Five-axis machining on CNC milling machines

Abstract

At the present time, the parts of the machines are becoming more complex and precise. This requires the development of new machining technologies. In these conditions, multi-axis CNC machining is one of those technologies. In spite of the 20-year history of development, this approach still requires increasing efficiency in implementation to modern tasks. This article presents classification of the five-axis machines depending of the Z-axis location and the axis types and configuration. By default, Z-axis is spindle axis, and therefore, spindle location is determines the machine type (a vertical or horizontal machine). The particular configuration depends on which two of the three rotation axes are used and where they are located. Catalogues review gave the advantages, features and fields of the application of the particular configuration of five-axis machines. This article shows that path generation and vibrations are the main keypoints for improvement of five-axis machining. Path strategies evaluates from linear to advanced trochoidal with features detection. The high-speed machining is the main approach for finish five-axis machining, but other approaches are also used. Because of lower rigidity the vibration during five-axis machining could be both regenerative and forces depending on tool rotation speed and rigidity of machining system. The traditional methods for vibration decreasing are not effective often.