You’d be surprised how slow machining can be. Cutting speeds are all in sfm (surface feet per minute) and when you have a BIG part, them feets add up quick. Check out videos of big old vertical lathes running big parts. You can get down to a quarter of an rpm but the flange or fitting is so fucking huge that you’re still pushing 100-200 sfm at the bit.
You’d be surprised how slow machining can be. Cutting speeds are all in sfm (surface feet per minute) and when you have a BIG part, them feets add up quick. Check out videos of big old vertical lathes running big parts. You can get down to a quarter of an rpm but the flange or fitting is so fucking huge that you’re still pushing 100-200 sfm at the bit.