A faster feed can raise calculated material removal rate (MRR), but it does not automatically raise useful productivity. In turning, feed per revolution is one factor in the MRR formula; the practical result also depends on whether the tool, machine, material and part requirements can support the setting. The question is not simply “Why doesn’t faster feed always mean higher productivity?” It is whether the higher rate can be sustained while meeting the production goal.
What material removal rate measures
Material removal rate is the volume of material removed per unit of time. It is a useful way to describe cutting throughput, but it is not a complete measure of how efficiently a process makes acceptable parts. A higher calculated MRR does not, by itself, account for tool life, part quality or process stability.
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Turning MRR: formula and units
For metric turning, Sandvik Coromant gives the formula 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 its metric turning formulas and definitions.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWith cutting speed and depth of cut held constant, increasing feed per revolution increases the value calculated for Q. That is the arithmetic, not a guarantee that the process can run at that feed or produce parts that meet requirements. Keep the equation scoped to turning and use the stated units consistently.
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Milling uses different feed variables
Do not substitute a turning feed-per-revolution value into a milling calculation without defining the operation and variable. Milling references use terms including feed per tooth, feed per revolution, cutting depth and table feed; the relevant relationship depends on the milling calculation being used. Sandvik Coromant’s metric milling formulas and definitions set out milling-specific terminology.
Why feed is not a free-standing productivity control
The turning formula relates MRR to cutting speed, depth of cut and feed per revolution, but it does not encode the limits of a particular machine, tool, work material or part specification. A feed increase is useful only if the operation can sustain it and still deliver the required outcome.
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It also matters what “productivity” means for the job. Material removed per minute, material removed per cutting edge, tool life, surface finish and machine or setup stability are different criteria. A setting that raises throughput may not be the best choice if it shortens tool life or compromises the required part quality. Compare settings against the production outcome that matters, not MRR alone.
Geometry can change the feed–chip relationship
Tool geometry helps explain why feed cannot be judged in isolation. In a manufacturer technical session about its PrimeTurning method, Sandvik Coromant describes how a smaller entering angle affects chip thickness and can allow a higher feed while maintaining a comparable chip thickness. The session also discusses how cutting-data choices affect tool life.
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This is a specific example involving a particular method, tools and application demonstrations—not a universal rule that a smaller entering angle or higher feed will improve every turning operation. The session’s reported parameters and outcomes should be treated as process-specific examples, not general targets. Read the PrimeTurning in ISO S knowledge session in that context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare two real cutting settings
For a meaningful comparison, hold the operation and production context constant and assess the outcomes that matter:
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- Material removal: Compare calculated or measured volume removed per unit time for the same operation and units.
- Tool use: Record tool life or material removed per cutting edge, rather than assuming higher MRR preserves tool life.
- Part requirements: Check whether the resulting surface finish and other specified quality requirements are met.
- Process performance: Confirm that the machine, tooling and setup can maintain stable cutting at the chosen conditions.
Without the material, machine, tool, setup and part target, no single feed value—or MRR figure—can establish which setting will be more productive for a given job.
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