Ellison Technologies, Inc

Find a 5 Axis CNC Machine

Is a 5-Axis CNC Machine Right for Your Shop?

If you machine complex parts, you already know the pain points: multiple setups, long cycle times, and tolerance stack up from re-clamping. A 5-axis CNC machining center helps you reduce those problems by letting you reach more faces of the part in fewer setups. You can machine angled features, blended surfaces, and undercuts without making the part travel through multiple machines or fixtures. That usually means faster throughput, more consistent accuracy, and a smoother handoff from programming to production. If you quote aerospace, medical, mold and die, energy, or any work with tight geometric requirements, 5-axis can also help you win jobs that feel risky on 3-axis.

What “5-Axis” Really Means

A true 5-axis machine moves the cutting tool and the part across three linear axes (X, Y, Z) plus two rotary axes. That combination gives you better tool access and lets you keep the cutter oriented the right way as the surface changes. You will also hear terms like 3+2 (positional 5-axis) and 4+1. Those usually mean the rotary axes position the part, then you cut with 3-axis motion. Simultaneous 5-axis means the rotary axes move during the cut. The right choice depends on your geometry, tolerance, and surface finish targets, plus how much you want to simplify setups.

Benefits You Can Expect From 5-Axis Machining

  • Fewer setups and less rework because you finish more features in one clamping

  • Better accuracy on multi-face parts because you reduce re-fixturing

  • Shorter, stiffer tools for deeper features, which can improve stability

  • Smoother finishes on contoured surfaces because you keep the ideal tool angle

  • More predictable lead times because your workflow has fewer handoffs

  • Simpler fixtures because you rely on machine motion, not complex workholding

How to Choose the Right 5-Axis Configuration

Use these questions to narrow the field fast:

  • Are you mostly doing positional work (3+2) or simultaneous surfacing

  • What is the largest part you need to tilt without collisions

  • Do you need a trunnion table, a tilting rotary, or a head table design

  • How important is chip evacuation for your materials and part geometry

  • Do you need probing, tool measurement, or lights out automation options

  • What CAM system do you use, and do you need post support and validation

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DN Solutions 5-Axis Machining Centers

 

DN Solutions DNM 5700 4th Gen

DNM 5AX Series

Full 5 or 4+1 axis machining built on the reliable powerhouse DNM architecture. 

ellison_dnsolutions-puma-vc630-5ax

VC 5AX Series

5 axis machining with moving column design, rotary table, and pivoting spindle head.

VCF 850LSR 5 Axis Machine Center

VCF 5AX Series

5 axis machining with moving column design, rotary table, and pivoting spindle head.
 

dnsoultions-dvf-5000

dnsoultions-dvf-5000

Featured 5-Axis Example: DVF 5000

If you want a single reference point to anchor the conversation, the current page calls out the DVF 5000 for its compact footprint and simultaneous 5-axis capability, plus an 18,000 rpm built-in spindle rated at 29.5 hp.

Use it as a baseline when you compare part size, required spindle speed, surface finish needs, and how aggressively you rough harder materials.

 

Get Practical Help With the Full 5-Axis Process 

Buying a 5-axis machine is only part of the win. You also need the right process around it. Ellison can help you line up programming approach, workholding strategy, and verification so you can run parts with confidence. Plan for CAM posts, probing routines, collision checks, and a training path that matches your team. If you want to scale output, talk through automation readiness early so you do not box yourself into a manual workflow. When you need service support, plan it around coverage within our regional service areas so downtime does not become your hidden cost. 

Next Step 

If you tell us what you make, we can recommend the best series and configuration, then map a simple path from first part to stable production. Fill out the form to get started.

FAQ Section

What is the difference between positional 5-axis (3+2 or 4+1) and simultaneous 5-axis? 

Positional 5-axis means you rotate the part to a fixed angle, lock the rotary axes, and then machine using X, Y, and Z. You use it for angled holes, multi-face machining, and many prismatic parts where you do not need the rotary axes moving during the cut. Simultaneous 5-axis means the rotary axes move while cutting. You use it for complex surfaces, impellers, blisks, medical implants, molds, and parts where tool angle control drives finish and accuracy. If your work is mostly indexed features, positional 5-axis may cover a lot of jobs with less programming complexity. If you quote contoured surfaces or want to reduce hand finishing, simultaneous 5-axis usually pays off faster. 

When does a 5-axis CNC machine not make sense? 

5-axis is not always the right move. If most of your parts are simple 2.5D or 3D shapes that finish in one or two setups on a 3-axis VMC, the added cost and complexity may not return value. The same is true if your team lacks CAM support or you do not have time to build repeatable workholding and verification routines. In those cases, you may get a better return showing up with improved tooling, probing, fixturing, or a higher performance 3-axis platform first. 5-axis starts to make sense when you feel constant friction from re-clamping, long lead times, surface finish issues on contoured features, or lost quotes because you cannot confidently machine geometry in one setup.

What should you look at first when comparing 5-axis machines? 

Start with part size and tool access. You want enough tilt and rotation range to reach your features without collisions, plus a table or trunnion that supports your work envelope. Next, look at rigidity for your materials and how the machine handles chip evacuation, especially for deep pockets and heavy roughing. Then evaluate spindle speed and torque for your mix of aluminum, steels, and hard materials. After that, focus on the control, probing options, and how well your CAM system supports posts and simulation for that exact configuration. Finally, weigh service support and training, because stable 5-axis output depends on process as much as the machine. 

How do you estimate ROI for a 5-axis investment? 

The simplest ROI model starts with setups. Track how many times you currently fixture, indicate, and re-zero a typical complex part. Then estimate what happens if you reduce those setups by half or more. Add the impact on scrap and rework from tolerance stack up, plus the time you save on hand finishing if you improve surface quality. Include throughput gains if you can complete parts in fewer operations and free up other machines. Also factor in quoting power. If 5-axis lets you bid work you currently avoid, that new revenue can dwarf cycle time savings. To keep it honest, include training time, CAM validation, and the cost of fixtures and tooling you may need to run the work safely.

What industries benefit most from 5-axis machining? 

5-axis helps anywhere parts have complex geometry, tight tolerance relationships across multiple faces, or surface finish requirements that punish extra setups. Aerospace and defense are common because of contoured surfaces and structural features. Medical devices benefit from multi-surface accuracy and smooth finishes. Mold and die work often needs tool access for deep cavities and angled features. Energy and power applications benefit when you machine tougher materials and want to reduce rework. Automotive and general machining shops benefit when 5-axis shortens lead times and increases repeatability across families of parts. The biggest benefit is not the industry label. It is whether your parts create setup pain and whether you want to reduce it.

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