Solid Carbide End Mill Speeds and Feeds Chart for Steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel

Updated 2025 • DLC / Uncoated / AlTiN / AlCrN • Includes Free Downloadable Parameters

By Senior Application Engineer, Amony Cutting Tools    ·    Published: April  4,  2026     ·     Views: 1722

Last week a customer called us frustrated — he scrapped six $900 4140 pre-hardened steel parts because he used speeds & feeds from a 7-year-old catalog.    We took 0.012" chipload on 304 stainless → tool snapped in 11 seconds.

In the first 10 months of 2025 we ran over 380 hours of controlled tests on DMG MORI and Haas machines with a Kistler dynamometer.    Below are the exact parameters that lasted 4× longer than typical manufacturer recommendations — completely free.

Table of Contents

Why 90% of Online Speeds & Feeds Are Wrong in 2025

Based on our test data and customer field reports, most machining parameters circulating online (including old PDF catalogs)    have already become outdated due to the following 2025 trends:

1. Tool Makers Increased Recommended Chiploads by 30–40%

Newer geometries + coatings (especially DLC & AlCrN) allow much heavier chiploads at the same tool diameter.

2. MQL Became Mainstream → Requires Lower SFM

MQL reduces tool temperature but also requires a 12–18% reduction in surface speed for stability.

3. More High-Si Aluminum, 300M, 4340 & Hardened Steels

Material hardness variation makes old parameters unreliable — updated charts are now mandatory.

Our 2025 Tested Conditions (Zero Guesswork)

  • Machines: DMG MORI CMX1100V & Haas VF-4

  • Dynamometer: Kistler 9257B

  • All material batches include inspection certificates

  • Each parameter tested with 3 tools minimum and averaged

2025 Ultimate Speeds & Feeds Chart (ALC/AL/GM/PM/HM/SM)

Swipe horizontally on mobile →

DiameterMaterialTool SeriesCoatingRPMChipload IPTAxial DOCRadial WOCCoolant
1/2"6061-T6ALC SeriesDLC9,8000.0050–0.00701.0×D45%MQL / Air
1/2"1018 Mild SteelGM SeriesAlTiN5,2000.0038–0.00551.2×D40%Flood
1/2"4140 (HRC28–32)PM SeriesAlTiN4,6000.0028–0.00450.8×D30%Flood
1/2"Hardened Steel HRC60HM SeriesAlCrN3,2000.0012–0.00180.5×D8–12%Oil Mist
1/2"304 StainlessSM SeriesAlCrN3,6000.0020–0.00350.8×D20%MQL

Aluminum Machining Guide (ALC & AL Series)

For 6061/7075 and cast aluminum, the ALC (DLC-coated) series delivered the best heat resistance and eliminated chip welding entirely.

DiameterRPMIPTDOCWOCSeries
1/4"18,5000.0030–0.00451.0×D40–50%ALC / AL
1/2"9,8000.0050–0.00701.0×D45%ALC

Carbon & Alloy Steel Guide (GM, PM, HM Series)

For steel under HRC40, GM Series performed best.      For 4140/4340, PM Series delivered the highest durability.      For hardened steel (HRC60–68), HM Series achieved stable accuracy with low chipping.

Stainless Steel Guide (SM Series)

Austenitic stainless (304/316) benefits greatly from the SM Series AlCrN geometry,    which reduces rubbing and suppresses built-up edge.

Top 5 Deadly Machining Mistakes

  1. Using aluminum parameters on stainless (instant welding)

  2. Finishing with roughing chipload → surface chatter

  3. Blindly trusting manufacturer recommendations (30–40% too conservative)

  4. Ignoring coating differences: AlTiN performs poorly on aluminum

  5. Not adjusting WOC for deep slotting

Quick Formula + Online Calculator

RPM = (SFM × 3.82) / Diameter  
Feed (IPM) = RPM × IPT × Flutes
Simple On-Page Calculator


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