Machining Overview

5-SIDED CNC VS. SIMULTANEOUS 5-AXIS CNC

There are pros and cons to both 5-sided CNC machining and 5-axis CNC machining.

5-SIDED CNC (3+2)

  • Simple to program
  • Cuts faster
  • Fewer concerns about tool interference
  • Excellent roughing strategy

SIMULTANEOUS 5-AXIS CNC (FULL 5-AXIS)

  • Better surface finish
  • Longer tool life
  • Allows tool to reach difficult places smoothly
  • Impressive but slow – avoid if possible

Basics of axis configuration

To understand machine configurations, it’s important to understand the basic terminology of 5-axis machining centers. If you think in terms of a 3-axis machining center, it has an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. With a 5-axis machining center, the additional rotary axes will rotate about two of those three primary axes.

The axis that rotates about or under the Z-axis is called the C-axis.

The axis that rotates about the Y-axis is called the B-axis.

The axis that rotates about the X-axis is called the A-axis.