DREAMER® RECOMMENDED SPEEDS AND FEEDS
Speeds and feeds for the Dreamer®
combination drill reamer depend on the material conditions of both the product
(HSS, cobalt, carbide, etc. construction, drill point angle, and flute
configuration), and the material being cut.
The spindle speed selected for the Dreamer® must be closely related to the type of material being machined. Other factors, such as the part setup, its rigidity, its size and surface finish of the completed hole, etc., will have a contribution to the spindle speed selection. As a general rule, the spindle speed for reaming will be reasonable if you ream at ½ to 2/3 the speed of the recommended drill speed for the same material. We recommend that a user implementing the Dreamer® in a new condition begin operating the tool at ½ the recommended speed for a drill of the same size. The user should then experiment at faster and slower speeds to optimize the speed and feed.
Reaming feed rates may be programmed higher than those used for drilling. Double increases, relative to the same-size drill, are not unusual. If you are using a CNC, and you can program so that the feed increases after breakthrough of the drill and as the reamer begins sizing the hole, that may yield the best results. The purpose of the high feed rates is to force the reamer to cut, rather than to rub the material. If the feed rate is too slow, the reamer may wear out prematurely. The slow feed rates cause heavy pressures as the reamer actually tries to push and enlarge the hole, rather than remove the stock to enlarge the hole.
For carbide Dreamers®, they should generally be run at higher speeds and lighter feeds than their HSS and cobalt counterparts. Generally, a 10-25% reduction in feed, and a 25-35% increase in speed, relative to HSS/Cobalt Dreamers®, is a good starting point. As always, optimum feed and speed is determined by total job conditions. Guide bushings are especially recommended for use with carbide. Lack of rigidity, vibration, and chatter can be the death of carbide tools.
One should always keep in mind the important metal cutting principle: the tool life of a cutting tool is most affected by the cutting speed, and secondly by the feed rate. When using a Dreamer®, there is an inherent compromise between setting the feed and speed based on the reamer or based on the drill. Most of our users find, through modest experimentation, the right compromise that leads to excellent hole quality coupled with satisfactory tool life.
Remember that tooling costs account for a small percentage of the overall machining cost, whereby machining time and labor account for the majority of cost. The significant time savings that a Dreamer® accords the user, together with the more accurate positioning and concentricity, makes the decision an easy one.
The spindle speed selected for the Dreamer® must be closely related to the type of material being machined. Other factors, such as the part setup, its rigidity, its size and surface finish of the completed hole, etc., will have a contribution to the spindle speed selection. As a general rule, the spindle speed for reaming will be reasonable if you ream at ½ to 2/3 the speed of the recommended drill speed for the same material. We recommend that a user implementing the Dreamer® in a new condition begin operating the tool at ½ the recommended speed for a drill of the same size. The user should then experiment at faster and slower speeds to optimize the speed and feed.
Reaming feed rates may be programmed higher than those used for drilling. Double increases, relative to the same-size drill, are not unusual. If you are using a CNC, and you can program so that the feed increases after breakthrough of the drill and as the reamer begins sizing the hole, that may yield the best results. The purpose of the high feed rates is to force the reamer to cut, rather than to rub the material. If the feed rate is too slow, the reamer may wear out prematurely. The slow feed rates cause heavy pressures as the reamer actually tries to push and enlarge the hole, rather than remove the stock to enlarge the hole.
For carbide Dreamers®, they should generally be run at higher speeds and lighter feeds than their HSS and cobalt counterparts. Generally, a 10-25% reduction in feed, and a 25-35% increase in speed, relative to HSS/Cobalt Dreamers®, is a good starting point. As always, optimum feed and speed is determined by total job conditions. Guide bushings are especially recommended for use with carbide. Lack of rigidity, vibration, and chatter can be the death of carbide tools.
One should always keep in mind the important metal cutting principle: the tool life of a cutting tool is most affected by the cutting speed, and secondly by the feed rate. When using a Dreamer®, there is an inherent compromise between setting the feed and speed based on the reamer or based on the drill. Most of our users find, through modest experimentation, the right compromise that leads to excellent hole quality coupled with satisfactory tool life.
Remember that tooling costs account for a small percentage of the overall machining cost, whereby machining time and labor account for the majority of cost. The significant time savings that a Dreamer® accords the user, together with the more accurate positioning and concentricity, makes the decision an easy one.
