Improve your productivity with simultaneous 4- and 5-axis machining capability.

Multiaxis

Improve your productivity with simultaneous 4- and 5-axis machining capability for Mastercam. Mastercam Multiaxis offers a wide range of multiaxis machining strategies—both basic and advanced.

Multiaxis toolpaths are also very useful for advanced control on 3-axis machines. With Mastercam, you have complete control over three crucial elements of multiaxis machining: cut pattern, tool axis control, and collision avoidance.

Delivers multisurface 5-axis roughing and finishing, including stock model awareness. Tilt axis limits control the tool angle to ensure the toolpath will not gouge your part or violate machine tool limits.
Advanced gouge-checking and a 5-axis safe zone around the part help ensure safe cuts in even the most complex operations.
Works with Mastercam Mill 3D, Mastercam Router 3D, and Mastercam Mill-Turn products to generate 5-axis code to run virtually any CNC machine. Support for advanced tool geometries is included as standard.

Mastercam Multiaxis ensures accurate cuts and fast turnaround on even the toughest jobs, with streamlined multiaxis programming for optimum productivity.

What is MultiAxis

Traditional milling has been around for over 200 years, but 3-axis milling was not invented until 1861, when Brown & Sharpe created the Universal Milling Machine. This machine, as with all traditional 3-axis milling machines, could move in three linear directions. Machining was made even more efficient in the 1950s with the debut of numerical control machining. The latest technological innovation, multiaxis machining, expands on the traditional 3-axis machine’s motion abilities. Instead of moving along three simple linear axes, multiaxis machines can move in four or more directions by adding rotary axes and parallel linear axes. Some modern multiaxis centers can use nine axes, but most use only four or five.

How MultiAxis machines Work

The three axes of a traditional vertical 3-axis machine are X, Y, and Z: left-right, towards-away, and up-down. Most 3-axis milling centers have a stationary table and a moving cutter that travels along these three axes; sometimes the cutter only travels along the Z-axis while the table travels along the X- and Y-axes. This particular style of machining is great for simpler actions like drilling holes and cutting edges.

4-axis machines operate on all three of the traditional axes – X, Y, and Z – as well as an additional axis: the A-axis (rotation around the X-axis) or the B-axis (rotation around the Y-axis). 5-axis machines operate on X-, Y-, Z-, A-, and B-axes.

Multiaxis machines can progress to using nine axes: the linear axes (X, Y, and Z), the rotary axes (A, B, and C – which rotates around the Z-axis), and the parallel linear axes (U, V, and W). The parallel linear axes move along the X, Y, and Z directions.

Consider a quill on a vertical machine: the head would be moved up and down in the Z direction, but the quill’s up-and-down motion would be controlled with a W-axis. In multiaxis operations, the machine tool’s four to nine axes are all involved simultaneously. Imagine holding a part in your hand. If you were a 3-axis machine, you could only move the part up, down, left, right, towards you, and away from you.

If you were a 4-axis machine, you could move the part in all of those directions while also tipping it from left to right. If you were a 5-axis machine, you could add tipping the part forward and backward to your repertoire, and so on.

MultiAxis machining Applications

Any shop can benefit from multiaxis techniques. Because the tool cutter can move along so many axes, multiaxis machining can allow complete machining with only one setup and with shorter tools. There is no need to have an operator standby to remove and set up the part over and over. With this ability comes a plethora of time and money-saving results—fewer chances for user error during setup, fewer hours required, decreased lead time, high repeatability, and better interface with Industry 4.0. Multiaxis machining also improves surface finishes as the tool moves tangentially across the part’s surface.

Multiaxis machining is inherently more powerful than 3-axis machining, but each type has its own advantages. For parts that only need to have holes drilled in their sides or around their perimeter, 4-axis machining might be enough for single setup machining. For parts that are more intricate, like medical pieces with tilted surfaces and aerospace parts with complex geometries and tight tolerances, machining with five or more axes might be necessary.
Here are the industries that commonly use multiaxis machining:

Advantages of Mastercam MultiAxis

Mastercam’s Multiaxis is a powerful 4- and 5-axis solution that can work in conjunction with Mastercam Mill 3D, Mastercam Router 3D, Mastercam Mill-Turn, and Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS. This product maintains stock model awareness, a 5-axis safe zone around the machined part, and tilt axis limits on the tool angle to avoid violating machine limits for the safest machining possible. It also comes with Dynamic Motion technology for outstanding multisurface roughing and finishing. The abilities of Multiaxis, which range from standard to advanced, give users complete control over cut pattern, tool axis, and collision avoidance.

