5-axis CNC machine, a powerful solution for manufacturing parts with intense features and geometrics as 2 more axes have been introduced.
Introduction
Introducing CNC machine, a subtractive manufacturing process which aims at removing material using system controls. You can used mori seiki machines for sale for excellent precision of parts.
A precision machine with a vast range of cutting tools to reach an intended design.
If talking about the types of CNC machine, there are 3 main categories:-
- Horizontal milling machines
- Vertical milling machines
- Lathes.
CNC machines are highly effective solutions in terms of manufacturing as they make use of pre-programmed computers to identify precise movement of tools. The functioning of these programs are based on instructions that are inserted into these machines using encoded CAM software.
When compared to traditional 3-axis machines, 5-axis CNC machines have two additional axes. A 5-axis machine can cut the part along 5 directions instead of 3. There is increased movement and rotation during the manufacturing process and this is the major benefit of these 2 additional axes.
Perks of 5-Axis CNC machinery
These machines offer a unique benefit that the mill and the part can be moved in 5 ways simultaneously around multiple axes.
Thus, as a result, this 5-axis machining enables intense parts to be produced in a cost-effective way.
Here are some 5 benefits of 5-axis CNC machining.
- Reduced setups :- With 5-axis machines, only few setups are needed to produce a part with intense geometry. But with 3-axis machinery, multiple setups are required to achieve the desired geometry by rotating the parts manually.
- Complex fixtures can be avoided :- In order to hold the part in its required orientation in 3-axis machining, complex fixtures are often required. As a result, 5-axis machinery having 2 additional axes allows manufacturing units to avoid creating these fixtures.
- Increased efficiency of removing material :- 5-axis machining has the capacity of tangentially cutting the tools to the cutting surface. This results in shorter cycle times and lower costs as a large account of material is removed at each pass of the cutting tool.
- Excellent surface finish :- In case of 3-axis machining, numerous small cuts are done to produce a desired surface finish. In contrast, 5-axis machining is excellent in contoured geometries, so a very better surface finish can be manufactured.
Uses of 5-axis CNC machining
Below are some most common uses of 5-axis CNC machining:
- Aerospace:- This machinery is a great product because of its excellent precision. And in terms of aerospace, aerospace components often have highly intricate shapes.
- Medical:- 5-axis CNC produces a wide variety of implants, devices and other varieties of medical instruments due to their high precision levels for meeting the strict requirements of medical compliance standards.
- Defense:- If talking about defense industry, this machinery is required to produce many different necessary parts for application like- engine components for high performance, parts of submarines, blades of turbines, advanced weaponry and much more.
- Oil and gas:- Precision manufacturing offered by 5-axis CNC provides many benefits to the energy sector. Instruments of oil and gas usually involve the use of material which is tough to machine. By using 5-axis machining, materials having low machinability properties can also be machined efficiently.
What are these 5 axes?
In this 5-axis machining, additional two axes are added to the three linear axes on the traditional 3-axis machine by tilting and rotating the table by just holding the workpiece. These two additional rotational axes are known as tilting table axis or A-axis and table rotation axis or B-axis.
Below is a summary of the 5 axes:
X – Left to right
Y— Front to back
Z— Top to bottom
A— Tilting table
B — Table rotation
Conclusion
In the conclusion, by using 5-axis CNC machinery, upto five faces of a part can be machined in just one operation. This is one of the best qualities of this CNC machine as it makes the whole process ultimately efficient and precise. And this is the reason why 5-axis machines are ideal and great solutions for parts involving complex movements and intricate geometries and also for achieving tight surface profile tolerance on contoured surfaces.
