Which statement best describes chip load?

• A. The amount of material removed by each tooth per revolution or per tooth.
• B. The total time the tool runs
• C. The clearance between tool and workpiece
• D. The feed rate of the table

Answer: (A)

Chip load is the amount of material removed by each cutting edge during one engagement of a tooth. In milling, every tooth on the cutter removes a small slice of material, and the thickness of that slice is the chip load. This per-tooth measure is what the statement is describing, making it the best description because it directly defines how much material each tooth removes as the cutter spins. Understanding chip load helps you set feeds and speeds since chip load per tooth relates to the overall feed rate, spindle speed, and number of teeth, and it influences cutting forces, heat, surface finish, and tool life. The other ideas refer to different concepts: total run time is about how long the tool runs, clearance is the space between tool and workpiece, and the feed rate of the table concerns how fast the workpiece or table moves, not how much material is removed by each tooth.