What is 5 Axis CNC Machining?
5-axis CNC machining is an advanced manufacturing process that uses computer numerical control (CNC) to move the cutting tool or workpiece along five different axes simultaneously. Unlike traditional 3-axis machining, which operates on the X, Y, and Z linear axes, 5-axis machining adds two rotational axes, allowing the tool to approach the workpiece from virtually any angle. This capability enables the production of complex and precise parts in a single setup, reducing the need for multiple fixtures and improving accuracy. It is widely used in aerospace, automotive, and mold-making industries for its efficiency and high-quality results.
The Advantages Of 5 axis CNC Machining
5-axis CNC machines achieve extremely tight tolerances and smooth finishes by moving the tool along five axes simultaneously, enabling precise machining of complex parts.
They can complete complex parts in a single setup, eliminating multiple repositionings, which saves time and reduces errors.
The additional rotational axes allow machining of intricate shapes, undercuts, and angled surfaces that are impossible with 3-axis machines.
Shorter cutting tools and better tool orientation reduce vibrations, resulting in superior surface quality and less post-processing.
Simultaneous multi-axis movement allows faster material removal and shorter cycle times, enhancing overall manufacturing efficiency.
Materials For 5 Axis CNC Machining Parts
Description: Aluminum alloys are lightweight materials with excellent strength-to-weight ratio, superior thermal and electrical conductivity, and outstanding corrosion resistance, widely used in aerospace, automotive, and electronics applications. They offer excellent machinability and can be heat-treated to achieve high strength.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 3-5 days
Alloys: 6061, 6063, 7075, 2024, 5052, 3003
Finishing Options: Anodizing, Media Blasting, Powder Coating, Polishing
Description: Brass is a copper-zinc alloy with exceptional machinability and corrosion resistance, featuring good tensile strength and excellent formability. It demonstrates superior electrical conductivity and is commonly used for electrical connectors, decorative components, and plumbing fittings.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 5-7 days
Alloys: Alpha Brass (>65% Cu), Beta Brass (~50% Cu/Zn), Naval Brass, Free-cutting Brass
Finishing Options: Polishing, Electroplating, Passivation, Media Blasting
Description: Bronze is a copper-tin alloy known for its exceptional strength, durability, corrosion resistance, and good machinability rating. It provides excellent bearing properties and is commonly used for bearings, gears, and precision components.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 7-0 days
Alloys: Aluminum Bronze (9-11% Al), Phosphor Bronze (0.3-0.5% P, 5-10% Sn), Silicon Bronze (3-6% Si)
Finishing Options: Polishing, Passivation, Vibratory Tumbling, Electroplating
Description: Copper provides unparalleled electrical and thermal conductivity second only to silver, with excellent antimicrobial properties and corrosion resistance. It is commonly used for busbars, heat sinks, and electrical connectors.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 5-8 days
Alloys: Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC, C1020), Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper (ETP, C11000), Phosphorus Deoxidized Copper (C12200), Pure Copper, Tough Pitch Copper
Finishing Options: Polishing, Passivation, Electroplating, Anodizing
Description: Magnesium alloy is the lightest structural metal with excellent strength-to-weight ratio and superior machinability, commonly used for transmission cases, steering wheels, and engine blocks. It offers exceptional vibration damping and electromagnetic shielding properties.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 5-7 days
Alloys: AZ91D, AM60B, AM50A, AS41B, ZK60, WE43
Finishing Options: Anodizing, Chemical Conversion Coating, Powder Coating, Polishing
Description: Stainless steel provides excellent corrosion resistance, strength, and durability with superior formability. Grade 304 offers excellent forming capability while Grade 36 provides enhanced corrosion resistance in chloride environments.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 7-4 days
Alloys: 304, 316, 316L, 420, 17-4 PH
Finishing Options: Passivation, Polishing, Electroplating, Media Blasting
Description: Titanium alloys provide excellent strength-to-weight ratio, superior corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, commonly used for compressor blades, surgical equipment, and pressure vessels. They maintain excellent properties at elevated temperatures.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 4-2 days
Alloys: Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Grade 2, Grade 7, Grade 23
Finishing Options: Anodizing, Polishing, Passivation, Chemical Etching
Description: Acrylic is a transparent plastic known for its excellent strength, rigidity, and optical clarity. It is lightweight—about half the weight of glass—but offers many times the impact resistance. Acrylic is easy to machine, bonds well, and thermoforms easily. Widely used in signage, displays, architectural glazing, and LED lighting panels with superior weather resistance.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 2-4 days
Colors / Finishes: Clear, black, white, various colors
Description: Delrin (Acetal) is a high-performance thermoplastic with excellent wear resistance, high strength, and dimensional stability. It remains tough and stable under extreme conditions with low friction, especially in wet environments, reducing wear. Commonly used as a metal replacement in automotive, electrical, and medical components.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 3-5 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural white, black, brown
Description: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a widely used thermoplastic with rigidity and excellent chemical resistance. It is ideal for containers storing liquids, food, and chemicals. HDPE is lightweight, easy to machine and weld, and available with UV-resistant formulations for outdoor use.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 2-3 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural white, black, customizable colors
