5-axis CNC machines are incredible feats of modern engineering, reshaping the landscape of manufacturing and fabrication. But what exactly are they, and how do they function? This blog post aims to delve into the realm of 5-axis CNC machines, delving into their capabilities, applications, and the technology driving their operation. Whether you’re an experienced professional seeking to broaden your understanding or a curious novice eager to learn, this article offers a comprehensive overview of these state-of-the-art machines. Join us on this journey as we unravel the complexities of 5-axis CNC technology and its influence across diverse industries.
What is 5 axis CNC Machine?
Why it is called 5 axis?
The first thing we need to grasp is the concept of a 5-axis machine tool. As the name suggests, 5-axis machining involves adding two rotary axes to the three common linear axes (X, Y, and Z). These two rotary axes, often designated as A, B, and C, provide different motion modes to meet diverse technical requirements for various products. In the design of 5-axis machining centers, machine tool manufacturers continuously strive to develop new motion modes to cater to a wide range of demands. Although there are various forms of 5-axis machine tools available in the market, they can be broadly categorized as follows:





What is the difference between 3 axis and 5 axis?
In 5-axis CNC machining, there are several axes involved:
- X-axis: Movement from left to right.
- Y-axis: Movement from top to bottom (or up and down).
- Z-axis: Movement from front to back (or in and out).
- A-axis: Rotary axis, allowing rotation around the X-axis.
- B-axis: Rotary axis, enabling rotation around the Y-axis.
- Optionally, the C-axis: A third rotary axis rotating along the Z-axis, which can replace either the A-axis or the B-axis.
In contrast, 3-axis machining involves only the X, Y, and Z axes. 5-axis machining incorporates these three axes along with two additional rotary axes.

Compared to three-axis CNC machines, the additional two axes in five-axis CNC machines (typically a rotary table and a tilting table) provide the machine with greater flexibility, enabling it to access the workpiece from multiple angles and directions. This enhancement yields several advantages:
- Enhanced Efficiency: By reducing the number of workpiece clamping operations, machining efficiency is significantly improved.
- Heightened Precision: The machine can tackle complex geometries that are challenging for three-axis machines, resulting in improved product precision.
- Cutting-edge Technological Advancement: It demonstrates irreplaceable technological superiority in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and the machining of intricate components.
What Is The Advantage Of 5 Axis CNC Machining?
When discussing the features of five-axis machining, it’s essential to compare them with traditional three-axis equipment commonly used in manufacturing. In machining, three-axis equipment comes in various forms like vertical, horizontal, and gantry setups. Common methods include end milling, side milling, and contour machining with ball-end mills. However, regardless of the setup or method, they share a common trait: the tool axis remains fixed during machining, and the machine can only move the tool in the X, Y, and Z linear directions. Therefore, when faced with products needing intricate geometries or complex surfaces, the limitations of three-axis machines become evident: they are less efficient, yield poorer surface quality, and may even be incapable of machining certain features.
If you’re attempting to machine an impeller for a Turbo Molecular Pump, a three-axis machine is unlikely to meet your requirements. So let’s talk about what specific advantages that 5 Axis CNC Machining have!
- Smoothing Surfaces and Complex Shapes
When machining smooth surfaces and intricate shapes, rotary and tilting movements are necessary, which can be rapidly achieved with 5-axis simultaneous machining.
- Fewer Setups
In 3-axis machining, when surfaces to be machined change, repositioning of workpieces, tools, and fixtures is required. However, with 5-axis machining, the addition of rotary and tilting movements allows for continuous machining without the need to change machining surfaces.
- Consistent Precision and Quality
Changes in the setup of workpieces, fixtures, or tools can lead to deviations from previous machining positions, affecting precision and causing variations. 5-axis machining significantly reduces the frequency of setup changes, thereby reducing the risk of deviations and variations.
- Reduced Tooling and Fixturing
In 3-axis machining, some parts requiring the use of long or specialized tools can often be machined with standard tools in 5-axis machining by utilizing rotation and tilting. Particularly, tool protrusion can be minimized, resulting in more stable machining processes.
- Shortening New Product Development Cycles
For companies in industries like aerospace and automotive, where new product parts and molds are complex in shape and require high precision, 5-axis CNC machining centers with high flexibility, precision, integration, and complete machining capabilities can effectively address the precision and cycle issues of complex part machining in new product development processes, significantly reducing development cycles and increasing the success rate of new products
What Is The disadvantage Of 5 Axis CNC Machining?
Due to the increased number of options for dedicated 5-axis CNC systems, costs are higher. Machining programs and controls become more complex. When machining intricate geometries and performing continuous machining, programming and control become more challenging.
What Is The Process Of 5 Axis CNC Machining?
The operational principle of a 5-axis machine tool primarily involves controlling the movement of its various axes through a computer numerical control (CNC) system to accomplish workpiece machining. The process unfolds as follows:
- Workpiece Clamping: Initially, the workpiece slated for machining is securely clamped onto the machine tool’s worktable to ensure its stability.
- CNC Programming: A CNC program is crafted, tailored to the geometric intricacies of the workpiece and the specific machining requirements. This program typically encompasses machining paths, cutting parameters, tool selection, and other pertinent details.
- Tool Selection: With due consideration to the machining task at hand, suitable tools are chosen and installed onto the tool system.
- Motion Control: Activation of the CNC system orchestrates the controlled movement of the machine tool’s various axes according to pre-established CNC programs. Linear axes govern the machine tool’s horizontal, vertical, and longitudinal movements, while rotary axes manage the workpiece’s rotation in both horizontal and vertical planes.
- Machining Operation: Upon reaching the predetermined machining position and angle, the cutting tool commences the task of shaping the workpiece. Thanks to the CNC system’s meticulous oversight of the tool’s motion trajectory and cutting parameters, precise and high-quality machining of the workpiece is achieved.
- Completion of Machining: With the machining process concluded, the machine tool’s movement ceases, and the finished workpiece is removed from the worktable.
Conclusion
In the aerospace industry, 5-axis machine tools are commonly employed for machining complex components such as aircraft engine parts and aerospace structural elements. In the automotive manufacturing sector, they are utilized for machining automobile body molds, engine components, and other parts. Similarly, in the realm of mold manufacturing, they find application in machining injection molds, die-casting molds, and more. The utilization of 5-axis machine tools drives advancements in the intelligence and precision of manufacturing processes, leading to enhanced product quality and cost reduction.
Final Thoughts
As a professional with five years of experience in five-axis machining services, I believe five-axis CNC machines are revolutionary tools in precision manufacturing. They can control movement along five independent axes simultaneously, greatly improving machining accuracy and efficiency, especially for complex geometries and high-precision parts. Five-axis machining not only reduces production time but also eliminates errors caused by multiple clamping, enhancing process stability. For example, our company recently produced a complex engine component for an aerospace client using five-axis CNC technology, successfully reducing the production cycle by 30% while maintaining strict tolerance requirements. By choosing Ultirapid, you can benefit from precise and efficient five-axis machining solutions.