About 30 years ago, shops were wondering why they should switch from manual mills to CNC. The scenario for investing in 5-axis CNC machining technology is similar. Those who didn’t switch to CNC eventually got left behind. With any business, investing in the latest technology is a requirement to stay on top and compete effectively.
Today as much as 60% of the parts produced in CNC machine shops require five-sided machining.
Often, there seems to be confusion due to the term “5-axis” machining center. Shops think they don’t have 5-axis CNC work. Every machine shop has work that would benefit from a 5-axis mill because a 5-axis machining center facilitates 5-sided machining. So, even if you don’t have simultaneous 5-axis work, such as impellers or turbines, the parts you are producing on your 3-axis mill will be more profitable when you use 5-sided machining on a 5-axis CNC mill.
3-Axis CNC vs. 5-Axis CNC
PARTS ON 3-AXIS MILL
- Multiple setups for each side of the part
- Increased setup time
- Decreased accuracy
PARTS ON 5-AXIS MILL
(5-SIDED MACHINING)
- Reduced setup time
- Increased accuracy
- Expanded shop capability for future work
