Many manufacturers who don’t require 5-axis simultaneous machining are missing out on an opportunity to greatly improve productivity and profitability by not investing in a 5-axis machining center. Fact is, although less than 5% of machined parts require 5-axis simultaneous machining, over 60% of parts are only machined on 5 sides, which means they are all excellent candidates for 5-axis machining.
Here’s why a 5-axis machine makes financial sense: using a CNC machine tool without 5-axis capability typically requires multiple special fixtures and considerable operator time to move the part from one machine to another and set up the parts in between machining cycles. With true 5-axis capability you can completely machine the part in one cycle, often without any special fixtures, and with no costl operator intervention.
Eliminating special fixtures, of course, saves considerable cost, and using one 5-axis machine instead of several CNC machine tools saves considerable equipment and maintenance costs. But that’s just the beginning. Each time a worker touches a part, it adds more cost to the finished product. These are expenses, not investments because they add no value. They simply drive up the final product cost, reducing profit margins and making you less competitive.