5-axis machining

[Dan B]

Thanks for the tip, but it won't be necessary. This thread was started 3 years ago, and we are now quite proficient at 5-axis.

Dan

[5000cnc]

DanB.

Are you still using the tri tech head? If so are you having the same breakage issues. I'm interested in this option to do some light face milling on some large diameter shafts. Using this option lets me take a 1600 lbs rotary table off my table.

Do you have any experience doing any 3/8" or 1/2" end milling with your head? And if so what is your depth of cut?

Thanks.

[Dan B]

What material are you planning to cut? What kind of tolerances do you need to hold?

We still use our TT head everyday, and we do use 1/2" endmills. We only do so in aluminum and only when accuracy is not that important. I wouldn't count on anything consistently better than ±.005". As for helical milling with it, if you mount the head on a Fadal, forget about it. The Fadal can't coordinate all 3 axis good enough to get round holes.

Dan

[5000cnc]

We commonly cut normalized 1045. And the most of our tolerances are right at +-.005. I'm alittle concerned about your experience with the head breaking while drilling. Is this a common failure mode for you?

I would like to use this to drill .188 and .250 holes to at depth ranging from 3 to 4 inches.

[Dan B]

You shouldn't have any problems with those sizes. The breakage during drilling is really more of an issue when reaming deep holes. The Fadal can't coordinate all 3 axis when the reamer is retracting out of the hole, so the reamer binds. This hasn't happened in a long time.

We drill in steel with our head up to 1/2".

I should mention that the latest TT heads are much more robust (and accurate)
then our older version.

Dan

[mrjonbon]

hello all, good thread and good info all over.
introduce myself, new member, been reading for years however.
Picked up a job at university in victoria, australia as cad/cam technician. i oversee 2-4 axis machining, mainly woods and foams, lasers, rapid prototyping, wax, plaster and plastic. In my own time I make jewellery and sculpture, in a small workshop with old pantograph and older lathe. Master patterns for moulding in waxes, steel, aluminium. castings in precious metals, machining small precious and exotic metals.

there is a 5 axis haas vmc on the way, I have taught myself 4 axis on roland mdx540 with rhinocam. May need some help in the future if 5 axis is as hard as everyone says. especially if I learn new programme, maybe surfcam, to get the continual 5 axis machining.

offering my knowledge, contacts, resources.
Especially any australians and melburnians out there, let me know if i can assist, university resources lack use and exploration/exploitation. it would be great to pick some of the cnc brains out there.

[scrapper400]

This seems to be a thread that doesn't get opened too often but I might dust off the cobwebs and ask a question.

I currently have 3 axis m/c and have been given the opportunity to upgrade. Originally I planned a 3+2 to give myself simultaneous 5 axis machining but now I'm wondering if i am better off with 4.
I'd like any comments on my situation.
I do one off pieces 80% of the time, - 3 axis stuff.
I have a limited Z axis so I can't fit huge jobs if I go with the 5 axis trunnion, 6 inch long max.
I do a lot of turbine blades.

I figure the only things I can't do if I go for the fourth axis are impellors and complete turbines but I can build the blades and assemble. One advantage with the fourth axis is that I can leave it in place and still have enough of a work envelope to do 3 axis stuff whereas the 120 pound trunnion would have to be taken out each time to free up the bed for plates etc.

I won't have a chance to get funding for this again. Does any one think it is a bad idea to go for the 4th axis instead of the 5th. Maybe I've answered my questions myself but I'd appreciate any comments from those who have used both.

Best regards,

Scrap.