Reamers: Developing Optimum Speeds & Feeds

Hannibal Carbide has assembled some basic technical guidelines for optimizing reamers. Following these guidelines will increase your productivity. Ream it right the first time with Hannibal Carbide.

Most reamer manufacturers will provide you with a starting point for speeds and feeds. Here's some things to keep in mind:

1. It is very important to remember when optimizing your cycle that increasing feed will give you quicker cycles than running higher SFM at lower feed rates.
2. With the surface feet per minute (SFM) at the manufacturers low range, begin trying to increase the feed rate. Increase in small increments, .001 - .0015 per revolution. Continue to increase the feed until an undesirable condition develops. This could be an unacceptable finish, a bell, tapered, or egg shaped hole, or poor size. At this point return to the previous feed rate. You are now at or close to the optimum feed rate.
3. Increase the speed in increments of 10-20 SFM. Like the feed, increase until undesirable conditions appear, then return to the previous SFM. You should now be at or near the optimum speed and feed. It may also be necessary to fine-tune these numbers after a few runs to achieve the very best tool life.

As you seek the optimum speed and feed for your application, look and listen for signs or sounds that could save you time.

Listen for the reamer squealing upon entry—this means speed or feed is too high or alignment is poor.

Examine the chip for size and color. Examine the finish for signs of chatter.