5 axis CNC machining

Oct 8, 2025 12:12 AM

That‘ll be tree fiddy.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

Hnnng..

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

I prefer monocrystaline turbine blades. Thank you very much.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

thats an impressive piece of ace

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

What happens to all the excess metal shavings? Do they get recycled, or just thrown into the street?

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Machineporn

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And this is why manufacturing with low educated workers on assembly lines is not coming back to the US

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Aren't turbine blades usually exchangeable? I mean they do get damaged so one would need to machine this whole thing again... Seems expensive :P

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

small units are fixed. They are called "Blisk"

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Had to go look up where they get the extra two axis from. It's rotation of the piece around the the tool along the tool's 'x' and 'y' axis.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Can also be the rotation of the tool around the piece. 5 Axis 3D printers are starting to become popular and some move the head not the bed.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

the motions are more clear here

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

There can even be more than 5. It might be more accurate if they called them "articulations" rather than "axes".

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's totally Metal

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Man look at how it cuts those panendermic semi-boloid slots in the stator. No chance of side fumbling there!

5 months ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

But those hydrocoptic marzel vanes, though

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Hypoid gear with a turbine?

That must be some demonstration piece. As the hypoid drive shaft would turn a million revolution per minute, if not.

5 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

I can confirm that this is not an actual aircraft part as in current commercial engines. We use single blades, because they need to be replacable - which happens quite often, you do not want to replace the entire part. Plus they are monocrystal with a certain grid alignment, which would be impossible to mill from a sigle piece. Further we use titanium and ceramic compunds, aluminum would be to weak and steel too heavy.

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Blisks are definitely a thing, just not with the spiral level gear attached.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

APU - Auxiliary Power Unit?

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I was trying to think what it might be from - F-35 lift fan, Geared Turbofan, Turboprop... I don't think it's any of those but maybe one turbine stage and the transfer gear for a V-22?

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Surely turbine blades are made to be individually replaceable ? I think it's a demonstration piece.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

On larger turbines they are, as they can be made out of some incredibly tough materials (Inconel is one) and have internal cooling passages and other features.

On smaller turbines the joint between the blade and the disk would be too weak so they cut them out of a single piece of metal in a process not too dissimilar to the above, this is what's known as a "Bladed Disk" or "Blisk".

Machining a blisk is as much an art form as a science because they have to be precise to an absurd degree.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thanks. I based my comment on watching a Rolls-Royce turbofan engine being constructed. I'm still surprised though that it is possible to use the same material for the body of the rotor and the blades, I would have thought that the specs for the rotor and the blades were so different that one material on its own wouldn't have been versatile enough. There's also the issue of damage as well, is it economic to replace everything following damage to one blade ?

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Blisks for engines can be made out of some pretty exotic materials as well, entire blisks milled out of a single billet of high grade titanium, or I've even seen mentions of machining them out of Inconel which is just mildly insane considering how strong/expensive it is.

Basically when it comes to turbines, whether you're replacing a single blade or an entire blisk... it's gonna be expensive.

If you wanna see good content on working on various size turbines look up AgentJayZ on the youtubes.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Is aluminum soft enough to not need cutting oil?

5 months ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 0

actually...the best way to cool aluminium is to use petroleum.... I know...

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

All I know as a former Alfa Romeo Busso V6 owner, is that when aluminium corrodes and mixes with motor oil, that shit looks INFECTED.

5 months ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 1

This looks like a part made for a advertisement showcase. They often use deep cuts and no lubricant for visual reasons and also to show how well it handles even when breaking rules. It may not "need" cutting oil, but AFAIK cutting oil always is always better when machining metal for wear and tear, and makes a smoother finish.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

No, it’s an impeller.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

There is indeed no need for oil. But you need cooling, and just cold air will usually not work, so pure alcohol is what you need (as in real life...). Aluminium causes no sparks, so it's pretty safe - if you don't inhale too much of that alcohol...

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I hope to god you're doing that machining under inert gas.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Depends on the alloy. It's very rare to have pure aluminium in machining...

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah generally it just gunks it up and causes problems. They just run a steady stream of cold air and watch the speed and feed rates.

5 months ago | Likes 30 Dislikes 1

I suspect it also depends heavily on the type of aluminium alloy. Given that this looks like an airplane engine part I wouldn't have a clue what kind of special alloy this is.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Nah, this is more likely a demo piece made to show off the machines capabilities, it's too big and heavy for a turbine engine component.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah, I was thinking impeller at first, but those ports around the middle make no sense for anything that rotates

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Heyzeus, that why bird strikes are so expensive??

5 months ago | Likes 46 Dislikes 3

No, actual jet engines the blades are removable/replaceable, and the manufacturing process for a blade is also a very involved process. This is likely a demo piece as others have said as the metallurgy would be very poor for the application.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This looks more like a demo piece for a machining company tyhan an actual aircraft component.

5 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

No, it’s an impeller.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

For what? Because no impeller I've ever seen looks like this. There are too many clashing features.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah all of those different features don't make sense on the same part which is, in theory, rotating very fast.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

That and the birds themselves don't come cheap either.

5 months ago | Likes 32 Dislikes 0

Not to mention the cost of de-bird'ing the old engine. I mean.... I dunno what the going rate is, but you would need to pay me a hell of a lot to pick bits of toasted bird-goo out of the remains of an engine.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

About 5 is my going rate.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Considering the parts of the engine at the front are actually mostly cold... it wouldn't be toasted.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Pretty sure the bits of bird end up all thought the engine....

