In the field of machining, CNC machining, or Computer Numerical Control Machining, refers to a precision and highly effective numerical control machine tool that is widely applied in the process of complex pieces. When working with machining centers, we would often hear these terms: “four-axis” and “five-axis”, symbolizing different machinings of capabilities and nature.
What is a CNC axis?
By such axes, it allows the motion and rotation in three-dimensional space of the machine tool to have precision cutting or processing for different materials, opposed to conventional manual machining. As long as the computer code is right and aligned with design, the machined products will be with high dimensional accuracy and less mistake.
Multi – axis CNC Machining
CNC milling means the subtraction of material by a rotating cutting tool. Either the workpiece remains stationary while the cutting tool approaches the workpiece, or the workpiece is fed into the machine at an angle pre-set. The more axes of motion a machine has, the more complex and quicker its shaping process will be.
Preprogrammed computer directions command the motions of a tool or workpiece in various machine-tool coordinate axes to ensure the needed cuts, cut shapes, or drilled holes amongst others with all exactness in specifications. Characteristics such as a high degree of precision, much effectiveness, consistency, and ease make this machine resourceful to numerous manufacturing segments.
The main characteristics of CNC machining include:
- Accuracy and Repeatability: The accuracy computer programs guarantee that the CNC machining can process parts highly accurate, and thus maintain the similarity of these part dimensions and shapes so improving the quality and reliability of parts.
- Automation: The automation process of the CNC machining reduces interference brought about by manual operations, thus it enhances the efficiency and the consistency of production processes.
- Flexibility: Through reprogramming or changing programs, a single CNC machine tool can process various workpieces, and this allows for flexible adjustment of the production line.
- Complex Shape Machining: The processing of complex shapes like curves, surfaces, and engraving is possible through CNC machining; hence, it’s suitable for manufacturing various precision parts.
- Improved Production Efficiency: Compared with traditional manual operations, CNC machining can prominently improve production efficiency, cut processing time, and thereby lower cost.
- Improved Working Environment: The working conditions are improved and the physical demands on the operators are reduced because it is automated.
CNC machine tools are the equipment for realizing CNC machining. Different types of CNC machine tools and their application methods have enriched the CNC machining field to different extents, such as 3 – axis, 4 – axis, 5 – axis machining, machining centers and turning – milling composites. The relationships and characteristics among them will be introduced in depth below.
Three – Axis Machining Centers: Vertical and Horizontal
The main technical feature of a three – axis machining center lies in its three linear motion axes: the spindle can move relative to the worktable in the X – axis (left – right), Y – axis (front – back) and Z – axis (up – down) directions.
The machining center usually comes in two types: vertical and horizontal. On the vertical machining center, the spindle is perpendicular to the worktable, thus it can be used to process small-sized and lightweight workpieces, whereas the spindle of horizontal machining is parallel to the worktable; thus, using it, big and heavy pieces can be worked out.
The three-axis machining center mainly possesses the functions of milling, drilling, and boring, and is suitable for processing various complex shapes. Compared with other methods, the advantages of three-axis machining are relatively simple in structure and low in cost, so it can meet most conventional processing tasks. Due to the limitation of moving along only three axes, it also has limitations in the processing of complex shapes and three-dimensional surfaces.
Five – Axis Machining Centers: Achieving Spatial Curve and Surface Machining
Five-axis machining centers belong to spatial curve and surface machining. Compared to a three-axis machining center, a five-axis machining center, in addition to the X, Y, and Z axes, includes two additional rotational axes, normally the C-axis or the tilted A-axis. As for this, with such a titled axis, in the process, the tool has maintained an excellent cutting angle, which ensures the actualization of the high precision to machines with both spatial curves and surfaces. It can fully perform the higher functionality than what has been initially perceived with several complex tasks to complete the highest difficult tasks involved in processing the surface of complicated parts, for example, the impeller, blades. It can also machine in a number of directions simultaneously, thus improving processing efficiency and reducing workpiece clamping times.
Five-axis machining has unparalleled advantages: it greatly reduces the tedious production preparation time of a three-axis machine tool, saves working time, and completes the complex machined work that cannot be finished by a three-axis machine tool.
defective ：Of course, a five-axis piece of equipment will be more costly than a three-axis one and more complicated in operation, involving higher skill from the operators as well.
Conclusion
In brief, there are obvious differences in the machining capabilities, machining accuracy, and difficulty of programming among three-axis and five-axis machining centers. How to choose from these depends on the particular request for processing and machining capability. Without any doubt, if the process has to cover higher machining accuracies and intricate workpiece surface geometry, despite their high expenses, five-axis machining centers certainly excel.
Yet some simple, low-complexity planar machining tasks will definitely be mastered well by using the three axes, while on some occasions demanding special requirements where extremely high manufacturing technology is asked. In that same way, a five-axis machining center could increase the needed degree of skilled human resources of programming personnel substantially because of higher complication in preparing. Thus, while applying a five-axis machining center, the skills of the programmers must also be put into consideration.
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