Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] what is 4 axis and 5 axis?

echnidna wrote:

> what is meant by the terms 4 axis and 5 axis and more ?

In the most general sense, it means the machine is capable of moving
in a 4th (or 5th, too) direction. Most 4- and 5-axis machines have 3 orthogonal
cartesian axes, and the 4th and 5th axes are rotary. This allows the machine to
work on more faces of a part, or the reach inside a hollow part to machine the
sides of the cavity, without repositioning the part. think of how you'd make
a set of blades for a jet engine, if the entire rotor and blades were to be made
in one piece.

Many commercial 5-axis machines stack two gimbals on the spindle, and have the
part on the 3 linear axes. Many shops that need an extra axis put an indexing head
on the table of a Bridgeport-type machine. If that is not enough, you can stack two
indexing heads for 5-axis work. We have a setup like that at our shop. it is not
used for complex inside work, but to be able to cut things with complicated facets
where it is difficult to fixture the part except at one spot.

Jon