Cradle type five-axis Vertical Machining Center
What is a five-axis machining center?
The cradle-type 5-axis machining center is an important branch of the five-axis linkage machine tool. Its core feature is that the worktable adopts a "cradle" structure to realize the two-axis rotation and tilt of the workpiece, thereby forming a five-axis linkage processing method with the spindle. The five-axis machining center is a high-precision and high-efficiency CNC machine tool equipment that can control five axes for processing at the same time, usually including three linear axes (X, Y, Z axes) and two rotation axes (A, B or C axes).
Cradle structure
A-axis (swing axis) function: to make the workpiece swing around a fixed axis, usually within +/-90° or larger range.
C-axis (rotation axis) function: to make the workpiece rotate 360° or infinitely around the axis perpendicular to the cradle.
The drive system usually includes a servo motor or a direct drive motor, supplemented by a high-precision reducer; providing sufficient power and torque to ensure smooth movement and rapid response of the A-axis and C-axis.
The position and angle of the A-axis and C-axis are monitored in real time through a high-precision encoder. The cradle is linked with the CNC system (CNC) of the machining center to perform complex tool path planning to ensure machining accuracy.
Auxiliary systems: lubrication system, cooling system and protective device.
Workpiece clamping device: including three-jaw chuck, precision fixture and vacuum suction cup, etc.
Working Principle
The cradle-type five-axis machining center has five axes whose movements are precisely controlled by the CNC system; the cradle-type structure means that the worktable forms a "cradle" support between the A axis (or B axis) in the horizontal direction and the C axis (or A axis) in the vertical direction, and the worktable swings and rotates on two rotary axes.
This “double rotation” design can minimize the cumulative error caused by multiple clamping or transfer of workpieces, while optimizing the space utilization between the fixture and the workpiece.
Advantages and Applications
High precision: The cradle-type five-axis machining center can complete the processing of multiple faces or complex surfaces of parts in one clamping, reduce the secondary positioning error and loss caused by clamping conversion, and ensure the uniformity of processing quality.
High efficiency: Multi-faceted processing can be completed in one clamping, reducing the time for workpiece replacement. Multi-axis linkage can optimize tool paths, reduce idle time, and improve overall processing efficiency.
Complex processing capabilities: It can process complex surfaces and free curves; meet the high-end needs of aerospace, automotive, medical and other industries, such as engine blades, turbine blades, structural parts and other complex parts.
Flexible applicability: The cradle-type five-axis machine tool can process various complex surfaces, including impellers, turbines, aircraft engine turbine discs, automotive cover molds, medical equipment parts, etc., and can well adapt to the production needs of multiple varieties, small batches and precision high value-added parts.
Cradle-type five-axis and three-axis machining centers
In terms of the number of moving axes, the cradle-type machining center has two more rotating axes than the three-axis machining center.
The cradle-type five-axis machining performance is high, and it can process complex curved surfaces and special-shaped parts. It can complete multi-faceted machining in one clamping, reduce clamping errors, and has high machining accuracy.
Cradle-type five-axis machining requires operators to have high professional programming skills and technical support.
The equipment cost of cradle-type five-axis machining is higher than that of three-axis machining centers.
Cradle-type five-axis machining is suitable for small-batch, multi-variety, high-precision customized production; three-axis machining is suitable for large-volume, standardized simple parts processing.
