Considerations Beyond the Machine in Five-Axis Adoption

While there are many changes to adopt when moving to five-axis, they all compliment the overall goal of better parts through less operations.

by: John Miller, President Way Of The Mill

Reader Question:

We are buying our first five-axis machine and it arrives soon. We are very excited about the benefits we know it will bring, but recognize it will require some changes in the shop to make the most of it. Can you guide us on where we might look to be as successful as possible?

Miller’s Answer:

The holy grail of machining is always a “done-in-one” setup, which is why Swiss machines, twin-spindle lathes and multitasking machines are so productive. In the milling world specifically, five-axis is the answer to this. There have been major improvements in the availability of these machines, and the accessibility through CAM, so that most shops have five-axis as part of their growth strategy.

While there are many changes to adopt when moving to five-axis, they are all simple adaptations to make, and they all compliment the overall goal of better parts through less operations. The biggest change from three-axis to five-axis is the workholding needed to allow access and clearance. From there, some adaptations with toolholders, fresh speeds and feeds, as well as understanding the controller/CAM side, will have your shop on track.