France’s collaborative 5-axis project follows 3-axis success
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Following the success of its ‘Collective 3-axis High Speed Machining Production Unit’ project, France’s CETIM (The French Industrial and Mechanical Technical Center) is to launch a similar program for 5-axis high-speed machining.
The project is to be launched in September in association with the Mold, Forge and Mechanical Engineering Federations and supported by French CADCAM firm Sescoi and machine tool and numerical control maker Fidia, Italy. Two end user mould tool makers companies, Georges Pernoud and SVO, have already signed up as well.
The collaborative project will use a specific test platform installed in the plant of one of the participants, with others able to evaluate the advantages of 5-axis tooling production from a technical and economical point of view, as well as being able to validate processes.
CETIM, who will ensure the supervision, management and general running of the 5-axis production unit. Partners will share operating costs (determined and defined at the start of the project) in proportion to the number of days that they use the unit. Consumables will be invoiced to each participant on a pro rata basis and a ‘machine’ technician will work on a time-sharing basis with each of the participants.
The French organisation will carry out cutter specification tests, 5-axis strategy tests and will build up a database of parameters and cutting conditions, etc. As it was for the '3-axis' project, the objective is to create a centre of excellence incorporating all the elements of the production chain: CADCAM, machine, fixtures, cutters, cutting data, preparation, control and job monitoring.
