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Multi-Axis Machining vs. Traditional Machining: A Comparative Analysis

In the recent past, traditional machining was utilized to help replace manual labor and manual adjustments of various engineering materials such as wood, foam, glass, metals, composites, and more. Recently, more advanced and more exact machining has come into existence to make the manufacturing process even more efficient and quicker. Learn more about both of these types of machining below.

Traditional Machining

Traditional machining would work on 3 axes and would refer to any type of process that would remove material through a controlled process, often by a specific design entered into a computer program, that would then direct the machine tools to do the actual cutting and work. This process was invented in 1861

Multiaxis Machining

Multiaxis machining is a type of manufacturing process that involve utilizing tools in four or more different directions to create parts out of metal and other materials by extracting specific patterns of the material according to a specified design that is fed into the computer program. Five-axis machines are quite common in multiaxis machining, resulting in the workpiece cut on the x, y, and z axes, while the tooling spindle rotates around two more axes.

Due to the fact that multiaxis machines can cut on more axes and complete more complex processes, the cost and complexity of the machine is more. However, multiaxis machines has reduced the amount of human labor that is needed. In addition, they produce tools with better surface finishes, can be more complex, have longer lifespans, and can include better quality parts in their construction.