Cut Patterns, ranging from simple 2D wireframes to complex multisurface grids, guide the cutting along predetermined paths. These varied toolpaths optimize cutting while ensuring safety.Tool Axis Control gives users the ability to specify tool axis, lead/lag, entry/exit, and tilt. This technology orients the tool’s center axis as it follows the cut pattern, and it uses advanced gouge checking and a 5-axis safe zone during machining to protect the part.

Collision Control provides a “near miss tolerance” field so that users can choose exactly how close they want to allow the tool to approach any workholding or machining component. To learn more about Mastercam’s Multiaxis solutions, click here.

Mastercam Multiaxis is an add-on for Mastercam Mill 3D, Router 3D, and Mill-Turn. It improves productivity in your shop with simultaneous 4- and 5-axis machining capability for Mastercam. Mastercam Multiaxis offers a wide range of Multiaxis machining strategies, both basic and advanced.

5-Axis Solutions Open New Doors for McAfee Tool & Die

McAfee Tool & Die is known for taking on unique jobs, and the reason for that is their dedication to constant progress. When 5-axis milling started to become more popular, McAfee immediately looked for ways to maximize the benefits of the new technology, choosing an investment in Mastercam for best results.

Mastercam MultiAxis Concepts You Need to Know

Mastercam Multiaxis add-on is designed to provide practical multiaxis machining strategies for simultaneous 4- and simultaneous 5-axis machining.

MultiAxis FAQ’s With Mastercam Product Owner Dylan Gondyke

Find the answers to the four most commonly asked Multiaxis questions from Mastercam Multiaxis Product Owner Dylan Gondyke

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Understanding the Benefits of Multiaxis Machining

Multiaxis machining offers numerous advantages over traditional machining methods, significantly enhancing productivity and precision. By allowing tools to approach the workpiece from multiple angles, manufacturers can achieve complex geometries that would be impossible with 3-axis machines. This capability reduces setup times and minimizes the need for multiple fixtures, ultimately streamlining the machining process.

For instance, industries such as aerospace and automotive benefit greatly from these efficiencies. With multiaxis machining, companies can produce intricate parts with tighter tolerances, leading to improved performance and reduced material waste. Additionally, the ability to perform multiple operations in a single setup translates into shorter lead times and lower production costs.

Key Features of Mastercam Multiaxis

Mastercam Multiaxis is designed with advanced features that enhance user control and machining efficiency. Notable functionalities include tool axis control, which allows operators to specify the orientation of the cutting tool, ensuring optimal cutting conditions and reducing the risk of tool collisions. This level of control is crucial for achieving high-quality finishes on complex parts.

Moreover, Mastercam’s stock model awareness feature keeps track of the material being machined, allowing for real-time adjustments during the cutting process. This intelligent feature helps to avoid over-cutting and ensures that the final product meets design specifications. With these capabilities, Mastercam Multiaxis empowers users to tackle even the most challenging machining tasks confidently.

Industries Benefiting from Mastercam Multiaxis

Several industries have adopted multiaxis machining to leverage its capabilities, including aerospace, defense, medical, and automotive sectors. Each of these fields requires precision and efficiency, making Mastercam Multiaxis an ideal solution. For example, in aerospace, the ability to create lightweight yet durable components is critical, and multiaxis machining allows for the intricate designs that meet these requirements.

Additionally, the medical industry relies on multiaxis machining for producing complex surgical instruments and implants. The precision offered by Mastercam ensures that these critical components are manufactured to the highest standards, enhancing patient safety and product reliability. As technology advances, the adoption of multiaxis machining is expected to grow across various sectors, further showcasing its importance in modern manufacturing.

Getting Started with Mastercam Multiaxis

For those new to multiaxis machining, getting started with Mastercam can be an exciting yet daunting experience. The software provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the learning curve, enabling operators to quickly grasp the essential concepts and functionalities. Tutorials and training resources are readily available, helping users to familiarize themselves with the key features and best practices.

Moreover, Mastercam offers a supportive community and extensive documentation, ensuring that users have access to the information they need as they navigate their multiaxis machining journey. By investing time in training and exploration, users can unlock the full potential of Mastercam Multiaxis, ultimately leading to enhanced machining capabilities and increased productivity.