3-Axis Milling – Milling is the machining process of using rotary cutters to remove material from a piece of metal, wood, foam or plastic, to form the piece into a specific shape. 3-Axis Milling is employed when the cutting requires simultaneous controlled movement of the X, Y and Z axes. Although still used in some milling facilities today, it is the least advanced of the three main axis millings available on commercial markets.
Like 3-Axis milling, 4 & 5-Axis milling machines move along axes. In 4-Axis milling, the machine moves along the X, Y and Z axes but also adds rotation of the X axis called the A-Axis. Rotation of the A-Axis involves moving the piece being worked on whereas in 3-Axis milling the piece remains stationary. Allowing for movement of the piece reduces the number of time employees have to adjust the piece in order to provide the same cuts.
5-Axis milling as you might have guessed uses 5 axes to create necessary cuts. 5-Axis utilizes the X, Y, Z axes and adds movement along the A and B axes. When moving along the A and B axes, the piece stays stationary and the base the piece is connected to rotates to allow for even more precise cuts. 5-Axis milling greatly improves on 3 and 4-Axis milling and is what we are best at. For any components that other companies would consider "impossible" to make, Owens takes on the challenge using the newest 5-Axis machines with experienced employees who can complete any job.