Bob Engelhardt wrote:

If I'm doing rough cuts on a lathe, where the finish is totally
immaterial, is there a difference if I take a .010 cut with .050 feed
versus a .050 cut and .010 feed? I figure in both cases the cross
section of the chip is the same (.010 x .050), so the rate of removal is
the same (for the same speed).

Putting it another way, is there an approach which maximizes rate of
removal? I.e., maximize cut and set feed as high as you can, or vice
versa?

Maybe I should generalize even more and ask if there is a speed which
maximizes removal. I.e., slow with big chips or fast with small ones?

I have the feeling that all that matters is the power of the lathe. That
for a given power, you can only remove so many cubic inches per minute
and the combination of cut, feed, and speed is not very important.

It isn't just the power of the lathe, Bob. It's also the rigidity. - GWE