Workshop — Feeds and Speeds Quick Reference
Jul 14, 2026 11:55am · 2 views
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Workshop — Feeds and Speeds Quick Reference
Conservative starting points for desktop CNC (Wolfpawn 4040, Genmitsu 3018, etc.). Always run a test cut on scrap first.
Key Concepts
- RPM — spindle speed (desktop CNCs: 8,000-30,000 RPM)
- Feed Rate — tool movement speed through material (mm/min)
- Depth of Cut (DOC) — how deep each pass cuts
- Chip Load — material removed per flute per rev (target 0.025-0.075mm for wood)
1/8" (3.175mm) Bit Settings
| Material | RPM | Feed (mm/min) | DOC (mm) |
|---|
| Soft pine | 18000 | 800 | 1.5 |
| Hard oak/maple | 18000 | 500 | 1.0 |
| MDF | 18000 | 800 | 2.0 |
| Plywood (birch) | 18000 | 600 | 1.5 |
| Acrylic (cast) | 18000 | 800 | 0.5 |
| HDPE plastic | 18000 | 600 | 0.8 |
| Soft aluminum | 24000 | 200 | 0.3 |
1/4" (6.35mm) Bit Settings
| Material | RPM | Feed (mm/min) | DOC (mm) |
|---|
| Soft pine | 18000 | 1200 | 3.0 |
| Hard wood | 18000 | 800 | 2.0 |
| MDF | 18000 | 1000 | 3.0 |
| Acrylic | 12000 | 1000 | 0.8 |
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|
| Chatter/vibration | Feed too fast or bit loose | Slow down, retighten collet |
| Burned wood | Feed too slow or dull bit | Speed up or replace bit |
| Melted acrylic | Too slow or too deep | Increase feed, reduce DOC |
| Bit breaking | DOC too deep | Max DOC = 50% of bit diameter |
| Rough surface | Wrong bit type | Downcut for top, upcut for clean bottom |
Key GRBL Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| $110, $111 | Max feed X, Y (mm/min) |
| $120, $121 | Acceleration X, Y (mm/s2) |
| $30 | Max spindle speed (maps to max RPM) |
| $100, $101 | Steps per mm X, Y |
Links