Multiaxis machining

A 5-axis water jet cutter and a part manufactured with it.

Multiaxis machining is a manufacturing process where computer numerically controlled tools that move in 4 or more ways are used to manufacture parts out of metal or other materials by milling away excess material, by water jet cutting or by laser cutting. Typical CNC tools support translation in 3 axis; multiaxis machines also support rotation around one or multiple axes.

There are now many CAM (computer aided manufacturing) software systems available to support multiaxis machining including software that can automatically convert 3-axis toolpaths into 5-axis toolpaths.^[1]

Multiaxis machines offer several improvements over other CNC tools at the cost of increased complexity and price of the machine:

• The amount of human labor is reduced, if the piece would otherwise have to be turned manually during the machining.
• A better surface finish can be obtained by moving the tool tangentially about the surface.
• More complex parts can be manufactured, particularly parts with curved holes.

The number of axes for multiaxis machines varies from 4 to 9.^[2] Each axis of movement is implemented either by moving the table (into which the workpiece is attached), or by moving the tool. The actual configuration of axes varies, therefore machines with the same number of axes can differ in the movements that can be performed.

See also

• Machine tool
• Milling machine
• Numerical control
• CNC pocket milling
• impeller machining

References