indigolemon wrote:Drilling metal: 1 - go slow
Not necessarily...
Cutting speed is dependant on the specific metal and the diameter you're drilling. The smaller diameter you're drilling, the faster you actually want to go.
The calc is
S = (1000 x V) / (3.14... x D)
where;
S = Spindle Speed (rpm)
V = specific cutting speed for the material being 'cut' (look up in a data table, think mild steel from memory is 30?)
3.14 = pi (I don't know where that is on a keyboard?

)
D = Diameter being cut (or drilled).
(

Why I remember that so specifically from 20 years ago at college, I'm not entirely sure...

and I haven't been on google to verify if my memory is correct, so
@Donald feel free to do your worst... )
EDIT:

thinking a bit more I now recall that (1000 x V) is specific cutting speed for the material being 'cut' and what tool material you're using to cut it (if you use a harder tool material you can run at higher speeds).
1000 x 30 was for cutting mild steel with standard tungsten carbide tool, IIRC
EDIT EDIT: I apologise for boring the jobby out of everyone with this post. I've actually been doing some proper engineering stuff the last couple of days and it seems I can't shake the hard on atm and it's just carrying through everywhere...
