Our Outstanding 5-Axis CNC Milling Capability
RapidDone has high precision milling capability, we are able to produce highly accurate and quality parts to meet your special requirements. By working with RapidDone shop, you are promised to get safe products from prototyping to volume runs, you don’t need to worry about tolerances, cosmetics, or any other defects.
Why RapidDone 5-Axis CNC Milling Machining Shop
Firstly, we have several advanced in-house 5-axis milling machines, this brings us with a wild capability that can build complex and precision CNC machined parts.
Secondly, RapidDone can offer professional CNC manufacturing services. We can custom 5-axis machining parts for you with global delivery, from a small size part to a large size part. The Parts are wildly used in a lot of applications such as aerospace, medical, automotive, military, and more.
Thirdly, we can build from one single part per your machining prototyping requirement, we can also build mass production for you in a cost-saving way.
Meanwhile, RapidDone has a strict quality control team, our IQC, IPQC, and after-sales services team follow the ISO quality standard strictly. All these are the basic quality guarantee and keep our CNC parts at a high-quality level all the time.
Finally, we know the cost is critical for a successful CNC project. We are professional in saving costs for our customers from CNC part design, raw material selection, production efficiency, logistics, after-sales service, etc.
In a word, we are the right 5-axis machining part manufacturer for you in China, just send inquiries to us.
Ultimate FAQ Guild: 5-Axis CNC Machining
If you have any questions on 5-axis CNC manufacturing, then you can find a answer in this FAQ guide.
It covers everything about 5-axis CNC machining, from the definition, material, cutting tips to applications.
Moreover, if you have a project on hand and want to find a proper supplier for it, then it definitely can help you.
What Is 5-Axis CNC Machining?
Like any other machining process, 5-axis CNC machining refers to manufacturing progress that removing material from a workpiece by using the high-speed CNC machine, which is called a 5-axis CNC machine or 5-axis milling machine.
There are many CNC machines in the manufacturing industry, the most common type is a 3-axis machine. This type of basic machine normally moves a tool on three primary axes as below.
X-axis: Driving direction from left to Right
Y-axis: Driving direction from forwards and backward
Z-axis: Driving direction from up and down
5-axis milling machine, on the other hand, can drive two more additional axes which we normally call A and B. By having these two additional axes, the 5-axis machine can drive the cutting tool to reach a more multidirectional approach, and machine very complex parts easily.
In a word, 5-axis machining is one of the most high-level machining ways and takes a very important role in the manufacturing industry.
In RapidDone, we hold several precision machines to support custom milling services, covering both prototyping and mass production.
What Are The Types Of 5 Axis CNC Machines?
There is a lot of classification for the 5-axis CNC machine, we mainly have them as below.
First, we can sort it by configurations. There are three categories: Head/Head 5-axis Machines, Table/Head 5-axis Machines, and Table/Table 5-axis Machines.
Next, we can sort it by size. There are small 5 axis CNC machines, large 5 axis CNC machines, desktop 5 axis CNC machines, compact 5 axis CNC machines, and more.
Thirdly, we can sort it by function. There are 5 axis CNC grinder, 5 axis CNC router, 5 axis laser cutting machine, 5 axis laser engraver, high speed 5 axis CNC machining, and more.
Lastly, we can also sort them to be cheap machine and expensive machine. The expensive machines normally come with high precision such as Haas 5 axis CNC machining from the USA and Mazak 5 axis CNC machining from Japan.
At RapidDone, we have several high precision 5 axis CNC machines, this supports us to make high-precision CNC parts with complex features easily.
What Is 5 Axis CNC Machining vs. 3+2 Axis CNC Machining?
There are two types of 5 axes milling: 3+2 axis and simultaneous 5-Axis, there are some fundamental differences between them.
3+2-axis machine, refers to a traditional three axes machine, adding rotary tables to its two fixed axes (normally from A and B). With 3+2 axes operation, the angle of the cutting tool does not change as the table rotates, the part is in a fixed orientation. Therefore, 3+2-axis is also known as positional five-axis machining.
Simultaneous 5-axis machining, on the other hand, the three linear axes and the two additional rotational axes can be controlled to move at the same time. Therefore, the cutting tool can keep continuous contact with the workpiece at any angle.
Comparing both ways, we can see that Simultaneous 5-axis machining is a higher precision cutting process than the 3+2 machining method. It is allowed to reach hard-to-reach areas and creates perfect cuts to offer a better surface finish quality.
At RapidDone, we can offer services for both types of machining. Depend on the cost and quality requirement, we can make the best process selection.
What Is The Difference Between 3 Axes And 5 Axis CNC Machining?
The biggest difference between the two is the axis number of freedom that the spindle can move in.
3 axis machining can only operate the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. The workpiece is fixed in position with moving during machining progress, this limits the cutting tool approaches.
5 axis machining, on the other hand, there are two more axes. This machine can rotate around both X-axis and Y-axis, so the workpiece can be turned to any angle. Therefore, this allows a wilder cutting range and can produce more complicated geometry features.
For example, it is difficult to mill the undercut feature with 3 axis machining. However, the 5 axis machining can easily finish this job with a single-step machining mold.
