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Shapeoko 5 Pro Feeds & Speeds Calculator
Starting feeds and speeds for the Shapeoko 5 Pro, with the numbers already adjusted for its spindle range and frame. Grab a starting point from the chart, then open the live calculator to watch the cut and fine-tune it for your exact bit.
Open the live calculator for the Shapeoko 5 ProDialing in the Shapeoko 5 Pro
Two things set the numbers on the Shapeoko 5 Pro: how fast the Makita RT0002 spins, and how much the frame can take without chattering. It runs a working range of about 10,000 to 30,000 RPM, on belt drive (gt3 timing belts). The Shapeoko 5 Pro has a solid frame for its class, so the depths below sit in a comfortable middle ground.
So for a 1/4" two-flute bit in softwood, a sensible starting point on the Shapeoko 5 Pro is around 17,000 RPM and 102 inches per minute, taking about 0.10625" per pass on a slot. The full chart below covers the materials you are most likely to cut. These are conservative starting points: always test on scrap and let your ears do the final tuning.
Shapeoko 5 Pro starting feeds and speeds
Two-flute bit, slotting cut (the toughest case for clearing chips). Feed in inches per minute, depth per pass in inches.
| Material | Bit | Spindle RPM | Feed rate | Depth / pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softwood | 1/8" | 25,000 | 100 ipm | 0.053" |
| 1/4" | 17,000 | 102 ipm | 0.106" | |
| Hardwood | 1/8" | 30,000 | 90 ipm | 0.027" |
| 1/4" | 20,000 | 100 ipm | 0.053" | |
| Plywood / MDF | 1/8" | 25,000 | 100 ipm | 0.053" |
| 1/4" | 17,000 | 102 ipm | 0.106" | |
| Acrylic | 1/8" | 25,000 | 100 ipm | 0.040" |
| 1/4" | 13,000 | 104 ipm | 0.080" | |
| HDPE / Plastics | 1/8" | 17,000 | 102 ipm | 0.040" |
| 1/4" | 10,000 | 100 ipm | 0.080" | |
| Aluminum | 1/8" | 30,000 | 60 ipm | 0.013" |
| 1/4" | 25,000 | 100 ipm | 0.027" |
Numbers are generated by our feeds and speeds calculator using the Shapeoko 5 Pro's spindle range and a solid-frame rigidity factor. Aluminum needs a single flute plus lubricant. Always confirm your bit maker's chart and test on scrap.
Want to see it cut?
Open the interactive calculator loaded with the Shapeoko 5 Pro. Change your bit and material, watch the cut run live, and hear the difference between a dialed-in cut and a bad one.
Open the Shapeoko 5 Pro calculatorShapeoko 5 Pro feeds and speeds FAQ
What RPM should I run on a Shapeoko 5 Pro?
For most wood with a 1/4" two-flute bit, 17,000 RPM is a good starting point on the Shapeoko 5 Pro. Its working range is about 10,000 to 30,000 RPM. Go higher for smaller bits and finer detail, lower for big bits and heavy stock removal.
What feed rate should I use on a Shapeoko 5 Pro in hardwood?
Start around 100 inches per minute with a 1/4" two-flute bit in oak or maple on the Shapeoko 5 Pro, at roughly 20,000 RPM. Listen to the cut and adjust: clean chips mean you are dialed in, fine dust means you are going too slow.
Can a Shapeoko 5 Pro cut aluminum?
Yes. The Shapeoko 5 Pro is rigid enough for light aluminum work with a single-flute bit, shallow passes, and plenty of lubricant or air. Keep the chipload small and the depth per pass well under the numbers you would use for wood.
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