Feed rate is the speed at which a cutting tool or workpiece advances relative to each other during machining, usually expressed in millimeters or inches per minute or per revolution. It appears in CNC programs, tooling setup sheets, cutting-parameter tables, process specifications, and machining guidelines, where it is listed alongside spindle speed and depth of cut; translators must preserve numeric values, decimal places, and unit conventions to avoid incorrect machining conditions.
Feed rate appears in translated machining work instructions, CNC setup sheets, cutting parameter tables, tool catalogues, and CAM program documentation. It often occurs in phrases such as “feed rate override,” “rapid traverse,” and “plunge feed rate.” Translators must distinguish feed rate from related terms like cutting speed and spindle speed, especially when translating from languages where the same word can cover both linear and rotary speed.
A frequent mistake is translating “feed rate” as “cutting speed” or “spindle speed.” Feed rate describes linear advance, while spindle speed describes rotation; cutting speed is a different surface-speed concept. In setup sheets and work instructions, swapping these terms can lead to excessive feed, tool breakage, or surface-finish problems. Another error is mishandling unit conversions between mm/min and in/min, or dropping “per revolution” versus “per minute” in translated tables.
The EU Machinery Directive requires documentation in the language of the destination market. Safety-related terms must map exactly to the wording of the governing standard.
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