The birth of the first CNC machines can be traced back to the 1940s to the 1950s.With the development of science and technology, the Computer Numerical Control industry has been optimized. In the era of industry 4.0, 5 axis machining industry also shows a growing trend year by year. I believe many people are familiar with this term, do you really know what is 5-axis CNC machining? The most direct answer to this question is: a machine that can move a tool or part on five axes simultaneously.
What is 5-axis machining?
It can be understood more generally that a single-axis machine can only move up and down. 3-axis machines can move from right to left, forward and backward, up and down. When using a 3-axis machine, the user can move the tool along the X and Y axes while moving up and down using the Z axis.
With 5-axis machining, the cutting tool can access the part from all directions. These axes of rotation are defined by A, A rotates around the X axis, B rotates around the Y axis, and C rotates around the Z axis. The combination of additional axes depends on the machine and can have any change in AB, AC or BC.
Why choose 5-axis Machining?
3-axis machining and 5-axis machining, what will you choose? From the price point of view, there’s no doubt that you will choose the former, but when you get a complicated part, between 5-axis and 3+2-axis., what will you consider?
What are the biggest differences and advantages between 5-axis machining and 3 + 2 axis machining?
The 5-axis machining can continuous adjust the cutting tool to maintain the optimum perpendicularity of the cutting edge and the part. The 3 + 2 axis machining is a 5-sides or position 5-axis machining, and a 3-axis program is executed in which the cutting tool is locked at an angle determined by two rotating axes.
In contrast, the outstanding advantage of 5-axis machining is speed. The 5-axis machining basically completes the machining program once and the 3 + 2-axis machining requires stopping and starting between each reorientation of the tool. At the same time, the increase in speed is also a challenge and risk.As the moving frequency of components increases, the parts will have a certain degree of wear and tear, and the detection requirements of components that need to be assembled are also higher, which enables rapid prototyping services china.
Benefits of 5-axis Machining
5-axis machining brings many benefits. If you ask me what greatest benefit is, I can only answer the due to the situation. The main advantages are listed below, if you other ideas, welcome to share.
- Save Time & Money
Many people define 5-axis machining as being suitable for machining special and complex parts. This is a wrong understanding, because this is not its only bright spot.
First, in programming step, it already means saving the time and cost for customer. Instead of writing programs for more than one machine tool and for multiple operations, programmer only need loads a single CAD/CAM file to create one program in a 5-axis machine.
For CNC machining services china, more than 50 percent of project require 5-sides machining . Even if it can be machined through 3-axis, for emergency projects, time is money. 5-axis machining will let it faster and more efficiently.
In contrast to 3-axis machining, the cutting tool remains tangential to the cutting surface. making cutting easier and faster to remove material. This also reduces cycle time and cost because more material can be easily removed in each cycle of the tool.Considering the amount of operator time involved in moving a workpiece from machine to machine, and starting and stopping operations. A 5-axis machine does not require more programs, saving costs during the effective time.
- Better Surface Finishing
If you’re thinking of using a machine with a better surface finish, the 5-axis is for you.
5-axis machining allow closer to the cutting tool parts orientation, at the same time of improving speed, cutting tool vibration smaller, compared with traditional 3-axis machining, it can achieve a very small cuts and improved surface finish, so as to shorten the time of delivery and shorten product time to market.
- Complex Shapes In A Single Set
Complex shapes, for capable and experienced operators, can be achieved by either 3 or 4-axis as suggested by this china plastic injection molding company.
But it has to be said that using the 5-axis is the efficient method.5-axis machining provides the ability to create complex shapes in a single set, greatly reduces the jig preparation, don’t need to be fixed as well as more complex Jig for many times, you can work out a more perfect arcs and Angle.
This makes it easy to create geometric shapes, saving time, money, and operator error.
- Fewer Fixtures & Improved Tool Life
Fewer fixtures and tools: Because 5-axis machines perform all the machining in one operation, many unnecessary steps can be reduced, especially with special tools, overhead tools and rotating tool holders.
On the other hand, 5-axis machining requires fewer special tools and tools. Allowing for higher cutting speeds, the five-axis machine brings the machine head closer to the surface of the cutter and uses shorter tools to extend tool life. 5-axis machining also increases accuracy by reducing the number of installations. More settings mean more potential for error. Some work can even be done in a single setup, greatly reducing the risk of errors.
- Less Competition & More Opportunities
To meet the different needs of customers, CNC services china will keep pace with the times and continuously improve its capabilities. Of course, machine investment is an expensive expense, but in the long run, it is a competitive capital in hardware. There may also be opportunities for your customers to provide what your competitors cannot offer.
In addition, the application of 5-axis CNC machining will open up more new opportunities. For example when you are dealing with aerospace projects. One of the key factors in the aviation industry is to reduce weight. You are building a flying machine. In general, our goal is to find the most effective way to get the most power with the least weight. This is a major factor in defining all the strange geometric shapes in aviation. To achieve this goal, 5-axis machining is required.
The 5-axis CNC machining center can shorten production cycles and maximize productivity when manufacturing complex parts such as turbine blades, impellers, aerospace bodies, and many other applications. This processing efficiency enables manufacturers to successfully compete in aerospace, automotive, medical and other major industries, bringing more opportunities.