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

If we're talking the turbo fan engine on a modern airliner, most of the bird is going to go around the hot section entirely, what little does make it through the centre of the fan and into the engine core, I doubt it's going to make it past all the stages of the compressor.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The bird bits would have to make it all the way past the blue line to enter the hot side of the engine, there's a LOT of fan blades and stator blades in the way. It's not an open passage but quite a mess of small passages.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The government doesn't want you to know but the birds are actually free you can take them home. I have acquired a number of water fowl and several woodpeckers all within my legal rights.

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Wish I could up more this twice but I can't so here's my compliments

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Lucky you, I keep getting billed for all the seagulls I take.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

The DNR would like a word...

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

THE BIRDS ARE DRONES TAKING THEM HOME IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS YOU TO DO WAKE UP SHEEPLE

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Actually since they removed all the pay phones the only way out of the matrix is to reprogram a government bird flock to open a quack in the simulation.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Programming the tool paths must have been a f#$%in nightmare. Like rocket science difficult.

5 months ago | Likes 109 Dislikes 1

I write CNC software. It was challenging to write, but it makes the creation of actual milling instructions from CAD or computer artwork fairly simple.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

To be honest, rocket science is fairly simple compared to 5D cnc.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Lol honestly i believe that is true

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's just math.

5 months ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 6

“Everything is computer!”

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Math major/Roboticist/Autonomous systems guy who occasionally pokes his head over the wall to look at what machinists are up to here:

No.

5 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

I didn't say it was *simple* math. There's probably more dimensions being considered here than in string theory.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And those dimensions probably arise from considerations out of materials science and such, which I would not describe as "just Math". Maybe Math is the language it's written in, but then that's like calling the Constitution "just English".

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You just do one path and repeat it as often you need it. There is also slicing, which means you just draw it in CAD and the machine writes the code automatically.

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

only in 3D printing is it called "slicing" because only in 3D printing can you do it in slices. The software for 5-axis subtractive machining is considerably more complex and difficult to get working.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

generating g-code for subtractive machining is rather more complex than for 3d printing. Yes you still generally use tools to do it, but those tools can cost up to $100K for a seat and require a fair bit of knowledge and skill to use well.

5 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

The cost for some of the seats is insane lol like design programs are soo expensive

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's the specialization and in theory time that goes into them that is meant to lead to you saving more than that much if you use the software. In theory. It probably started like that, now it's "industry standard" and "vendor lock in".

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It is, but using Siemens NX with a proper CAD CAM things will work out really feasible, but you need to measure the tools correctly (Renishaw or Toolscope) and tweak the parameters on monitoring tear and wear of the cutting edges

5 months ago | Likes 43 Dislikes 0

Of course!

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Has to be one of the most niche responses on imgur. Congrats on doing something useful with your life. I did programming, which i now regret.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

We'd just scrap one and then make a d code adjustment. I don't claim it's smart, it's just the way we do things :)

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I wonder, do you have to compensate for thermal expansion of the tool/work face as they heat up from the cutting?

5 months ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Of course you need to consider that. We have making trial cuts with ceramic milling tools that turned out really nice except the fact, that you must use air for cooling the tool and not any fluids as the tools would be "shocked" by the temperature change. Machine was a Makino D500 5-axis simultaneous milling machine that will outperform any DN Solutions, Mikron or DMG/Mori 5-axis milling machine in the same price range

5 months ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

How is side fumbling eradicated though? /gallery/turbo-encabulator-7970p6p

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

terminal phase detractors duh

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I love that this post has hit your personal area of nerdy expertise dead on. :)

5 months ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I use a post-it note to zero the Z on my 3 axis, because i work for a place that doesn't have the money or time to zero out the Z with anything other than a post-it note. And i reuse the post-it note.

5 months ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

We got probes in the last batch of machines, hurray! Welcome to the twentieth century!

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Lol i used rolling papers haha

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ill bet that's even better, im sure that those are thinner

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yes they're like .003 of if i remember correctly. It's been a few years

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That's fine, my machine is out more than that, lol

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Use a 1-2-3 block. Go down in .1 increments and check between each click if the block goes under, once the block doesn’t go under go up a click and repeat with .01 .001 and .0001 (if necessary) then subtract 3 inches from the length of the tool. Let me know if you have any questions.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

That's not a bad method! I used to do that, but i think i started cutting corners. I'm machining soft materials with a weak mill, so if i'm off a little it's not so bad. I'll use your method when it matters, though.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You can use a gauge block too if you don’t have good 3-2-1 blocks. I’m happy to field any questions you have. Worked as a tool maker for 10 years and taught for about a year.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I started out as a drafter, then i was a product designer, then a tool designer, then a prototype machinist, then a "whatever we need" machinist, all at once. Being in charge of the product design AND the prototype design is great because i can design for my tools and abilities when possible, and at the same time, tell them to outsource things my basic software and skills can't do. My toolpath software can't show undercuts or negative draft bits, lol, i use autocad and imagination. Fun times!

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That looks expensive as fuck

5 months ago | Likes 320 Dislikes 0

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5 months ago (deleted Oct 10, 2025 6:46 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

So back then it was 100% pure unobtainium.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

That was exactly my first thought as well. Scrolled down and there was the top comment.

5 months ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 1

Oops, forgot to start the tool spinning before entry in my G-code. Now it's twice as expensive

5 months ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

So 2 fucks?

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

More than twice if you include the damage to the machine.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

I think ballpark is around 250k

5 months ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

That looks like a stator for any of the high bypass Trent 1000s

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

make it double
the part in the making is easy in the million's

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 3

You forgot to tell us to prepare for trouble!

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's actually more expensive than fuck.

5 months ago | Likes 154 Dislikes 0

depends on the fuck. Some fucks carry one or more 19 year sentences, during which time the probability of additional sentences increases dramatically.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

You haven't met my ex wife. That was an awfully expensive fuck.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That's what happens when you fuck the babysitter's boyfriend instead of your wife. /j

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0