Description: Nylon is a versatile engineering thermoplastic with high strength, excellent wear resistance, and good chemical resistance. It is tough, elastic, and resistant to oils and many chemicals. Nylon dries quickly and is widely used in apparel, industrial belts, airbags, and mechanical parts manufacturing.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 3-5 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural white, black, various engineering colors
Description: PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) is a high-performance engineering plastic with outstanding chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and dimensional stability. It can withstand continuous use at temperatures up to 338°F (170°C). PEEK resists hydrolysis and is used in aerospace, oil & gas, food processing, and semiconductor industries.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 7-10 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural brown, black, custom colors
Description: Polypropylene is a popular plastic for manufacturing products with incredible chemical resistance. It handles acidic solutions well and is ideal for cleaning product containers. It is tough with excellent energy absorption and resists cracking under twisting and bending. Also electrically resistant, making it suitable for electronics.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 2-4 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural translucent, white, black, multiple colors
Description: PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) is a high-end technical plastic with excellent heat resistance, mechanical properties, electrical insulation, chemical stability, and wear resistance. It can operate continuously at 200-240°C without deformation or loss of properties. PPS is a superior electrical insulator over a wide voltage range.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 5-7 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural brown, black, custom colors
Description: PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a durable, flexible elastomer with outstanding chemical resistance and excellent thermal and electrical properties. It has the lowest coefficient of friction among solids and operates safely from -30°C to +200°C. Its chemical inertness makes it ideal for sensitive environments like laboratories.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 4-6 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural white, black, customizable colors
Description: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a versatile and cost-effective thermoplastic with good electrical insulation due to high dielectric strength. It resists weathering, chemical corrosion, impact, and abrasion. High chlorine content gives PVC self-extinguishing properties. It offers excellent physical and mechanical performance with low maintenance requirements.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 2-3 days
Colors / Finishes: White, gray, black, multiple colors
Description: FR4 is a flame-resistant glass epoxy laminate composed of woven fiberglass cloth impregnated with epoxy resin and cured under high pressure and temperature. It offers exceptional mechanical strength, excellent electrical insulation properties, and outstanding dimensional stability with near zero water absorption. FR4 maintains its high mechanical values and electrical insulating qualities in both dry and humid conditions, making it ideal for electrical insulators, printed circuit boards, and electronic enclosures.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 7-10 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural yellow-green, custom colors available
Description: Polyethylene is a widely used thermoplastic polymer with high chemical, electrical and thermal properties, able to withstand different environmental conditions. It offers excellent chemical resistance to water, salt solutions, acids, alkalis, alcohol and gasoline, making it popular for fuel containers and tanks production. PE is physiologically harmless, tasteless and odorless, making it suitable for food industry applications with excellent machinability and recyclability.
Mill Lead Time: As fast as 2-3 days
Colors / Finishes: Natural white, black, customizable colors
5 Axis CNC Machining Tolerances
At Anebon, we adhere to ISO 2768 (medium) standards for plastics and ISO 2768 (fine) standards for metals. Our CNC machining consistently delivers tolerances ranging from ±0.005″ (±0.125mm) to ±0.002″ (±0.05mm), guaranteeing high precision across various applications.
For more stringent demands, we are capable of achieving tolerances between ±0.01mm and ±0.005mm, ensuring exceptional accuracy and optimal performance.
Type |
Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Standard Tolerances | Metals: ISO 2768-f / Plastics: ISO 2768-m |
| Maximum Part Size | 157.5 × 59.1 × 23.6 inch |
| Minimum Part Size | 0.1 × 0.1 inch |
| Minimum Feature Size | Φ 0.00197 inch |
| Linear Dimension | ± 0.001 inch |
| Hole Diameters (Not Reamed) | ± 0.001 inch |
| Shaft Diameters | ± 0.001 inch |
Surface Finish Choices For 5 Axis CNC Machining Parts
| Picture | Name | Applicable Materials | Colors | Can Be Applied with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Chem Film | Aluminum | Clear, gold | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Type II Anodizing* Type III Anodizing with PTFE* |
 |
Anodizing | Aluminum | Clear, black, grey, red, blue, gold | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Chem film* |
 |
Black Oxide | Steel, Stainless Steel | Black | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Passivation |
 |
Electroless Nickel Plating | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel | — | Media Blasting, Tumbling |
 |
Electropolishing | Steel, Stainless Steel | — | — |
 |
Hand Polishing | Acrylic | — | Enhanced Cosmetic Appearance |
 |
Media Blasting | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper | — | All post processes, except Electropolish and Powder Coat |
 |
Nickel Plating | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel | — | Media Blasting, Tumbling |
 |
Passivation | Steel, Stainless Steel | — | Black Oxide, Electroless Nickel Plating, Zinc Plating, Tumbling, Media Blasting |
 |
Powder Coating Services | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel | Full Pantone or RAL color catalog | — |
 |
Tumbling | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper | — | All post processes, except Electropolish and Powder Coat |
 |
Zinc Plating | Steel, Stainless Steel | Clear (light blue coating). Black (glossy black coating). | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Passivation |
Why Order 5 Axis CNC Machining Parts From Anebon Turning?
