[jcnewbie]

I'm trying to learn 4 and 5 axis programming on my own. I know I have a lot to learn.

Can someone tell me the difference between 4 and 5 axis programming ?

Thanks for your help in advance.

[Superman]

You can break up the stages of difficulty a little more
and they are placed in order , with the hardest being at the bottom

3 axis - this is the base of most machines

3+1 axis Positioning or Indexing - extra axis added to the base model, you rotate the 4th axis, then bring the tool in to do an operation
Eg 4 holes @ 90 degrees apart on a shaft

3+2 axis Positioning - similar to 3+1 , but another axis added
Eg put the spots on a dice on 5 faces ( you can't do the one underneath )

4 axis Full - Full 3D machining using all 4 axis in the same operation
Eg a helix grroove on a shaft

5 axis Full - full 5 axis controlled movement
Eg surfacing a complex shape, tapers that vary in angle not relative to any plane

[jcnewbie]

thanks for the help !