In a word, 5 axis machining can do complex cutting easily which is difficult for 3 axis machining.
At RapidDone, we have an experienced team that we know well for both processes. We can help our customers to choose the best option by considering both quality and cost parameters.
What Is The Advantage Of 5-Axis CNC Machining?
5-axis machining has a lot of advantages in saving time and money, below are the main benefits.
1. Be Able To Create More Complicated Shape
By using the two additional axes, the machine cutter can reach any different angles of the workpiece closely, this makes it possible to manufacture very complicated arcs during the single setup.
This benefit is very obvious for the undercut machining as well as small drilling.
2. Higher Machining Efficiency
During the 5-axis machining, we can turn the cutter close to the workpiece surface, so it is possible to use a shorter cutting tool. With a shorter cutting tool, the feeding and speed can be higher, all this leads to faster material removal at last.
As we know, there are many types of cutters including flat end mill, bull nose end mill, ball end mill, and more. Among them, the flat end mill produces a flat-bottom cut that is the most efficient for material removal. In 5 axis machining, we can use a flat end mill cutter frequently, this also leads to higher cutting efficiency.
3. Saving Cost On Complex Fixtures
During the three-axis machining, the complex fixture is often required for workpiece fixing. Besides, a lot of parts machining will need more than one setup, one setup takes one type of fixture. Each fixture takes cost, more fixture takes more cost.
Five-axis machining has a strong capability to make complex shapes in a single setup with a simple fixing fixture. Thus, it can save a lot of costs from the workpiece fixture.
4. Use Fewer Setup
Unlike traditional machining ways, 5 axis machine can drive the cutter to any face of the workpiece including the bottom surface. This makes sure all cutting work can be done during a single setup.
5. Reach A Tighter Tolerance
As mentioned above, the 5-axis machine can use a shorter cutter, this creates less vibration during machining.
At the same time, it only needs one setup, this means the workpiece does not need to be removed during the whole machining progress.
Therefore, it helps to get more accurate machining, the CNC machined part is with higher precision.
6. Get Higher Quality Surface Finish
5 axis machining can achieve smaller cuts due to its multiple movements, this helps to get contoured geometry on the surface and leads to a higher quality finish.
7. Be More Competitive In The Market
As a 5-Axis CNC machine is not a cheap machine, not every shop can afford one. Having the 5-Axis machining capability, it can help you to get more trust from your customer. Thus, you can run faster than your competitor and be more competitive in the market.
What Is The Limitation Of 5-Axis CNC Machining?
There are also some limitations to the 5-Axis machining process, we can not use this process to crease any CNC machined parts.
1. High Machine Cost
Compared with the ordinary 3-axis machine, the cost for a five-axis CNC milling machine is much higher. Besides, there is also a high maintenance fee along with the machine.
Therefore, the total machining cost is high.
2. Complex Machining Programming
The 5-axis machining movement is more complex than other simple CNC machines. To run the machining efficiently and correctly, a lot of parameters have to be calculated carefully. This will need experienced programming engineering for the job, this leads to an additional high cost.
3. High Requirement For Operator
Since the 5-axis milling is complex, it will ask for a higher requirement for the operator who operates the machine. Normally, a higher experienced operator always comes with a higher salary, this adds up to the total machining cost.
What Are The Applications For 5-Axis CNC Machining?
This progress can machine complex 3D shapes with quality surface finishing. With this advantage, it can bring in a broad range of applications including the medical industry, aerospace industry, military industry, automotive industry, and related dies and molds. Besides, it covers rapid prototyping, low-volume production, and high volume production.
When You Should Choose A 5-Axis Machining Process?
When we have both 3-axis and 5 axis machining options for a CNC project, a 3-axis one is a better option due to its lower cost.
However, there are a lot of cases that 5-axis machining is the only selection, some are listed as below：
First, when the CNC project is too complicated to cut for 3 axes or 4 axes, it has come to a five-axis solution.
Secondly, when the CNC parts ask for an as-milled finishing with a higher quality surface finish.
Thirdly, when the CNC machined part asks for high precision for some features. Compare with 3 axis milling, 5 axis milling is a better option due to its single setup advantage.
Next, when there is an urgent requirement for delivery, you need to increase production efficiency to reduce production time. With a single set-up and fewer clamping fixtures, a 5-axis machine can be a better choice.
Lastly, when there are too many set-ups that longer time-consuming, the cost is lower if we use a five-axis machine for the job.
What Is The 5-axis CNC Cost Per Hour?
5 axis CNC machining is a special process, it’s machining cost is also higher. As for the specific cost figure per hour, it is hard to tell as it depends on several parameters. Among them, there are two major parameters: machine maintenance cost and management cost.
At RapidDone, we are using 50USD per house for our 5 axis CNC machined parts cost calculation.
However, it will vary depending on the different quality requirements. You can talk with our expert team if you want to have a solid quotation quickly.
Get Your 5-Axis CNC Machining Project Started Today
As one of the professional prototyping and low-volume manufacturers in China, our engineers are ready to work with you to make sure you get CNC parts fast. When you submit your design files, we will check your design carefully first, then consult with you to ensure design for manufacturability, and get parts to meet your expectations at last. Contact us today for your free quote.