Gallery Of Our CNC Turning Parts
CNC Machined Aluminum Turbocharger Compressor Impeller
CNC Machined Anodized Aluminum Pyramid
CNC Machined Forged Aluminum Alloy Wheel Rim
CNC Machined Aluminum Backward Curved Centrifugal Fan Impeller
CNC Machined Anodized Aluminum Dodecahedron
Precision CNC Machined Stepped Shaft
Applications Of CNC Turning
Precision Aerospace Component Manufacturing
Anebon Metal employs 5-axis machining technology to produce critical aircraft engine components such as turbine vanes, combustion housings, and compression system parts. This advanced multi-axis machining method enables precise contouring and complex geometries with exceptional dimensional accuracy, significantly enhancing component performance and service life.
Precision Medical Component Machining
The medical equipment industry extensively utilizes 5-axis machining technology to manufacture high-precision cylindrical and complex-shaped components for critical applications. This sophisticated manufacturing process is essential for producing intricate implants, surgical instruments, and devices with tight tolerances and complex geometries in a single setup.
Precision Engine Component Production
Anebon Metal uses 5-axis machining technology to manufacture critical engine elements including cylinder heads, engine blocks, and crankshafts. The simultaneous multi-axis tool movement allows for machining complex surfaces and internal features with outstanding accuracy while maintaining stringent dimensional standards.
Precision PCB Prototype Development
Anebon Metal applies 5-axis machining technology to fabricate printed circuit board prototypes with micrometer-level precision. This process enables precise copper pathway etching and microvia formation by machining from multiple angles, allowing design teams to thoroughly test and optimize circuit layouts before mass production.
Precision UAV Component Manufacturing
Anebon Metal specializes in 5-axis machining, crucial for producing UAS components. This computer-controlled process removes material from stock to create precise geometries, manufacturing drone parts like chassis, arms, and rotor hubs from aircraft-grade aluminum, composites, and polymers.
FAQ
If your part has complex geometries like undercuts, multi-angle surfaces, or requires machining from multiple directions in one setup, 5-axis machining is necessary. It reduces multiple setups, improves accuracy, and enables machining of intricate shapes impossible or inefficient on 3-axis machines.
5-axis machining supports a wide range of materials including aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, nickel alloys, tool steels, and engineering plastics. We also handle specialty and high-temperature alloys commonly used in aerospace, medical, and automotive industries with full material certification on request.
By machining multiple faces in a single setup and using shorter cutting tools at optimal angles, 5-axis machining significantly reduces cycle times and setup times. This can cut production time by up to 50% or more compared to 3-axis machining, improving throughput without sacrificing quality.
5-axis machining delivers high precision with tolerances often down to ±0.01mm, and superior surface finishes due to continuous tool engagement and optimal cutter orientation. This is critical for aerospace, medical, and mold industries where tight tolerances and smooth surfaces are mandatory.
While 5-axis programming is more complex than 3-axis, modern CAM software and experienced programmers minimize programming time. Many shops offer design optimization and simulation to avoid collisions and ensure smooth production. Operator training is streamlined with advanced controls, so it typically does not cause project delays.
Yes, 5-axis machining’s ability to access multiple surfaces in one setup reduces the need for repositioning. This minimizes human error, improves dimensional consistency, and reduces fixture costs, leading to higher overall quality and faster delivery.
Industries like aerospace, automotive (especially EV components), medical devices, defense, energy, and mold & die manufacturing benefit greatly. Parts such as turbine blades, injector bodies, optical mounts, complex molds, and hydraulic components require the precision and multi-angle access that 5-axis machines provide.
To get an accurate quote, provide a detailed 3D CAD model (STEP, IGES, Parasolid) along with technical drawings specifying tolerances, surface finish, and critical features. This allows precise evaluation of complexity, materials, and machining time. Quotes are typically provided within 24-48 hours.