Delcam’s PowerMILL makes sub-contractor attractive to OEMs
To stay attractive to OEMs sub-contractors have to offer better technology, greater flexibility, a wider range of products and sufficient capacity – all at lower costs – than the OEMs themselves could maintain in-house.
More case studies >>- You are here:
- Home
- »
- 5 Axis Machining
5 Axis Machining
5 Axis machining has been used in aerospace applications for many years but it is only recently that the toolmaking industry has shown similar interest. The main advantage of 5 Axis machining is the ability to save time by machining complex shapes in a single set-up. Additional benefit comes from allowing the use of shorter cutters that permit more accurate machining.
Positional 5 Axis machining has long been available within PowerMILL. With this technique, the head is oriented into a series of positions and machining carried out as a set of discreet operations.
In addition to this, PowerMILL now offers continuous 5 Axis machining. Continuous 5 Axis machining allows the user to create continuous 5 Axis toolpaths across complex surface, solid and triangulated models. The toolpaths are fully gouge checked and support a wide range of machining strategies and all tool types.
“We can machine the surface in areas that would previously have been impossible to access economically. In addition, difficult surfaces that would have needed long series cutters are now simple. Easier access is allowing us to use shorter tools resulting in improved surface finish and a reduction in the number of post machining operations, including EDM.” David Gaskin, AF Gaskin Ltd, UK.
Benefits of Positional 5 Axis Machining
- Ideal for machining deep cores and cavities
- Short cutters give increased accuracy and higher quality surface finish
- Allows the machining of undercuts
- Significant time benefits through use of only one set up
Benefits of Continuous 5 Axis Machining
- Ideal for Profiling parts
- Ideal for machining deep corners and cavities
- Shorter cutters give increased accuracy and higher quality surface finish
- Allows for machining with the flank or bottom of the tool
- Can be used with a full range of tool types
- Full gouge protection
- Can be used with models in STL format (with the exception of profiling)
Features and Functions
- Surface Finishing
- Swarf Milling
- Profiling
- Trimming:
- Pocketing
- Slotting
- Multi axis Drilling
- Integrated 5 Axis Post Processor
