What is 5 Axis CNC Milling?

It was discussed in our previous blog post that CNC or Computer Numerical Control Milling is an innovation that helps certain industries to make their production faster. This time, we’ll discuss about 5 Axis CNC Milling, a type of CNC milling that doubles up the speed and accuracy of the production.

5 Axis CNC Milling is a process where the CNC tool moves in 4 or more ways. This is used most especially for gears that need curved holes like impellers, turbines and aerospace airframes. Since the structure of these gears needs intricate details, 5 Axis CNC Milling is the best to use. What’s unknown to common people is that the advanced tool is not only capable of making detailed metal works; it is also capable of maintaining consistent acceleration and deceleration, which are very vital characteristics for the said types of gear. It is also good to take note that the majority of the by products of 5 Axis CNC milling are parts that require tight holding tolerance.

The typical axis milling is the 3 Axis Milling. However, investing for a 5 Axis Machining tool makes sense for it allows CNC machine shops to accept more complex part orders. This is because your spindle usage is also increased.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF 5 AXIS CNC MILLING?

Since 5 Axis CNC milling uses more axes to produce better output, it is expected that using the tool can:
1. Enable you to produce complex gears. In a single setup which saves time, cost and operator error, a 5 Axis CNC milling tool can help you produce complex gears in no time.
2. Enable you to save time in production. Drilling a number of holes in a gear can take time if the machine that you are using is not equipped to do the job. In a 5 Axis CNC milling machine, you can drill a series of holes even with different compound angles in no time.
3. Make better surface finish. If properly aligned perpendicularly to the surface, the tool can enable you to cut your gears in a quick manner with a high precision.
4. Set you above the competition. We have mentioned that most CNC machining companies only use 3 Axis CNC machines. Only a few companies use 5 Axis CNC machines because they are a bit costly. However, investing for the machine is a good move because there will be few competitors resulting to higher profit margins.

IMPORTANT TO TAKE NOTE:
There are some CNC machines that do not require the operator to be highly skilled because the machine is computer generated. 5 Axis CNC milling uses CAM or Computer Aided Manufacturing, too. However, this equipment requires better skill for the operator because the person who will operate should know the preventive maintenance of the device, as well as the responsive technical service when needs arise.