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• Five-axis experts meet at Delcam

Delcam hosted two days of free workshops entitled "Five-axis Machining – Meet the Experts” at its Birmingham headquarters on 24^th and 25^th May.  Each day was made up of presentations on various aspects of five-axis technology in the morning, with live machining demonstrations in Delcam’s Tooling Services Division in the afternoon. 

In addition to Delcam, the experts were provided by leading machine tool suppliers Huron, Mazak and Mikron, and also by rotary table manufacturers Nikken, cutting tool specialist Mitsubishi Carbide, and control systems developer Siemens.

While larger companies have used five-axis machining for many years, until recently smaller subcontractors and toolmakers have been reluctant to invest in these techniques.  They have been discouraged both by the cost of higher specification machine tools and by the increased complexity of the CAM programming techniques that used to be needed.  The time has now come, however, when even smaller companies cannot afford to ignore the opportunities that these new technologies offer to shorten delivery times, boost productivity and increase profitability. 

The price of both high-speed and five-axis machines has been falling steadily and this trend is forecast to continue.  In addition, capabilities that were once only available on larger machines are now provided on the smaller ranges of equipment.  At the same time, programming systems for these more sophisticated machining options are now far easier to use.  The time taken to learn software like Delcam’s PowerMILL has been reduced significantly, meaning that new staff can become effective users much more quickly and with much lower training costs.

Copies are still available of Delcam’s FREE Guide to High-Speed and Five-axis Machining.  To order your copy, e-mail marketing@delcam.com.

30 May 2006