Rake angle explained

In machining, the rake angle is a parameter used in various cutting processes, describing the angle of the cutting face relative to the workpiece. There are three types of rake angles: positive, zero or neutral, and negative.

Positive rake angles generally:

Negative rake angles generally:

Zero rake angles:

Recommended rake angles

Recommended rake angles can vary depending on the material being cut, tool material, depth of cut, cutting speed, machine, setup and process. This table summarizes recommended rake angles for: single-point turning on a lathe, drilling, milling, and sawing.

Material being cutTurning Rake [2] Drilling Rake [3] Milling Rake [4] Sawing Rake [5]
Aluminum12°-25°40°35°12°-25°
Brass3°-14°3°-14°
Bronze5°-14°5°-14°
Cast Iron, Gray0°-6°3°-6°
Copper18°-25°16°18°-25°
Polystyrene20°-25°20°-25°
PVC20°-25°20°-25°
Stainless Steel8°-10°8°-10°
Steel, Mild12°-14°20°8°-15°12°-14°
Titanium0°-4°0°-4°

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Geometry of Single Point Cutting Tools . registration . . 23 November 2019 .
  2. Web site: Rake Angle Versus Material . Thread Check Inc. . 24 November 2019.
  3. Web site: Machining & Metrology Unit - Handout (0102) . mmu.ic.polyu.edu.hk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011027054512/http://mmu.ic.polyu.edu.hk/handout/0102/0102.htm . 2001-10-27.
  4. Web site: Grinding HSS lathe tools . Steve's Workshop . 24 November 2019.
  5. Web site: Rake angle vs material chart . Regal Cutting Tools . 24 November 2019.