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1 What is 5-axis CNC machining？
2 5-axis CNC machining

What is 5-axis CNC machining？

September 3, 2024 Author: Tony

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5-axis CNC machining

Catalog:
1. 5-Axis CNC Machining Overview
2. Comparison of 3-, 4- and 5-axis machining
3. 5-Axis CNC Machining Applications
4. Advantages and disadvantages of 5-axis CNC machining
5. CNC machining tools
6. What are the basic machining methods for cnc machining?
7. What is the price of a 5-axis CNC machine?
8. CNC machining costs
9. Summary

1. 5-Axis CNC Machining Overview

5-axis CNC machining is an advanced mode of CNC machine tool machining that allows the tool to approach the workpiece from virtually any angle, making it ideally suited for machining complex three-dimensional shapes such as turbine blades and molds.
5-axis CNC machining offers higher machining accuracy and wider applicability than 3- and 4-axis machining, especially in machining tasks that require 5-axis CNC machining offers higher precision and wider applicability than 3- and 4-axis machining, especially in machining tasks that require high precision and complex shapes.

2. 5-axis CNC machining service

  • 3-axis CNC machining: It is the most basic type of machining, where the tool moves along the X, Y, and Z axes, and is suitable for machining simple shapes.
  • 4-axis CNC machining: 4-axis CNC machining adds a rotary axis to the 3-axis to handle more complex surfaces and shapes.
  • 5-axis CNC machining: Having two additional rotary axes allows the tool to be machined in multiple directions, reducing the use of fixtures, improving accuracy and reducing costs.

3. 5-Axis CNC Machining Applications

5-axis CNC machining is used in a wide range of applications covering aerospace, automotive, mold and die making, machinery manufacturing and medical devices. The reason for this wide range of applications is the ability to efficiently process complex surfaces, thereby improving productivity and product quality. Specific application areas include:

  • Aerospace: 5-axis CNC machining centers can be used to process complex parts in the aerospace field, such as turbine blades, combustion chambers, nozzles of aircraft engines, etc. The machining accuracy and efficiency of these parts require very high, 5-axis CNC machining can meet these needs and improve production efficiency and product quality.
  • Automobile Manufacturing: In the automobile manufacturing industry, 5-axis CNC machining centers can be used to process complex parts such as cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, connecting rods of automobile engines, as well as automobile chassis, suspension systems, and other parts that require high precision, high strength, and lightweight.
  • Mold manufacturing industry: 5-axis CNC machining centers can be used to process a variety of molds, to achieve high efficiency and high precision processing, to improve the production efficiency of molds and product quality.
  • Machinery Manufacturing: Various parts and components in the machinery manufacturing industry also require high-precision, high-efficiency machining equipment, 5-axis CNC machining centers can be used to process a variety of mechanical parts, such as gears, bearings, shafts and so on.
  • Medical device field: 5-axis CNC machining centers can be used to process various medical device parts, such as artificial joints, heart valves, etc., to meet the demand for high precision and high efficiency in the medical device field.

In short, 5-axis CNC machining has a wide range of application scenarios, covering almost all areas that require high precision and high efficiency machining.

4. Advantages and disadvantages of 5-axis CNC machining;

Ⅰ.The main advantages of 5-axis CNC machining include：

  • Complex parts can be machined: To approach the workpiece from virtually any angle, making it suitable for machining complex three-dimensional shapes such as turbine blades and molds.
  • High accuracy and repeatability: Machining accuracy is improved by reducing the use of setups and fixtures, while ensuring improved machining tolerances and repeatability.
  • High Cutting Speed: Allows the cutting tool to be tangential to the cutting surface, removing more material per rotation, reducing cycle times and overall machining costs.
  • Smooth surface finish: ensures the correct orientation of the workpiece, bringing it closer to the cutting tool for a better surface finish.

Ⅱ. Disadvantages of 5-axis CNC machining:

  • While 5-axis machining offers many advantages, it also requires a higher initial investment, including more advanced programming skills and in-depth knowledge of the machine tool.
  • In addition, 5-axis machining is relatively expensive, including equipment and programming costs.

Therefore, for simple parts and geometries, 3- or 4-axis machining may be the more economical choice. However, for machining tasks that require high precision and complex shapes, 5-axis CNC machining is a worthwhile investment.

5. CNC machining tools

There are a wide variety of tools used in CNC machining, and different types of tools can be selected according to different machining needs and application scenarios. Here are some common types of CNC machining tools:

Milling cutter

Used for milling flat surfaces, beveled surfaces, slots, etc., including flat milling cutter, ball milling cutter, keyway milling cutter, angle milling cutter, plane milling cutter and so on.

