5 Axis CNC Machining Center
The emergence of 5 axis CNC machining centers provided manufacturing industries with the ability generate complex three-dimensional designs with reduced lead times. The 5 axis CNC machining center, while quite complex in nature, consists of four primary components designed to provide the machine with a series of programmed commands in order to produce desired outcomes.
The first component of a 5-axis machine is its tooling spindle, which is the rotating mechanism onto which the CNC cutting tool is mounted. Depending on the type of tooling spindle, this component can rotate up to five different axes in order to provide the holographic cutting capability the machine is designed to offer. On most 5 axis machining centers, the different axes of movement include the X, Y, and Z axes that are found on traditional CNC turning centers, along with two additional axes of rotation referred to as A and B.
The second component integral to a 5 axis machining center is its motion control system. This comprises computer hardware and software setup with dual processors or greater that regulate the speed, acceleration and other parameters of the motion of the machine’s three main axes (the X, Y, and Z axes). It is further directed by sensors that detect the current positions of the machine and notify the CNC controller where these axes should be at any given time throughout the machining process. Because of its ability to analyze and interpret the succession of commands necessary to create designed shapes, the motion control system is often referred to as the “brains” of the machine.
The third component of a 5 axis machine is its cutting control system, which provides the user the ability to program commands and the CNC controller the ability to interpret them. This system consists of the computer and software that is responsible for creating the code used to control the movements and speeds of the cutting tool. Depending on the complexity of the designs being created, a specialized CAD/CAM system or CAM surface-modelling program are sometimes used.
The fourth component of a 5 axis machining center is its input device, or keypad. This is the physical interface between the user and the machine, allowing for the program to be entered into the cutting control system. On basic CNC machines, a keypad and graphics monitor are used, while on advanced 5-axis models, a touch-screen panel is often included for better visualization of the cutting path and overall cutting process.
In summary, a 5 axis machining center utilizes four main components in order to create complex three-dimensional designs with reduced lead times. The tooling spindle performs the rotational machining by rotating up to five different axes of movement. The motion control system regulates the speed and acceleration of the machining, while the cutting control system creates the commands necessary to control the tool path. The user interface provides the means to enter these commands into the system. By understanding the main components of a 5 axis machining center, manufacturers can be confident that their time and money investments will be rewarded when selecting this type of equipment.
