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Tilt Rotary Tables Tilt-Rotary Tables For some shops, adding a tilting rotary table to their 3-axis machining center is an economical solution to achieve 5-axis capabilities.Larger work volume compared to swivel head rotary table 5-axis machine because you don’t have to… Why / integrated trunnion table 5-axis machining center AC rotation axes configuration Better undercut capability The trunnion rotates +/-110 degrees versus the +/-92 degree rotation on a swivel head/rotary table design. Geographical preference The swivel head/tilting rotary table configuration continues to be more popular Germany and throughout Europe than the United States and Canada.
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Better chip control With the swivel head/rotary table configuration, you can run the machine horizontally and gain better chip control. Minimizes tool interference Because the swivel head tilts the tool, you don’t need to worry about tool interference with the machine’s spindle head. Use the extra space to finish the sixth side of the part or do 3-axis work. You can add a vise for greater versatility because of the large table size. Integrated trunnion table Swivel head with rotary table Traveling column Why / a swivel head with rotary table 5-axis machining center BC rotation axes configuration Heavier Parts: Because the table is stationary, the swivel head/rotary table machines are used with heavier parts. Machine Configurations Dedicated 5-axis machining centers There are three types of machine configurations for 5-axis machining.The axis that rotates about or under the Z-axis is called the C-axis. The axis that rotates about the Y-axis is called the B-axis. The axis that rotates about the X-axis is called the A-axis. With a 5-axis machining center, the additional rotary axes will rotate about two of those three primary axes. If you think in terms of a 3-axis machining center, it has an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. 5-sided (3+2) Simultaneous 5-axis (full 5-axis) Simple to program Cuts faster Fewer concerns about tool interference Excellent roughing strategy Better surface finish Longer tool life Allows tool to reach difficult places smoothly Impressive but slow – avoid if possible Basics of axis configuration To understand machine configurations, it’s important to understand the basic terminology of 5-axis machining centers. Simultaneous 5-axis There are pros and cons to both 5-sided machining and 5-axis machining.