CMU School of Drama


Thursday, March 25, 2021

How to Select a 5-Axis CNC Mill for Mold Making

Fusion 360 Blog: In the past, 5-axis CNC mills were built and marketed for the domain of aerospace and power generation manufacturers. However, the adoption of 5-axis machining centers has increased for mold makers in recent years. So, what should you look for when you shop for a 5-axis CNC mill for mold making?

1 comment:

Elliot Queale said...

When it comes to this level of CNC, you get what you pay for. This article does a pretty decent job of outlining the major factors that go into the different 5-Axis machines that are out there without getting too technical, so this would be great for non-machinists managers to read if they are interested in purchasing such a machine. First, I like the differentiation between true 5 axis machines and the 3+2 machines, which while useful are patently not real 5 axis machines. I also like how the bulk of the article goes through each of the major features of mills, such as workpiece envelope, tool handling, rigidity, and control. This is the most important aspect of purchasing equipment like this. If you don't fully understand the realistic needs of the shop, you cannot adequately select a machine to match those needs. Last summer I was tasked with finding a 2+1 CNC machine with, to be frank, unreasonable expectations given the budget and needs.