Five-axis machining is a mode of CNC machine tool machining. Using linear interpolation motion of any 5 coordinates in X, Y, Z, A, B, C, the machine tool used for five-axis machining is usually called a five-axis machine tool or a five-axis machining center.

For decades, it has been widely believed that five-axis CNC machining technology is the only means of machining smooth, continuous and complex surfaces. Once people encounter unsolvable problems in designing and manufacturing complex surfaces, they will turn to five-axis machining technology. However, five-axis CNC machining technology is the most difficult and widely used technology in CNC technology. It integrates computer control, high-performance servo drive and precision machining technology, and is applied to efficient, precise and automated machining of complex surfaces.

Internationally, the five-axis linkage numerical control technology is regarded as a symbol of the automation technology level of a country's production equipment. Due to its special status, especially its important influence on aviation, aerospace, and military industries, as well as its technical complexity, industrially developed countries have always used five-axis CNC systems as strategic materials to implement an export license system.

However, because the machining position of the tool used in the five-axis CNC is difficult to control in the processing space, its CNC programming, CNC system and machine tool structure are far more complicated than that of the three-axis machine tool. Therefore, it is difficult to realize five-axis CNC machining. Plus, it's more difficult to operate properly.

True and False five-axis

Speaking of five-axis, I have to talk about true and false five-axis? The difference between true and false five-axis is mainly whether there is RTCP function

Assuming that the RTCP function is executed manually, the tool center point and the actual contact point between the tool and the workpiece surface will remain unchanged. At this time, the tool center point falls on the normal line of the actual contact point between the tool and the workpiece surface, and the tool holder will rotate around the tool center point.

In order to achieve the purpose that the tool holder can simply rotate around the target trajectory point (ie the tool center point) when executing the RTCP function, it is necessary to compensate in real time the offset of the linear coordinates of the tool center point caused by the rotation of the tool holder. Only in this way can the angle between the tool holder and the normal at the actual contact point between the tool and the workpiece surface be changed while the center point of the tool and the actual contact point between the tool and the workpiece surface remain unchanged, so that the best performance of the ball nose cutter can be exerted. Therefore, RTCP seems to stand more on the center point of the tool (that is, the target trajectory point of the CNC code), and deal with the change of the rotation coordinates.

Five-axis machine tools and CNC systems without RTCP must rely on CAM programming and post-processing, and plan the tool path in advance. For the same part, if the machine tool is changed, or the tool is changed, CAM programming and post-processing must be performed again, so it is called false five-axis.

In short, there are two types of five-axis machine tools: one is five-axis linkage, that is, all five axes can be linked at the same time. The other is five-axis positioning processing, which is actually five-axis but three-linkage: that is, two rotary axes are positioned, and three axes can be processed simultaneously. This five-axis machine tool commonly known as 3+2 mode can also be understood as false Five axes.

People have long recognized the superiority and importance of five-axis CNC technology. However, due to the difficulty of designing five-axis CNC technology, so far, the application is still limited to a few well-funded departments, and there are still unsolved problems.

Shanghai Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. is a company specializing in precision machining and manufacturing of parts. At present, the machining products involved are mainly processed by CNC numerical control machine tools. We have advanced processing technology, if you have related needs, you can visit our company's website to contact us.