Is It Really Worthwhile Investing In 5 Axis CNC Machining?
It wasn’t too long ago when metal fabricators and manufacturers were wondering why they should switch to CNC machining from the manual mills that they were already using. Today, when it comes to investing in 5 axis machining center technologies, the situation is quite similar. Many have been left behind simply due to the fact that they did not switch to CNC soon enough. When it comes to competing effectively and staying a top, it is a must for businesses to invest in the latest technologies.
The term “5-axis” machining may often confuse some people not familiar with this concept. Many manufacturers and shopkeepers think that they do not have the work load that would require the use of this type of process. Considering the fact that 5-sided machining can be facilitated with 5 axis machining centers, there is plenty of ways in which using a 5-axis CNC machine can prove to be beneficial. This means that even if there is no simultaneous 5-axis work, more profits can be earned if parts currently being produced using 3-axis machines are produced on a 5 axis machining center through 5-sided machining.
Why Is 5-Axis CNC Machining A Better Choice?
With 3-axis machines, multiple setups are required for each side of the part, setup time increases and accuracy decreases. On the other hand, when it comes to 5-axis CNC machining, setup time for the production of parts is reduced, accuracy is increased, and shop capability is also expanded for future work.
Is Simultaneous 5-Axis CNC Machining Is Even Better?
Yes, Simultaneous 5-axis CNC machining has its pros as well as its cons, but it is somewhat in certain aspects. For instance, if 5-sided machining never fails to impress, simultaneous 5-axis machining happens to be much faster. If a part can really be created with 5-sided machining rather than simultaneous 5-axis machining, then there is no harm in using it. However, both have their own pros. The benefits of 5-sided machining include the fact that it cuts fast enough, it can be programmed easily, its roughing strategy is remarkable, and generally, there are barely any issues involving tool interference. Similarly, what makes simultaneous 5-axis CNC machining beneficial is that the surface finish tends to be much better, the tool is enabled to reach difficult places seamlessly, and the tool life tends to be longer.
Mold Work
One example where you should definitely consider the use of a simultaneous 5 axis CNC machining center would be mold work, based on the mold. There tends to be limitations if 3-axis machining is used to manufacture the mold, especially when it comes to core molds that tend to be taller or the deep cavity molds.
Although a 3-axis CNC machining center can be used for mold work, if the work involves a deep-cavity mold, it becomes essentially to use long and skinny tools. While using these long and skinny tools, the feed rates have to be slowed down so that chatter is minimized and tool breakage is prevented. Often, the quality required quality of surface finish can be achieved when 3-axis machining is used for mold work. For fine finishing operations, particularly when it comes to small molds with a small diameter, the process can become more difficult than necessary if 3-axis machining is used.
When it comes to simultaneous 5-axis CNC machining, shorter and stouter tools can be used, as a result of which pushing faster with greater feed rates becomes possible. If simultaneous 5-axis machining is used for mold work, then heavier cuts can be taken and z-depths do not turn out to become a problem. As a result of all of this, the time frame in using the machine is also drastically reduced.
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