Why 5-Axis Machining?

Mal Sudhaker, milling-area manager for GF AgieCharmilles, said there are several reasons that shops are doing more 5-axis machining:

• Multisided machining capability.
• Reduced setups.
• Easy access to all part surfaces for machining.
• Shops can use stiffer, shorter cutters.
• Optimized cutting tool use to avoid zero-cutting situations with ballnose end mills.
• The machining of parts, such as impellers, blades, blisks and those for dental and medical components, that can’t be done on threeaxis machines.
• Faster machining times because larger diameter cutters can be used for less stepovers.