5-axis machining adds two rotary axes (commonly A/B or B/C) to the three linear axes of a mill, so the tool or the part can tilt and rotate as it cuts. This lets a single setup reach five faces of a part and keep the cutter at the ideal angle to complex, contoured surfaces — impellers, turbine blades, mold cavities and aerospace structures.
Beyond reaching more geometry, tilting the tool allows shorter, more rigid tools and better surface finish. '3+2' (positional 5-axis) locks the two rotaries to orient a face, while full simultaneous 5-axis moves all five at once.
Get a real number from a Machine Blue Book specialist — free, no obligation.
