The Approximate Machinist…

…is a simple cutting-speed/RPM calculator app for machining. Specify diameter, work-material and cutting tool type (wc or hss) and the Approximate Machinist will calculate optimal RPMs for the operation.

Diameter may be selected in cm, inches or mils (tap the display to cycle through units. Physical diameter remains fixed)

Diameter is adjusted using the slider or +/-(stepper) buttons.

Swipe up/down on the maximum range display to change the slider scale.

If saved, the current setup name appears in the top right.

Saved setups are stored in core-data and appear under the “Save Setups” tab

Text or image notes may be added to saved setups

The app also includes a strobe tachometer for verifying RPMs. It strobes the flashlight and functions much like a mechanic’s timing light.

Approximate Machinist is written entirely in Swift-UI and available through the Apple App Store.

I chose a vaguely skeuomorphic design that resembles my multimeter.

No ads, tracking or any such weirdness.

Development plans:

Redesign. My designer/wife has promised a redesign
Decimal <—> Simplest-Fraction calculator (I have trouble remembering things like: 0.15625 = 5/32)
Replace strobe-tachometer with a video version that leverages frame rate
Export setup notes as a PDF
Push-Notifications for live-updates of cutting-speeds (hardly useful, but a feature I want to implement so I can play around with APNs)

If you find bug or think of a feature you’d like to see please contact me through the form below

Cutting Speeds used by Approximate Machinist

    Material
    HSS
    WC
  
    Mild Steel
    200
    800
  
    Tool Steel  
    125
    400
  
     Stainless Steel
     125
     570
  
  Cast Iron
    180
    410
  
    Brass
    325
    1170
  
    Bronze
    225
    715
  
    Aluminum
    600
    2820
  
    Nylon
    1300
    1300
  
    Plastic
    1300
    1300

The Approximate Machinist…

…is a simple cutting-speed/RPM calculator app for machining. Specify diameter, work-material and cutting tool type (wc or hss) and the Approximate Machinist will calculate optimal RPMs for the operation.

Diameter may be selected in cm, inches or mils (tap the display to cycle through units. Physical diameter remains fixed)

Diameter is adjusted using the slider or +/-(stepper) buttons.

Swipe up/down on the maximum range display to change the slider scale.

If saved, the current setup name appears in the top right.

Saved setups are stored in core-data and appear under the “Save Setups” tab

Text or image notes may be added to saved setups

The app also includes a strobe tachometer for verifying RPMs. It strobes the flashlight and functions much like a mechanic’s timing light.

Approximate Machinist is written entirely in Swift-UI and available through the Apple App Store.

I chose a vaguely skeuomorphic design that resembles my multimeter.

No ads, tracking or any such weirdness.

Development plans:

Redesign. My designer/wife has promised a redesign

Decimal <—> Simplest-Fraction calculator (I have trouble remembering things like: 0.15625 = 5/32)

Replace strobe-tachometer with a video version that leverages frame rate

Export setup notes as a PDF

Push-Notifications for live-updates of cutting-speeds (hardly useful, but a feature I want to implement so I can play around with APNs)

If you find bug or think of a feature you’d like to see please contact me through the form below

Cutting Speeds used by Approximate Machinist

Contact the Developer