The quantity of axes on a CNC milling machine is typically a defining characteristic. With additional axes, companies have more options for moving their tools and/or workpieces, which increases their cutting versatility and enables them to make more complex components faster.

• 3-axis

The idea behind three-axis machining is that the workpiece stays in place as the cutting tool removes material along the XYZ plane. This works well for components that don't need a lot of depth or intricacy.

• 4-axis

When a workpiece is treated using a 4 axis machine, it is processed in a manner similar to that of a 3 axis machine but with an additional rotating movement around the X axis, known as the A axis. The workpiece can be sliced around the B axis thanks to this rotation. When a workpiece needs holes or cuts on the sides, this technique is advantageous. A workpiece can be automatically flipped over so that the machine can remove material from both sides thanks to the addition of a fourth axis (the A axis).

• 5-axis

According to the definition of five-axis machining, a workpiece can be automatically moved in five different directions at once. 5 axis CNC machines can choose which two of the three rotational axes (A, B, and C) to employ in addition to automatically moving along the X, Y, and Z axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are rotated 180 degrees each by the A, B, and C axes. The boating, aerospace, and automotive industries all use this kind of machining. Application is frequently used for very intricate solid components that would otherwise need to be cast. However, 5 axis machining allows one workpiece to be machined on all five sides in one operation while requiring more CNC programming preparation time to accommodate complicated rotatory movement.

The above are the various forms of CNC milling.More axes allow for the creation of more complicated pieces. Milling is typically the best option if your CNC project calls for irregular forms.