CNC Machining worked example

Depth of Cut with available spindle power or rigidity capacity of 1.6 capacity units: a worked example

Suppose available spindle power or rigidity capacity falls to 1.6 capacity units. This page works the full calculation at that level so you can see exactly which result moves and by how much. Calculate allowable depth of cut from available spindle horsepower or cutting capacity, width of cut, and feed or material factor.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Available spindle power or rigidity capacity: 1.6 capacity units (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 3.2)
  • Width of cut and feed load basis: 8 load units (held at the documented default)
  • Material and setup safety factor: 0.8 x (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Depth of Cut = available cutting capacity ÷ width-of-cut and feed load basis × material and safety factor.
  • base depth of cut works out to 0.16 in at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Raw ratio works out to 0.2 value at these inputs.
  • Conversion factor works out to 0.8 x at these inputs.
  • width-of-cut and feed load basis works out to 8 value at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where available spindle power or rigidity capacity sits at 3.2 capacity units and the headline result is 0.32 in, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 0.16 in.
  • It estimates a baseline axial depth of cut by dividing available cutting capacity by the width-of-cut load basis and scaling the result by a material and setup safety factor. When the numbers land here, the stressed input is the lever to work; the walkthrough above shows exactly how much each output recovers as it climbs back toward the baseline.

Results at a glance

  • base depth of cut: 0.16 in (headline result)
  • Raw ratio: 0.2 value
  • Conversion factor: 0.8 x
  • width-of-cut and feed load basis: 8 value

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Depth of Cut calculator, set available spindle power or rigidity capacity to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.