How do I calculate drilling RPM?

n = 1000 × v / (π × D), where v is cutting speed in m/min and D is drill diameter in mm.

What cutting speed should I use for drilling steel?

For HSS drills in mild steel: 20–30 m/min. For carbide drills: 60–120 m/min. Always check manufacturer data.

How is drilling thrust force calculated?

Thrust Ft ≈ Kc × f × D / 2, where Kc is specific cutting force, f is feed per revolution, D is drill diameter.

What is feed per revolution for drilling?

Feed per revolution (f) is the axial advance per spindle rotation in mm/rev. For HSS drills in steel, typical values are 0.05–0.30 mm/rev depending on diameter.

How do I estimate drilling torque?

Torque M ≈ Kc × f × D² / 8 (Nm), using specific cutting force Kc in N/mm², feed f in mm/rev, and D in mm.

Free Engineering Tool #210

Drilling Parameters Calculator

Calculate drilling speed, feed rate, thrust force and torque. Enter drill diameter, cutting speed, and feed per revolution.

Speed / Feed / Thrust / TorqueAuto-Calc

Results

Spindle RPM

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Feed Rate (vf)

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Thrust Force (Ft)

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Drilling Torque (M)

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Cutting Power

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Drilling RPM & Feed

Thrust Force & Torque

Kc Reference Values

Material	Kc (N/mm²)
Mild Steel	1800–2200
Stainless Steel	2200–2800
Cast Iron	1000–1400
Aluminium	600–900
Brass	700–1000

Drilling Parameters Calculator | Speed, Feed, Thrust & Torque

Published by Nikolai Shelkovenko on February 15, 2026 February 15, 2026

Results

Drilling RPM & Feed

Thrust Force & Torque

Kc Reference Values