Our 5-axis Workflow:
Take a look into how we use the products below to get the full benefits of 5-Axis machining!
For our first dedicated 5-axis mill, we went with the Haas UMC-750. It is an extremely flexible and capable 5-axis machine with the travels, rigidity, and horsepower to handle nearly all machining needs.
Machine Specifications:
- Travels (XYZ): 30″ x 20″ x 20″
- Spindle RPM (base): 8100
- Max Power Rating (base): 30 HP
- Spindle Taper: CT or BT 40
- B Axis Travel: 110° to -35°
- C Axis Rotation: 360°
- Tool Changer: 40+1 Side Mount
- Coolant Capacity: 75 gallon
Our Additional Options:
- Spindle Upgrades:
- 12,000 RPM, 30HP Spindle
- 300 psi Through-Spindle Coolant
- Through-Tool Air Blast
- Belt-Type Chip Conveyor
We mostly use 5th Axis for vises and dovetails for our 5th axis / multi-axis machining workholding. Raising the part off of the machine’s platter is crucial to maintain clearance between the spindle and table as well as keeping travels and machine motion unrestricted. 5th Axis’ products utilize the RockLock system to allow you to tackle fixturing with a modular approach. This allows you to swap vises or pallet systems easily onto one of their many bases or risers, which keep the vise off of the table and allow you to configure your workholding for the clearances you need.
We use this base for each of our setups. It stays mounted in place, allowing us to use the RockLock system to switch between workholding systems.
This self-centering vise is our go-to vise for most 5 axis workflows.
This self-centering vise has a larger clamping range for our larger parts.
This fixture is a simple and rigid way to hold smaller, round parts.
This fixture is a rigid workholding solution with a dovetail-style clamp for increased clamping force.
We modified the Lathe Chuck Subplate we made in WW222 to accept four RockLock pins, allowing us to mount a lathe chuck to our 5th Axis riser plate for larger round material.
The Master Pallet is designed to be the simplest way to indicate and align 5th Axis risers and baseplates for use with the RockLock system.
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We use Autodesk’s Fusion 360 as our primary CAD and CAM software for 5 axis machining. Fusion provides an all-in-one package that is great for collaboration. Its cloud based platform means anyone on the team can access and work on the files from anywhere, minimizing time trying to find files and jump between software packages. Fusion provides a very powerful CAM kernel with ever increasing multi-axis capabilities which make it perfect for most 5th axis CAM.
5 axis machining is incredible – but the additional two axes make avoiding crashes more difficult than your traditional three axis mill. CAMplete TruePath tries to bridge this gap with intelligent toolpath verification software that doesn’t comprimise the workflow you already have. TruePath software is designed to work with all industry-leading CAM software for toolpath verification. This software offers simulation of your specific machine and toolpath to eliminate any chance of an expensive crash. “5-axis simulation, visualization and verification tools give you the confidence of knowing how your machine will behave before you run a single line of G-code.” Click here to visit CAMplete’s website and read more
The vast majority of tool holders we use are Maritool, with a few YG-1 hydraulic tool holders in the mix. Often when 5-axis machining, rigidity is sacrificed (to an extent) for tool reach. Like the fixturing riser we use, a longer tool holder allows for better clearance between the spindle/toolholder and the table/fixture setup. Obviously some jobs require a specialty holder, but below are our general-use tool holders for the UMC-750 (this list will stay updated as we try new holders and brands!):
This library contains all of our core tools. These tools are general use tools that find their way into nearly every job on our UMC. Ideally, each of these tools will stay set up in their tool holders until the tool either breaks or needs replaced – saving time setting up tools before a job. This also keeps tool stickout consistent, especially critical when 5 axis machining. Keeping the tool library updated with the tools in your machine ensures that CAM simulation will be consistent and accurate – helping you avoid costly crashes.
Download Tool Library
