Helical Ramp Entry Calculator

Choose whether you know the final entry bore/pocket diameter or the actual tool-center helix diameter from CAM.
End mill cutting diameter.
in
Final diameter the cutter opens during the ramp. Tool-center path diameter is this value minus tool diameter.
in
Z depth to reach at the end of the helical ramp.
in
Angle of the helical path relative to the XY plane.
°
Your cutter or shop limit for ramp angle. The calculator reports utilization against it.
°
Feed you would use for the same tool/material in a normal flat milling move.
in/min
Percent of flat milling feed to use during the ramp entry.
%
Spindle speed used for chip-load during the ramp.
rpm
Cutting flute count used for chip load.
flutes

Results

Default result
Edit inputs
Tool-center path diameter(D_path)
0.5in
Pass

Also computed

Helix pitch(Pz)Pass0.06858in

Z drop per full 360 degree revolution.

Revolutions(Nrev)Pass7.29rev

Entry feed time(t)0.5731min

3D path length(Lpath)11.46in

XY circular travel(Lxy)11.45in

Angular travel(theta)2,625°

Helical ramp entry previewHelical ramp entryTool-center helix geometry and feed-time screen.Z depthD_path 0.500 inpitch / turn0.0686 inturns7.29entry time34.4 s
Method notes 4 notes
  • Tool-center path diameter is bore diameter minus tool diameter.
  • Helix pitch is pi * D_path * tan(alpha), so shallow ramp angles create many turns and long entry time.
  • Ramp feed is 50.0% of the entered flat milling feed.
  • This is geometry and feed-time planning only; controller feed convention, CAM smoothing, cutter ramp limits, chip evacuation, machine acceleration and tool deflection are not modeled.

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