1/2" ball nose bit feeds and speeds
54 sourced settings from Amana Tool, High Country Tools, Sienci Labs. Published chip loads range from 0.0012 to 0.00992 in per tooth. Pick your material:
acrylic (6) · aluminum (5) · baltic birch plywood (5) · dense hardwood (maple, oak) (5) · epoxy resin (5) · hardwood (6) · hdpe / uhmw (5) · mdf (6) · melamine (5) · softwood (6)
| Maker / bit | Material | Machine class | RPM | Feed IPM | Chip load (in) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Acrylic / PVC (hard plastic) | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 56.3 | 0.00234 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Baltic birch | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 42.8 | 0.00178 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood - Dense (maple, oak, ash) | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 40.5 | 0.00169 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Epoxy / resin | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 36 | 0.0015 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 45 | 0.00188 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | HDPE / UHMW / nylon (soft plastic) | hobby-ultralight | 11500 | 60.4 | 0.00263 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | MDF / particleboard | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 49.5 | 0.00206 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Melamine / laminate | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 38.3 | 0.00159 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Softwood (pine, cedar, fir) | hobby-ultralight | 12000 | 51.8 | 0.00216 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Acrylic / PVC (hard plastic) | hobby-light | 12500 | 91.2 | 0.00365 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Aluminum 6061 | hobby-light | 16000 | 51.3 | 0.0016 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Baltic birch | hobby-light | 18000 | 99.8 | 0.00277 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood - Dense (maple, oak, ash) | hobby-light | 18000 | 94.5 | 0.00263 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Epoxy / resin | hobby-light | 14500 | 67.7 | 0.00233 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood | hobby-light | 18000 | 105 | 0.00292 | source |
| Sienci Labs | Hardwood | hobby-light | 17000 | 40.9 | 0.0012 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | HDPE / UHMW / nylon (soft plastic) | hobby-light | 11500 | 93.9 | 0.00408 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | MDF / particleboard | hobby-light | 17000 | 109.1 | 0.00321 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Melamine / laminate | hobby-light | 18000 | 89.3 | 0.00248 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Softwood (pine, cedar, fir) | hobby-light | 17000 | 114.1 | 0.00335 | source |
| Sienci Labs | Softwood | hobby-light | 17000 | 40.9 | 0.0012 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Acrylic / PVC (hard plastic) | hobby-rigid | 12500 | 130.2 | 0.00521 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Aluminum 6061 | hobby-rigid | 16000 | 73.3 | 0.00229 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Baltic birch | hobby-rigid | 18000 | 142.5 | 0.00396 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood - Dense (maple, oak, ash) | hobby-rigid | 18000 | 135 | 0.00375 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Epoxy / resin | hobby-rigid | 14500 | 96.7 | 0.00333 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood | hobby-rigid | 18000 | 150 | 0.00417 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | HDPE / UHMW / nylon (soft plastic) | hobby-rigid | 11500 | 134.2 | 0.00583 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | MDF / particleboard | hobby-rigid | 17000 | 155.8 | 0.00458 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Melamine / laminate | hobby-rigid | 18000 | 127.5 | 0.00354 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Softwood (pine, cedar, fir) | hobby-rigid | 17000 | 162.9 | 0.00479 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Acrylic / PVC (hard plastic) | business | 12500 | 182.3 | 0.00729 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Aluminum 6061 | business | 16000 | 102.7 | 0.00321 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Baltic birch | business | 18000 | 199.5 | 0.00554 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood - Dense (maple, oak, ash) | business | 18000 | 189 | 0.00525 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Epoxy / resin | business | 14500 | 135.3 | 0.00467 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood | business | 18000 | 210 | 0.00583 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | HDPE / UHMW / nylon (soft plastic) | business | 11500 | 187.8 | 0.00817 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | MDF / particleboard | business | 17000 | 218.2 | 0.00642 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Melamine / laminate | business | 18000 | 178.5 | 0.00496 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Softwood (pine, cedar, fir) | business | 17000 | 228.1 | 0.00671 | source |
| Amana Tool 46493 | Plastic, Acrylic, Plexiglas | industrial | 18000 | 215–320 | 0.004–0.006 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Acrylic / PVC (hard plastic) | industrial | 12500 | 221.4 | 0.00885 | source |
| Amana Tool 46493 | Aluminum, Copper, Brass | industrial | 18000 | 215–320 | 0.004–0.006 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Aluminum 6061 | industrial | 16000 | 124.7 | 0.0039 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Baltic birch | industrial | 18000 | 242.3 | 0.00673 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood - Dense (maple, oak, ash) | industrial | 18000 | 229.5 | 0.00638 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Epoxy / resin | industrial | 14500 | 164.3 | 0.00567 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Hardwood | industrial | 18000 | 255 | 0.00708 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | HDPE / UHMW / nylon (soft plastic) | industrial | 11500 | 228.1 | 0.00992 | source |
| Amana Tool 46493 | Wood, MDF, Sign-Foam | industrial | 18000 | 320–430 | 0.006–0.008 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | MDF / particleboard | industrial | 17000 | 264.9 | 0.00779 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Plywood - Melamine / laminate | industrial | 18000 | 216.8 | 0.00602 | source |
| High Country Tools BN-12-DLC | Softwood (pine, cedar, fir) | industrial | 17000 | 277 | 0.00815 | source |
FAQ
What feeds and speeds for a 1/2" ball nose bit on a hobby-ultralight CNC router?
Published maker data (High Country Tools) gives a chip load of 0.0015–0.00263 in per tooth and a feed of 36–60.4 IPM (9 sourced rows). Start low and test in scrap.
What feeds and speeds for a 1/2" ball nose bit on a hobby-light CNC router?
Published maker data (High Country Tools, Sienci Labs) gives a chip load of 0.0012–0.00408 in per tooth and a feed of 40.9–114.1 IPM (12 sourced rows). Start low and test in scrap.
What feeds and speeds for a 1/2" ball nose bit on a hobby-rigid CNC router?
Published maker data (High Country Tools) gives a chip load of 0.00229–0.00583 in per tooth and a feed of 73.3–162.9 IPM (10 sourced rows). Start low and test in scrap.
What feeds and speeds for a 1/2" ball nose bit on a business CNC router?
Published maker data (High Country Tools) gives a chip load of 0.00321–0.00817 in per tooth and a feed of 102.7–228.1 IPM (10 sourced rows). Start low and test in scrap.
What feeds and speeds for a 1/2" ball nose bit on a industrial CNC router?
Published maker data (Amana Tool, High Country Tools) gives a chip load of 0.0039–0.00992 in per tooth and a feed of 124.7–430 IPM (13 sourced rows). Start low and test in scrap.
Weekly "what changed" email: coming soon
We'll email you when a maker updates their feeds and speeds.