Tag Archives: 5 axis machining center

Buying a Five-Axis: Selecting the Right Machine

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Horizontal or vertical? Trunnion or swivel head? What’s the effective difference between different configurations of five-axis machining centers?

 

Not all 5 axis machining centers are alike. Here’s where the application for which they will be used must be considered. You need to know what cutting speeds you’re going to run, for example. The type of spindle, the arrangement of rotary axes, rapid traverse rates, feed rates and available horsepower are other major considerations. Do you intend to machine primarily aluminum, stainless steel or titanium? How rigid does the machine need to be? What surface-finish quality do you require? What part accuracy are you trying to achieve? These are all questions you’ll need to answer in order to select the right machine for your application.

 

If you’re primarily machining aluminum, you may prefer a spindle capable of higher speed, such as 20,000 rpm, with higher rapid traverse rates, especially if you’re using smaller-diameter tools. Likewise, if you’re machining stainless or alloy steel for complex mold surfaces, you will likely be using small tools and high spindle speeds to achieve exceptionally smooth surface finishes.

 

Be aware that some machines are designed for cutting only aluminum. Others are suitable for steel and tough alloys, which require more rigidity, higher horsepower, lower spindle speeds, slower rotary speeds, higher torque and stronger box ways to make deep cuts with bigger tools. Machining different grades of steel, titanium alloys or even harder materials may require a heftier machine; however, this hefty machine would need to rotate the table excessively fast to achieve adequate surface speeds for cutting aluminum. The result might be disappointing.

 

When specifying out a five axis machining center, obtaining the expert advice of an experienced engineer is recommended.

 

Horizontal or Vertical

Horizontal five-axis machines are normally equipped with an automatic pallet changer (APC) ready to be installed on the shop floor. If you’re machining aerospace components that have deep pockets or waffling designed to reduce finished-part weight, the high volume of chips will naturally drop into the conveyor. In addition, horizontal five-axis machines tend to be heavier and more rigid, which helps when cutting steel and titanium.

 

In contrast, vertical five-axis machines tend to be more agile for processing smaller parts. VMCs tend to enable better operator access and can often take heavier cuts, but clearing chips can be inconvenient. High-pressure, through-the-spindle coolant delivery comes in handy to remedy chip accumulation.

 

Swiveling-Head or Trunnion Style

There are pros and cons to different types of machine designs. If you’re loading heavy parts, the non-tilting table on a swiveling-head machine is often preferred, because this type of table offers greater rigidity for holding big, heavy parts. The swiveling head enables the use of shorter, standard tooling, because all tool rotations occur above the part. Swiveling-head machines tend to be more versatile, lending themselves to using multiple fixtures, vises or tombstones. This somewhat simulates the appeal of an HMC.

 

A trunnion-style machine is often preferred in moldmaking, because both rotary axes are contained in the trunnion table itself and the spindle head is stationary. This configuration is similar to that of the three- or four-axis machines most moldmakers are already used to. The spindle head reaches out over the tilting table, providing better undercut capabilities and some access to the underside of the part. As the spindle head itself does not rotate, trunnion-style machines tend to be more effective in heavy chip removal and can use full X, Y and Z travels to accommodate large parts.

 

If you need more information about 5 axis machining center, please do not miss Vision Wide Tech Co., Ltd. – the company is the professional CNC machine tool manufacturer owning brand “VISION WIDE”, provides wide range products from heavy cutting to high speed, from 3-axis spindle to 5-axis spindle, and from metal cutting to composite material machining centers which have been applied in vehicles manufacture, power generating, aerial components and so on. Widely applied in curve-based polyhedral machining. Learn more details, welcome to visit Vision Wide immediately.

 

Article Source: Modern Machine Shop

Investing In 5 Axis CNC Machining Center

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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.

 

If you need further details about 5 Axis Machining Centers, welcome to visit the website of CNC-TAKANG where provides various machining centers and lathes. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information!

 

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8443120