safer for a lightweight 3018

Presets Preset name

Recommended values

Spindle speed — RPM

Cutting feedrate — mm/min

Plunge feedrate — mm/min

Surface speed — m/min

Feed per tooth — mm/tooth

Material removal rate — mm³/min

Formulas & notes

RPM = (Vc × 1000) / (π × D): Spindle speed from surface speed Vc (m/min) and tool diameter D (mm)
Cutting feed = RPM × flutes × fz_adj: fz_adj scales with engagement: lower for deep cuts and full-width slots, higher for light stepover (chip thinning)
fz_adj = fz_base × radial factor × axial factor: Radial factor uses stepover / diameter; axial factor uses stepdown / diameter
MRR = stepover × stepdown × cutting feed: Material removal rate: ae × ap × feed

Values are tuned for a 3018-PROVER (775 spindle, limited rigidity). Start shallow and increase depth gradually while listening to the cut and checking chips.