Keeping your CNC machining settings by material and tool
By the PandaFile team · · 5 min read
You found the right speed/feed balance to machine plywood cleanly, without burning it or breaking the end mill. A month later, same material, same machine… and you run the trials again because nothing was written down. This article extends the guide on organizing your manufacturing files.
A machining setting is a recipe
The result depends on a precise combination, not just the drawing. To reproduce it, record:
- The machine and the tool (diameter, type, number of flutes)
- The material and its thickness
- The spindle speed (RPM) and the feed rate (mm/min)
- The depth of cut and the number of passes
- The coolant/dust extraction and a photo of the result
Attach the recipe to the drawing
Generic parameter tables are a starting point, but every shop has settings that truly work. The ideal is to attach the recipe to the file or the project, so the drawing and its parameters never get separated. That's the PandaFile approach: each job keeps its settings and a photo of the result.
The right setting isn't the one from the manufacturer's table, it's the one that worked on your machine — provided you wrote it down.— PandaFile
Build your database as you machine
Record the setting the moment it works, material by material and tool by tool. Within a few weeks, you'll have a reliable database that eliminates the trial phase. Remember to file the matching drawings and to check the DXF before machining.
Frequently asked questions
Are the manufacturer's parameter tables enough?
They give a starting point, but the optimal setting depends on your machine, its condition, and your tools. Note what actually works in your shop, material by material.
Which machining parameters should you record?
At minimum the machine and the tool, the material and its thickness, the spindle speed, the feed rate, the depth of cut, and the number of passes. A photo of the result completes the recipe.
How do you reuse a machining setting quickly?
By finding it by material or by tool through filters and tags, and keeping it visible as soon as you open the relevant drawing, rather than digging through old projects.
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