CNC Machining worked example

Material Removal Rate with width of cut of 0.13 in: a worked example

This worked example runs the material removal rate numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: width of cut of 0.13 in instead of the typical 0.25 in. Estimate material removal rate from radial width of cut, axial depth of cut, feed rate, and utilization of the cut.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Width of cut: 0.13 in (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 0.25)
  • Depth of cut: 0.1 in (held at the documented default)
  • Feed rate: 60 in / min (held at the documented default)
  • Utilization: 1 x (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: MRR = width of cut × depth of cut × feed rate × cutting engagement utilization.
  • material removal rate works out to 0.78 in³ / min at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Base product works out to 0.78 value at these inputs.
  • Multiplier works out to 1 x at these inputs.
  • Factor A x B works out to 0.01 value at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where width of cut sits at 0.25 in and the headline result is 1.5 in³ / min, this scenario comes in 48% below the baseline at 0.78 in³ / min.
  • Use it when programming or optimizing a roughing pass, checking whether a feed and speed will exceed available spindle power, or estimating cycle time on a milling operation. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • material removal rate: 0.78 in³ / min (headline result)
  • Base product: 0.78 value
  • Multiplier: 1 x
  • Factor A x B: 0.01 value

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Material Removal Rate calculator, set width of cut to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.