I have been looking for the formula to get a starting point on my feeds and speeds on turning aluminum but haven't been able to find it anywhere. Does anyone know what it is?

Yes.

Find the circumference of your part. This might be a compromise on a lathe without constant surface speed, if the part has a wide variation in diameter.

For High speed steel tools, I think 800 feet (of circumferential distance) per minute is acceptable, and with carbide, well, I don't know of a practical limit where you won't chicken out before the spindle gets going that fast :D

The feedrate depends on the tool radius and chipbreak, as well as the desired finish: .010 to .020" for roughing, .005 for finishing. Its quite forgiving really, the most compromising on parameters is done to try to get good chip flow for the insert you're using.

Thanks man you've been a really big help. I implemented those and they worked great.

Originally posted by Machine1
Thanks man you've been a really big help. I implemented those and they worked great.

Is that guy good or what! :D

'Rekd