Nothing is impossible if you master 5-axis machining.
The 5-axis technology opens up completely new possibilities and gives great machining freedom, says Niklas Dackborn at Essde Teknik in Uppsala.
In a multifunction machine where five axis simultaneous machining can be used, very complicated parts can be completed in a single setup. The surface finishes also improve. With five axis simultaneous machining, nothing is impossible, one can machine a surface in so many ways (ed's note).
With five axis simultaneous programming, the spindle can move around an entire workpiece without letting go of the surface, which enables, among other things, that really fine surfacefinishes can be achieved. The machinecoordinates are calculated over the entire surface, the tolerances to be achieved are specified in the CAM software.
Five axis simultaneous machining is traditionally used in mould and die manufacturing, but now also more and more in pure production machining. Among other things, the technology is used for manufacturing impellers, but also for milling inside tubes. With this technique, machining of deep pockets can be done better. Simultaneous machining also enables the machining of negatively inclined walls.
Niklas Dackborn at Essde Teknik likes 5-axis simultaneous machining.
Essde Teknik, in Uppsala (Sweden), mainly work with prototype manufacturing and short series part production. Essde has been a keen user of simultaneous 5-axis technology for years, using GibbsCAM for programming all their machines.
- The best thing about five axis simultaneous machining is that we can carry out machining strategies that are impossible with other technologies, says the company's CEO Niklas Dackborn. It is possible to machine very complex geometries, for example behind a wall and in curved cavities, for example inside pipes.
Essde has customers in many areas, such as Space and Medical technology, these customers demand perfection and quality.
Essde Teknik has several multifunction machines that can handle five axis machining, including milling centers from DMG Mori.
One of many advantages with multi-function machines where five axis simultaneous machining can be carried out is that they bring great time savings as advanced parts can be completely finished in a single setup. The option of manufacturing parts in several setups in different machines takes time and, above all, costs money. Completing a part in different setups also entails risks of shape changes as the part must be reclamped in several machines. Such a production strategy can result in parts with dimensions out of tolerance.
It is typically not possible to machine parts faster with five axis simultaneous, but the technology means that advanced parts can be completed in a single setup, eliminating the need for multi-machine setup's. In a five-axis machine where simultaneous five axis is used, all axes can be moved individually or synchronized during the course of the toolpath. This is in contrast to a positioning five axis machine where the fourth and fifth axis are not moved during the processing but instead positioned and fixed at a certain angle.
In five axis simultaneous machining, the machine must be able to swap axis directions and still achieve accuracy. Axes moves are synchronized since all axes must arrive at the endpoint at the same time. One axis cannot arrive at endpoint before the other, even if the axes have different distances to travel. The slowest axis move therefore decides everything.
Text: Per Sjögren
Source: Verkstadstidningen https://www.verkstadstidningen.se/
Note: Essde Teknik (www.essde.se) has 14 years experience of CNC programmering with GibbsCAM
