Five-axis mold processing technology
With the development of mold parts manufacturing technology, five-axis machining has brought greater productivity gains to mold processing. Five-axis mold processing technology can take advantage of five-axis machine tools to reduce programming time to reduce the preparation stage, and it can also reduce steps And the number of programs while reducing the path of the machining tool.
The increasing complexity of the design of molds and medical parts requires a new level of five-axis machine performance. From rough machining to five-axis mold processing of multi-faceted contour 3D geometry, five-axis machining tools have increased productivity with more competitive processing capabilities. These processing capabilities are commonly used in automotive, injection molding, packaging, medical and optical markets. Complex molds.
One of the main advantages of five-axis mold processing technology is the improved access of mold components to part geometry. This can produce a more uniform and higher quality surface finish, thereby providing: reduced tool costs, longer mold life, and fewer tools required for the project.
How five-axis machining can benefit mold makers
People tend to think that five-axis machining is to generate contour surfaces, and it is really good at this. However, there are many other benefits for mold makers. An important question is how to use traditional tools more effectively, such as ball end mills and new tools designed for five-axis machining centers. E.g:
Ball end mill: When the ball end mill is fed strictly in the vertical direction, the tip of the tool is actually dragged across the surface of the workpiece at zero rpm, which is hardly an effective cutting process. By tilting the tool relative to the workpiece surface, the effective cutting diameter increases, which can increase the metal removal rate by as much as 40-50%, but still produces a better surface finish. In addition, the use of multi-edge tools can extend tool life and reduce component costs.
Barrel-shaped tools: These tools have a contour profile and can make wider cutting contact with the inclined surface of the workpiece, almost like an oversized ball end mill. These molds can provide equivalent or better surface finishes with larger steps, thereby reducing the number of passes required to process 3D surfaces. Then, using the small radius tip of the mold, you can enter the narrow corners. Not only can a single tool be used to complete more work, but also a continuous machining surface can be produced, which significantly reduces mixing problems.
Five-axis mold processing technology
Shorter tools: Three-axis machining forces the use of longer tools to reach certain features deep in the cavity, which severely affects the achievable processing speed. The tool holder can be tilted away from the adjacent groove wall, and shorter tools can be used without the risk of collision, thereby improving processing efficiency and better surface finish.
The article mainly gives a brief explanation of five-axis CNC machining parts and five-axis mold processing. You can learn from the article that with the development of mold parts manufacturing technology, five-axis machining has brought greater productivity gains to mold processing. Mold processing can take advantage of the five-axis machine tool to reduce the programming time to reduce the preparation stage, it can also reduce the number of steps and procedures, and reduce the path of the processing tool.