DSG325 - multi-axis milling and mill turn machines

lecture 7

which axes are shown by each arrows below?

blue - Z

orange - X

green - Y

which axes are shown by each arrows below?

blue - Z

orange - X

What are the extra axes of a multi-axis mill?

A, B, C rotational axes

What axes are available for a 4-axis mill?

X, Y, Z, +1 rotational axis

why are these vertical corners able to be sharp?

the part can rotate so that it is flat and the mill can run over it

what axes are available on a 5-axis mill?

X, Y, Z, +2 rotational axes Z

how can the example part be orientated in the 5-axis machine to drill the red holes

put the orange axis on the 4 to the green axis on the 5

what is the difference between a 3+2 (indexed 5-axis) and a simultaneous 5-axis

• indexed 5-axis - the rotational axis will not move during the cutting process

• simultaneous 5-axis - can move in all 5 axes simultaneously while cutting

all parts capable of being made by a 3+2 (5-axis indexed) milling can also be made with 3-axis milling, provided you’re willing to do multiple set-ups

true or false

true

What are the characteristics of a swiss lathe?

• guide bushing supports workpiece

• main spindle is behind guide bushing moves in Z

• cutter moves in X, stationary in Z

what are the benefits of a swiss lathe?

higher rigidity - can machine very long/thin part

higher accuracy

can also have live tooling

What is a mill turn?

mixes turning and milling capability into one machine

• allows turning and milling operations on a single machine with a single setup

what are some features of a mill turn?

• C-axis

  • spins quickly for turning operations

  • spins slowly, indexing to specific locations for milling operations

• tools

  • move in X and Z (unless swiss)

  • some machines can move in Y, not all

• tool turret

  • stationary tools for turning

  • “Live tools” for milling

which characteristics distinguish Swiss lathe from a conventional lathe?

there is a guide bushing supporting the part and the tool moves in the X and the part moves in the Z

what is meant by the phrase “live tooling?

not only does the lathe itself spin but it can also perform milling operations when stationary

what is the difference between a cartesian and polar coordinates when machining a part on mill turn

• cartesian can be done with X and Y

• polar can be done with just X and C (C would be indexing slowly