5-AXIS BUYER'S GUIDE

5-Axis Buyer’s Guide

A step-by-step guide to simplifying the evaluation of 5-axis technology for your shop floor.

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IT’S TIME TO REFLECT ON YOUR JOURNEY AS A MANUFACTURER.

Along that road, you have more than likely found advancements in equipment, machining tools, and even technologies that have acted as incremental stepping stones for your next endeavor – and now you are looking to 5-axis machining to make the next jump.

We understand moving to a 5-axis machine is a large commitment, one that may come with many questions and even some hesitations. Many shops, however, view the purchase of a 5-axis machine as a must-have, not a luxury that’s out of reach. The adoption of this technology gives them a viable means to increase production, lower part cost, and achieve a higher ROI.

The goal of this 5-Axis Buyer’s Guide is to provide a step-by-step, thought-provoking evaluation of 5-axis technology. It’s important to take the time to investigate what questions you need to ask about a prospective 5-axis machine so that a sound buying decision can be made. So, let’s get started!

1.THE RIGHT CHOICE: WITH 5-AXIS MACHINING COMES CONFIDENCE

First, congratulations on your choice to adopt 5-axis machining. It is proven that shops that capitalize on the abilities of 5-axis machining find a quick elevation of confidence, reputation, and, most importantly, revenue potential. There are immediate ROI factors that are achieved with the adoption of a 5-axis machine tool, including:

• Fewer setups: Streamline the machining process to a single setup on a single machine. This eliminates the need to change tools, adapt programs, or physically move the part – giving a shop more active cutting time. Reducing the number of setups also removes costs from the manufacturing process.

• Higher accuracy: 5-axis machining allows for the ability to machine multiple sides of a part in one workholding to minimize movement between stations and reduce chances for error.

• Reduced footprint: By condensing machining operations into a single machine, the need for multiple machine tools to produce a single part is greatly reduced – freeing up valuable shop floor real estate and decreasing maintenance touchpoints.

• Faster throughput: Eliminate tedious setups, movements between machines, and fixture prepping to create quicker throughput and higher part accuracy.

• Reduced scrap and part rework: By condensing the number of setups within production, 5-axis machines lessen the risk of human and cumulative error and, in turn, reduce potential downtime.

• Repeat and grow business: Consistently please customers with shorter lead times and by meeting tight-tolerance specifications. Gain the potential to expand revenue with an expanded book of business, part quantities, or even manufacturing more lucrative parts for new industries.

The requirements for part accuracy continue to tighten with continuing technological developments and heightened expectations within industry segments. Quite simply, machine shops that cannot produce a consistently accurate part within appropriate lead times risk the potential of losing business to those that can. This means choosing the correct category of a machine, such as a 5-axis machine tool, will provide you with the ultimate advantage – keeping loyal customers returning and new customers coming.

EXPLORE MORE DETAILS AROUND THIS TECHNOLOGY WITH OKUMA’S 5-AXIS GUIDE →

2. CAN I AFFORD A 5-AXIS MACHINE? UPFRONT AND TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

It is common practice for shops to make a smaller financial investment by retrofitting a current 3-axis machine with a rotary table to incorporate 4-axis or even 5-axis capabilities. Although limiting, once this has proven effective, those shops begin to look for the competitive advantage a full 5-axis machine tool can provide.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BRIDGING THE GAP TO 5-AXIS MACHINING→

Fortunately, the advancements that have occurred within 5-axis machining over the last decade have truly made this category of machine tool affordable for all. Within the 5-axis category, price ranges can be dramatically different depending on the level of sophistication, features, automation, and the list continues. Many machine tool builders offer entry-level 5-axis machine tools, yet it is important to conduct a side-by-side comparison to ensure build quality and performance are not being jeopardized on less expensive 5-axis machine tools.

Although the initial amount of the capital expenditure, or price tag, is an immediate criterion in the purchase of a 5-axis machine tool, shop management must think about the costs of sticking with older technology. Owners understand if they do not have 5-axis capabilities within their machine mix, they simply cannot keep the cost of parts in a competitive range and risk losing business to those that have 5-axis machines.

Equally, when investing in the right high-quality 5-axis machine tool, the savings realized and the extra revenue earned by using a 5-axis machine tool will quickly recover the upfront cost of the machine. Testimonies from shop owners and managers frequently tell of the same success commonalities around the long-term benefits including productivity gains, quicker throughput, savings in tooling costs, and reduction in maintenance expenses.

“Although the initial investment for our Okuma 5-axis machines may have been a little more, the number of satisfied customers we continue to have has begun to pay for the machine exponentially.” – Don Miller, QSM

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