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Increasing feed can raise calculated material removal rate (MRR), but it does not automatically make a machining operation more productive. MRR describes how much material is removed per unit of time; useful productivity also depends on whether the cut can be sustained while meeting tool-life and part-quality requirements. The key question is not just “Why faster feed?” but whether the whole operation benefits from it.

What material removal rate measures

Material removal rate is the volume of material removed in a unit of time. It is a measure of cutting throughput, not a complete measure of production performance: it does not, by itself, account for tool life, part quality, or whether a machine and setup can sustain the chosen cutting conditions.

Turning MRR formula and units

For metric turning, Sandvik Coromant defines the formula as Q = vc × ap × fn, where Q is MRR in cm³/min, vc is cutting speed in m/min, ap is depth of cut in mm, and fn is feed per revolution in mm/r. See Sandvik Coromant’s metric turning formulas and definitions.

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With cutting speed and depth of cut held constant, increasing feed per revolution increases the MRR calculated by this formula. That is the arithmetic result; it does not establish that the resulting cut is suitable for a particular machine, tool, work material, or part.

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Why milling needs its own feed variables

The turning equation is specific to turning. Milling uses operation-specific terms such as feed per tooth, feed per revolution, cutting depth, and table feed. A turning feed-per-revolution value should not be copied into a milling calculation without first defining the relevant variables. Sandvik Coromant’s metric milling formulas and definitions covers those milling terms.

How geometry can change the feed relationship

Feed is not the only way to affect MRR, and its practical limits can depend on cutting geometry. In a manufacturer-specific technical session, Sandvik Coromant describes its PrimeTurning method, in which a smaller entering angle changes chip thickness and can allow higher feed while maintaining comparable chip thickness. This is an example tied to that method and its applications, not a universal rule that a smaller angle always permits a higher feed.

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The same session discusses how selected cutting data affect both productivity and tool life. Its demonstrations apply to specific tools, materials, and setups; their numerical results should not be treated as general targets. See Sandvik Coromant’s PrimeTurning in ISO S knowledge session.

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Compare useful productivity, not just calculated MRR

When evaluating a feed change, compare like-for-like operations and materials, and decide what outcome matters. A higher removal rate may be useful if the cut remains suitable for the job; a rate alone does not tell you whether the overall production result improved.

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  • Material removed per unit time: Compare the MRR for the operation using consistently defined variables and units.
  • Tool life: Consider how the changed cutting data affect tool life or material removed per cutting edge.
  • Part requirements: Check whether the resulting part meets the required quality and surface finish.
  • Machine and setup: Assess whether the machine, tooling, and setup can sustain the cut reliably.

The PrimeTurning session supports the connection between cutting data, productivity, and tool life in its specific examples. Part quality and machine/setup stability are additional considerations to assess in the application at hand, rather than results established by that session.

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