Delcam and Makino to hold 5-axis machining seminar at Automation Solutions

Delcam and Makino are partnering to host a seminar to show how moving to five-axis milling can help subcontract businesses to grow their turnover and profitability.  The event, titled ‘More Axes = More Opportunity’, will be held on 7th October at Automation Solutions Inc, the Makino representative for the Mid-Atlantic area of the US.

Attendees to the seminar will learn first-hand from experts from Delcam and Makino about the fundamentals and benefits of various types of five-axis machine and multi-axis machining strategies.  The event will also feature live machining demonstrations on a variety of equipment, plus plenty of time to ask questions of the presenters.

To register for the seminar, please go to www.delcam-na.com/moreaxes

The growing use of five-axis machining is boosting productivity by increasing efficiency, improving quality and shortening delivery times.  Five-axis capabilities that were once only available on large, expensive machines are now available on the smaller, more affordable machining centres suitable for sub-contract operations. 

At the same time, developments in five-axis machining software, including Delcam’s Powermill CAM system, have made programming for five-axis operations much easier.  Much more sophisticated simulation options have been added to the software, making it easier for the user to check toolpaths on the computer and so minimise any possibility of problems when the programs are sent to the machine.

The use of five-axis machines offers two main advantages over the more conventional three-axis equipment.  Firstly, they enable shorter cutters to be used since the head of the machine tool can be lowered towards the job and the cutter oriented towards the surface.  With a three-axis machine, deep pockets can only be reached by increasing the length of the cutter.  With these longer cutters, vibration can result in limited accuracy and poor surface quality, so the cutting speed may need to be restricted.  The shorter cutters that can be used for five-axis machining allow higher cutting speeds to be used and higher productivity to be achieved with no loss in accuracy or reduction in surface quality. 

The second major benefit of five-axis machining is the ability to machine complex shapes in a single set-up.  This saves considerable time compared to performing the job in a series of set ups.  Furthermore, with multiple set-ups, there is always a possibility of incorrect alignment each time the part is moved.  With more complex parts, special fixtures need to be made to hold the component firmly during machining.  By reducing the number of set-ups, five-axis machining can also save the time and cost of making a multitude of fixtures.

11 August 2015