Which of the following terms refers to the velocity at which the cutting tool engages the workpiece?

The term that refers to the velocity at which the cutting tool engages the workpiece is feed rate. Feed rate is the speed at which the workpiece is fed into the cutting tool or the speed at which the tool moves through the material. It is measured in units such as inches per minute or millimeters per minute and plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency of the machining process, surface finish, and tool wear.

Feed rate directly impacts how quickly the material can be removed while maintaining desired qualities. An appropriate feed rate ensures optimal performance, allowing for effective chip formation and removal without overburdening the tool or creating excessive heat.

Other terms, such as chip load, spindle speed, and cutter diameter, relate to different aspects of the machining process. For instance, chip load is the amount of material removed by each cutting edge per revolution, spindle speed is the rotational speed of the cutter, and cutter diameter is the size of the cutting tool itself. While all these factors interrelate and contribute to the overall machining process, it is the feed rate that specifically identifies how quickly the tool engages the material.