Customers often ask us to quote "5-axis machining" when their part actually wants 3+2 — and occasionally the reverse. The distinction matters because it drives cycle time, tooling and price.
3+2: positioning, then machining
In 3+2 machining the two rotary axes tilt the part into a fixed orientation, then a standard 3-axis cycle cuts. It is rigid, fast to program and ideal for prismatic parts with features on multiple faces — most housings, manifolds and brackets. You gain one-setup accuracy without simultaneous-motion complexity.
Simultaneous 5-axis: all axes interpolating
Simultaneous 5-axis keeps the tool normal to a changing surface while cutting — required for impellers, turbine blades, complex joint interfaces and freeform cosmetic surfaces. Shorter tools reach deep features with less vibration, improving finish and tolerance on contoured geometry (we hold 0.002 mm profile on robot-joint parts this way).
The decision rule
- Flat faces and drilled patterns on several sides → 3+2 is cheaper and just as accurate.
- True freeform surfaces, undercut blends, deep cavities with short-tool access → simultaneous 5-axis.
- Tight true-position across faces → either, but one setup is the real win; avoid re-fixturing.
Send the model — our engineers will quote the route that gets your tolerance at the lowest cost, and tell you why.
