Starting cutting speeds by material
Conservative surface speeds for HSS and carbide tools.
| Material | HSS SFM | Carbide SFM | HSS m/min | Carbide m/min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum and alloys | 250 | 625 | 76 | 190 |
| Brass | 250 | 625 | 76 | 190 |
| Acetal (Delrin) | 250 | 625 | 76 | 190 |
| Magnesium | 300 | 750 | 91 | 229 |
| Mild steel | 100 | 250 | 30 | 76 |
| Steel 0.4-0.5% carbon | 60 | 150 | 18 | 46 |
| Tool steel | 40 | 100 | 12 | 30 |
| Cast iron, soft | 100 | 250 | 30 | 76 |
| Cast iron, hard | 20 | 50 | 6 | 15 |
| Titanium alloys | 20 | 50 | 6 | 15 |
| Inconel | 25 | 62.5 | 8 | 19 |
Source: University of Florida MAE Design Lab, 'Speeds and Feeds' (web.mae.ufl.edu/designlab/Advanced Manufacturing/Speeds and Feeds), checked 2026-10-03. Carbide is HSS × 2.5 as that source states. Coated tools and rigid machines can usually go faster; start here and adjust.