FOR CNC machining companies frustrated by the limitations of their current 3-axis technology – now there is an affordable solution.



The Tri-Tech 5-axis spindle attachment can transform 15 year old Vertical Machining Centre technology into today’s leading-edge 5-axis technology with full 180-degree tilt capability – and all at a fraction of the cost of a new conventional 5-axis machine.
The Tri-Tech 5-axis programmable milling head can be retro-fitted to almost any 3-axis VMC, that can have it’s controller opened up to 5 axis simultaneous capability, allowing the spindle to be positioned at any angle within a hemisphere, and instantly converting the 3-axis machine to a fully programmable 5-axis machining centre.
The Tri-Tech milling head has been well-proven in the US over a number of years, and readily takes advantage of the known benefits of machining with 5 axes :

• Reduced machining time: By using a flat bottom endmill and maintaining perpendicularity to the complex surface you can step-over the full diameter of the cutter, thereby dramatically reducing the required number of passes across a surface.

• Better surface finish: Using a flat bottom endmill to maintain perpendicularity to the

complex surface can eliminate ribbing caused by ball-nose endmills.

• Eliminates multiple setups required to re-position the work-piece at complex angles.

• Eliminates costly tooling and fixtures required to hold the work-piece in place.

• Eliminates manual millwork and handwork required to clean up kellered surfaces.

• Allows you to machine complex parts that are not otherwise possible, including holes on a complex surface.

The portable Tri-Tech 5-axis programmable milling head offers clear advantages for companies wanting to achieve full 5-axis machining capability. Consider the alternatives:

• For those brave enough to shell out the US$300,000 starting price, there are the dedicated 5-axis machining centres – although Lance points out that their range of motion can often be limited to +/- 30 degrees. Work-pieces requiring a steeper angle of cut must be manually repositioned and restarted.

• Tilting-rotary tables are used extensively by small and large machine shops. However, the relatively small work surface limits the length, width, height and weight of the work-piece. The tables use up much of the host machine’s working envelope and are unsuitable for heavy cutting operations.

The Tri-Tech 5-axis programmable milling head not only has full tilt capability and continuous 360-degree rotary motion, it can also be mounted in less than 30 minutes with no modification to the host machine apart from the fitting of the adaptor ring. At 68 kilos it is a heavy duty attachment, yet it’s compact enough to attach to many small to mid-size machines. Users can perform all significant metal removal using a 3-axis centre – then attach the Tri-Tech head to complete 5-axis profiling, holes, pockets, and so on – using up to 20mm cutting tools (the head comes equipped with an HSK tooling system).
The Tri-Tech lets machine shops immediately catch up with their competitors who have gone to simultaneous 5-axis machining.
Plus it’s a big time saver – letting you machine complex parts without resetting the work-piece. And you’re able to utilise the full machining envelope available.
With the survival of many machining firms dependent on their investment in technology over the next five years, the Tri-Tech as the ideal, affordable long-term solution.