Guide to Circular Saw Blade Speeds & Feeds
16 May 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Circular Saw Blade Running Parameters
Cutting Speeds, Feeds & Formulas
Optimising the performance and lifespan of your circular saw blades hinges on selecting the correct cutting speed and feed per tooth for the material you’re machining. In this article, we dive deep into the technical running data from the AKE Knebel blueline catalogue, covering:
Recommended cutting speeds (vc) and feed rates per tooth (fz) for a wide range of materials
Key formulas to calculate blade RPM and feed speed
How to interpret the AKE Knebel diagram for different blade diameters
Practical tips for chip removal, safety limits, and maximizing economic efficiency
Whether you’re cutting wood, plastics, non-ferrous metals or composites, this guide will help you dial-in your CNC or woodworking machine for faster cycle times, cleaner cuts, and longer blade life.
Recommended Cutting Speeds & Feed per Tooth by Material
Material Group | Material | vc (m/s) | fz (mm/tooth) |
Wood & Wood Composites | Veneer | 70 – 100 | 0.3 – 0.7 |
MDF / HDF | 60 – 80 | 0.1 – 0.3 | |
OSB, Particleboard, Chipboard | 50 – 80 | 0.1 – 0.3 | |
Softwood (longitudinal) | 60 – 100 | 0.5 – 3.0 | |
Hardwood (longitudinal) | 60 – 100 | 0.3 – 1.0 | |
Plastics & Laminates | Duroplast, Thermoplastic, HPL (Trespa®, Resopal®) | 50 – 70 | 0.01 – 0.10 |
Metals | Al Wrought, Al Die-cast, Mg Alloys | 2 000 – 4 800 m/min¹ | 0.005 – 0.07 |
Copper, Brass | 400 – 800 m/min¹ | 0.01 – 0.05 | |
Bronze | 200 – 400 m/min¹ | 0.01 – 0.08 | |
Others | Fibre-cement boards | 20 – 40 | 0.01 – 0.03 |
PCB, Plasterboards, Rockwool | 20 – 65 | 0.05 – 0.20 |
Calculating Blade RPM & Feed Speed
Interpreting the RPM Diagram
On page 9 of the Blueline catalogue, AKE Knebel provides a multi-curve chart showing maximum permissible RPMs (safety limits) for blade diameters from 50 mm up to 500 mm:
Solid curves indicate recommended operating speeds for mineral boards (green) and non-ferrous metals/wood/plastics (grey).
Dashed curves show optimal ranges for natural hard wood (blue) and soft wood (light-blue).
Red line marks the absolute safety limit beyond which blade integrity cannot be guaranteed.
Key takeaways:
Always choose the most difficult material’s parameter when cutting composites.
For higher chip volumes (e.g., deep cuts), target a fz ≈ 0.075 mm; for shallow passes, aim for fz ≈ 0.15 mm.
Never exceed the RPM indicated by the red safety curve.
Best Practices & Troubleshooting
Material Hardness vs. Speed
Hard woods generally require lower feeds and higher blade RPMs compared to softwoods.
Chip Evacuation
A stable chip flow prevents blade gumming and reduces heat build-up—adjust fz within the recommended range.
Tool Life vs. Productivity
Running at the upper end of vc boosts throughput but increases wear; find a balance based on production demands.
Regular Inspection
Check for carbide edge micro-fractures—excessive vibration or chatter often signals incorrect feed or speed.
Cooling & Lubrication (Metals)
Aluminum and copper alloys benefit from air or mist cooling to prevent built-up edge.
Mastering the technical running parameters of your circular saw blades—understanding cutting speeds, feed per tooth, and RPM limits—is crucial for achieving top-quality cuts, maximizing tool life, and ensuring operator safety. By applying the AKE Knebel blueline catalogue data and the formulas provided, you can fine-tune your setup for any material, from delicate veneers to tough metal alloys.
Pro Tip: Always start with the catalogue’s lower vc and fz recommendations, then incrementally increase until you find the sweet spot for your machine and application.
