High five

Digital drive and control technology and software developments are helping machine tool builders offer several machining functions in a single machine and control multiple axes simultaneously. As a result, manufacturers have hugely improved set-up times and floor space requirements.

Five-axis machining has left the exclusive realm of aerospace and is already commonplace in the mould and die, power generation and automotive sectors. Now it is spreading rapidly to more general workshops, where it is proving cost-effective.

Greater rigidity during five-axis machining extends the range of parts that can now be successfully machined. The ability to cut five sides of a cube enables components to be completed in one setting, which might otherwise have taken two or more operations.

Five-axis machining also allows the use of shorter, more rigid cutters, which helps reduce vibration, extends the life of cutting tools and reduces cycle times. These developments are further enhanced by high-speed spindle designs and improved polycrystalline diamond and cubic boron nitride tools from companies such as