Some customers are not very familiar with 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining and sometimes wonder which axis machining center should be used for their products.

The most significant characteristic of 3-axis CNC machining is that the workpiece remains stationary and needs to be fixed on a fixture. Therefore, in principle, 3-axis machining can machine up to 5 out of 6 faces of a workpiece; the face in contact with the fixture cannot be machined. However, in practice, generally only one face is machined.

4-axis CNC machining is more advanced than 3-axis machining. In addition to the tool movement in the XYZ plane, it also allows the workpiece to rotate on the Z-axis. This means that 4-axis milling can work on up to 4 faces without any custom fixtures or cutting tools. Furthermore, 4-axis milling improves the overall quality of precision parts machining. Because the machine can machine on 4 faces with only one setup, it improves the dimensional accuracy of the parts.

5-axis CNC machining goes a step further, allowing rotation in two planes. This multi-axis rotation and the ability of the tool to move in three directions are two indispensable qualities that enable these machines to handle the most complex jobs. There are two types of five-axis CNC machining on the market: 3+2 axis machining and continuous 5-axis machining. Both operate on all planes, but the former has the same limitations and operating principles as an indexing 4-axis machine. 3+2 axis CNC machining allows rotations to be independent but limits the simultaneous use of two coordinate planes. In contrast, continuous 5-axis machining has no such limitations, thus achieving superior control and enabling the easy machining of the most complex geometries.

If you have future projects requiring CNC machining, please send your drawings to this email address for an evaluation and quote: info1@us.cjcncmachining.com