Drill

Used for drilling, reaming, reaming and so on, common twist drill, flat drill, center drill and so on.

Reamer

Used for reaming holes to ensure the accuracy and surface finish of the holes, there are standard reamers, straight shank reamers, taper reamers and so on.

Tapping

mainly used for tapping, there are standard tapping, extrusion tapping, spiral tapping and so on.

Turning tools

Used for turning cylindrical, internal holes, step surfaces, etc., including cylindrical turning tools, internal hole turning tools, cut-off turning tools, etc.

Cutter Blades

Used for milling, there are plane milling cutter blades, ball end milling cutter blades, angle milling cutter blades, slot milling cutter blades and so on.

The selection of these tools depends on the specific machining requirements such as the hardness of the material, the shape and size of the workpiece, etc. CNC machining tools can also be categorized by material as High-speed steel tools , cemented carbide tools, ceramic tools, cubic boron nitride (CBN) tools and diamond tools, etc., according to the structure of the whole tool, inserted tools, machine tools and composite tools, etc., according to whether or not the standardization is divided into standard and non-standard tools, etc. 1.
The selection and use of CNC machining tools is critical to ensuring machining accuracy and efficiency, so it is vital to choose the right tool for the specific machining needs.

6. What are the basic machining methods for cnc machining?

Basic CNC machining methods include drilling, turning and boring, milling, grinding and shaping.

B1

Drilling is the process of drilling holes in solid metal using a rotary drill bit called a twist drill.

B2

Turning is the process of removing metal from a workpiece in which the tool cuts along the workpiece as it rotates.

B3

Boring is a method of enlarging or further machining a hole drilled or cast in a metal workpiece.

B4

Milling is the process of cutting metal with a rotary tool that has multiple cutting edges.

B5

Grinding is the removal of metal through the use of an abrasive wheel called a grinding wheel and is used to obtain a dimensionally accurate and smooth workpiece.

B6

The shaping process uses single-edged tools for air planing, gantry cutting and grooving machine precision planes.

Each of these processing methods has its own characteristics and is suitable for different machining needs.
For example, drilling, where the workpiece is clamped and held in place and the drill bit rotates as it drills into the workpiece; turning, where the tool cuts along the workpiece as it rotates; milling, which uses a rotating, multi-edged tool to cut metal; grinding, which removes metal by rotating grinding wheels and is suitable for finishing hard workpieces; and shaping, which uses a single-edged tool to produce precision flat surfaces.

7. How much does a 5-axis CNC machine cost?

The price of a 5-axis CNC machine is always considered an expensive or high budget investment. However, the price of 5-axis CNC machines varies by type and function, ranging from $10,000 to $500,000.
Typically, 3+2 5-Axis CNC machines range in price from $35,000 to $200,000, depending on features. Some higher-end 5-axis CNC machines cost more, such as trunnion and rotary head models. However, smaller 5-axis CNC machines are less expensive. So, depending on the needs, prices can vary greatly. In addition, some 5-Axis CNC machine manufacturers can offer customized solutions to build your machine.
Of course, if you just want to make a batch of parts by 5-axis machine instead of long-term production, then you can contact Allied Metal for customized parts, Allied Metal is a professional non-standard parts manufacturer in China, with advanced CNC machining equipments, not only the price is low, but also the quality and quantity of the delivery on time, which is a trustworthy partner.

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8. 5-axis CNC machining costs

The cost of 5-axis CNC machining consists of material costs, machine time, labor costs, design and programming costs, etc. Together, these cost factors determine the total cost of 5-axis CNC machining.
Although 5-axis machines are more expensive, they are often ideal for handling specialized work conditions due to their wide range of application capabilities. In contrast, 3-axis machines are the least expensive option to purchase and maintain, but 4- and 5-axis machines typically avoid errors and provide higher machining accuracy because they do not require repositioning of the workpiece.

9. Summary

In summary, 5-axis CNC machining technology offers significant advantages in high-precision and complex-shape machining tasks, and despite its high initial investment and operating costs, the investment is worthwhile for applications that require high-quality finished products.
Of course, when choosing a machining technology, it is important to take into account our own actual machining needs, material and tolerance requirements, and other factors, in order to ultimately choose the right machining method for us.

If you have the needs or questions in this regard, please feel free to contact us, we will give the fastest speed to reply, look forward to your consultation.

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