The application of five-axis machining centers in mold processing

A five-axis machining center (equipment) is a crucial part of CNC machining, and this technology has already been widely applied in industries such as shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive, light industry, medical equipment, and high-precision instrument manufacturing. In traditional mold machining, three-axis machining centers and vertical machining centers are commonly used for cutting operations on workpieces. With the continuous development of mold machining technology in China, some shortcomings of traditional vertical machining centers and three-axis machining centers have gradually become apparent. Currently, ball-nose end mills are widely used in mold machining, and although they offer significant benefits, when used with a vertical machining center, the bottom surface cutting speed is zero, and the surface finish is poor. By utilizing a five-axis machining center for mold machining, these existing issues can be completely overcome. In this article, the author analyzes the advantages of five-axis machining centers in mold machining and discusses their application in the field.

In five-axis machining, using a thick-bottomed end mill to maintain a perpendicular position to the complex mold surface can significantly reduce processing time. The principle of five-axis machining centers also allows for angular side milling, eliminating the rib-like texture caused by ball-nose end mills and resulting in a more ideal mold surface quality. It also reduces the labor required for manual cutting and hand finishing to remove imperfections on the mold surface.

With five-axis machining technology, the need for multiple adjustments and clamping when repositioning workpieces at complex angles is eliminated, not only saving time but also significantly reducing the resulting deviations. The substantial cost of fixtures required for installing workpieces is also saved, and the CNC machine ensures the machining of complex parts, such as drilling, finishing, and undercut wrinkles on complex surfaces, which are impossible to achieve with traditional methods.

In five-axis machining, shorter cutting tools are used, and all parts can be machined in one go without the need for re-clamping or using the long cutting tools required in similar three-axis machining processes. This allows for the production of molds in a shorter time, and the quality of the part surfaces is also excellent.