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FREE MACHINIST TOOLS

Machining calculators & shop math

Calculate speeds, feeds, thread pitch and lead—then solve right triangles and taper angles. Imperial and Metric units, with clear formulas.

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New guide: speeds and feeds, explained

Understand cutting speed versus RPM, chip load versus feed per revolution, and what to change when spindle speed is capped. Work through a milling example, then try the linked calculators.

Speeds, feeds & threading

Choose Milling, Drilling, Lathe, Tapping or Threading. Use the unit switch for Imperial or Metric. For angles and taper geometry, use the free calculator below.

FREE MACHINIST TOOL

Milling calculator

RECOMMENDED STARTING RANGEBroad starting guidance only—prefer the insert/tool manufacturer’s cutting data.
SPINDLE1,528RPM
TABLE / TOOL FEED12.22IPM
FEED / REV0.0080in/rev

Educational starting point only. Verify against the cutting-tool manufacturer’s data, machine limits and a safe prove-out. Thread diameters are basic 60° geometry and do not include class or tolerance.

FREE SHOP MATH

Angle & taper calculator

Find angles, missing sides and taper geometry. All angles are measured in degrees.

X values are full diameters, not radii. Z is the positive axial distance between them; choose the Z direction and start coordinate in your program.

run / axial lengthriseθtravel

Formulas and angle conventions

Right triangle: θ = atan(rise / run); travel = √(run² + rise²). With angle and run: rise = run × tan(θ); travel = run / cos(θ). The other acute angle is 90° − θ.

Find Z: Z = (major X − minor X) / (2 × tan θ). θ is the angle to the spindle axis. For a full included angle A, use θ = A / 2. Example: X2 to X1 at 30° to the axis gives Z = 0.866025 in. At a 30° included angle, Z = 1.866025 in.

Taper: radial change = (D − d) / 2; half-angle θ = atan((D − d) / (2L)); included angle = 2θ; diameter taper per unit length = (D − d) / L. Enter the axial length, not the sloping surface length. Values use one common length unit.

The diagram illustrates the angle convention and is not to scale. Confirm whether your drawing or machine setup specifies the half-angle or included angle.

Thread families

UNC · UNF · UNEF

UNIFIED THREADS

60° thread form. Use TPI to calculate pitch and single- or multi-start lead.

COARSE · FINE

ISO METRIC

60° metric form. Enter pitch directly in millimetres.

GENERAL · STUB

ACME THREADS

29° power-transmission thread families. Final dimensions require the applicable standard table.

NPT · NPTF

PIPE THREADS

Tapered 60° pipe threads. Confirm gauge planes, engagement lengths and tolerances.

CASING · TUBING

API 8-ROUND

Oilfield connection family. Use the applicable API 5B table and certified gauges.

SPECIFICATION CONTROLLED

API BUTTRESS / LINE PIPE

Pitch and feed can be calculated here; final form, taper and diameters require the controlled specification.

Core thread formulas

Imperial pitch

Pitch = 1 ÷ TPI

Example: 20 TPI = 0.0500 in pitch.

Thread lead

Lead = pitch × number of starts

Threading feed

Feed per minute = RPM × lead

On controls using feed per revolution, the programmed feed normally equals thread lead. Verify the control mode and machine manual.

Important

Calculator results are educational starting points. Thread class, allowance, truncation, taper, gauge plane and final diameters depend on the exact standard and drawing. API connections require the applicable controlled API specification and certified gauges.

Latest threading guides

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