Zone: Five-Axis Machining Centers

An Overview Of 3 + 2 Machining

You don't have to use all five axes of a five-axis machine at the same time to get great benefits. Here's what 3 + 2 can do for you.

Read Complete Article

Research Further:

Browse This Zone By Type:

Article (23) | Case Study (3) | Videos (5)

Most Recent Content in this Zone:

Cutting Spiral Bevel Gears On A Five-Axis Machining Center
9/23/2009 Modern Machine Shop

To produce high-precision ring gears in low- to mid-volumes, an emerging option is the use of five-axis machining centers. Mitsui Seiki CNC vertical and horizontal machining centers are being used in this application.

Improving Milling Accuracy
8/18/2009 Modern Machine Shop

VIDEO. How you use the machining center is just as important as the quality of the machine itself. This tutorial covers machining center leveling, alignment and temperature—as well as toolchange and setup procedures.

How Limiting Are Limited Five-Axis Travels?
4/14/2009 Modern Machine Shop

Boeing experts recently responded to a question regarding a “nutating” head that was submitted through our Aerospace Machining Zone

Compact Micromachining Center
4/6/2009 Modern Machine Shop

This machining center with a work cube of 4 inches was designed specifically for micromachining.

Shop Reduces Setup Time With Multi-Pallet Machines
2/20/2009 Modern Machine Shop

Automated, lights-out production has enabled this manufacturer to take on a large number of low-volume jobs for various industries. With a wide variety of work, minimizing setup times is key to the shop’s success. Multi-pallet, four- and five-axis Matsuura machines supplied by Methods Machine Tools have enabled the shop to not only keep setup times low, but also meet customer demand for nearly error-free production runs.

View More Content in This Zone | RSS | Atom

Overview Of:
Five-Axis Machining Centers

Five-Axis Machining Centers do not just move in the linear axes X, Y and Z. Instead, these machines also move in two rotary axes, often identified as A and B. The rotary axes tilt the tool with respect to the part. Physically, it can be either the tool that tilts or the part that tilts. Different machines accomplish the rotary motion in different ways. Some machines move the rotary axes only to position the tool or work outside of the cut. This is referred to as 3+2 machining. Moving the tool in this way dramatically increases the machining center’s access to features at different angles or on different faces of the part. A machine capable of 3+2 machining often can reach all of the machined features of the part in a single setup. True five-axis machining refers to the ability to not just position the tool along the rotary axes, but also to feed the tool through the cut using these axes. Interpolated combinations of A-axis, B-axis and linear axis motions can allow the tool to smoothly follow a contoured surface. This type of machining has long been important in the aerospace industry, where machined parts follow the aerodynamic forms of aircraft.