Five-axis machining centers have long been important in the aerospace industry, where machined parts follow the aerodynamic form of aircraft. Some machines move the axis of rotation just to position the tool or work outside of the cut. Machines capable of this "3+2" machining can often reach all machined features of a part in one setup.
Five-axis machining is to add two rotary axes to the three common linear axes of X, Y, and Z. The two rotating axes of the three-axis (A, B, C) axis have different motion modes to meet the technical requirements of various products.
The five axes of a five-axis machining center generally refer to the ability of a CNC machine to move a part or tool on five different CNC axes simultaneously. Standard 3-axis milling takes place on the X, Y, and Z axes. These three linear axes are the directions in which the spindle or part (depending on the machine) can move: X-axis: left to right, Y-axis: front-to-back, Z-axis: up and down. Five-axis machining centers also use two axes of rotation: A, B, and C. A axis: rotate around the X axis, B axis: rotate around the Y axis, C axis: rotate around the Z axis.
The use of rotary axes in a five-axis machining center means that the machine can move a part or cutting tool (spindle head) around one of the previously established linear axes. Different machining equipment will use different combinations of axes (A and B, B and C, or A and C), each configuration suitable for a different type of machining.
The 5-axis machining process is also very similar to the 3-axis CNC machining process. However, it has some very important features that provide these two extra axes and greater cutting flexibility. In a five-axis machining center, the spindle and tool move along three axes. However, there are other rotations around the X-axis (called the A-axis), the Y-axis (called the B-axis), and the Z-axis (called the C-axis). Five-axis machining centers can use any two of these rotary axes, depending on their configuration.
