4-axis milling involves the same process as 3-axis machining, where a cutting tool is used to remove material from the workpiece to create the desired shape and contour. However, in the case of 4-axis machining, milling is performed on the additional axis.
The 4-axis CNC engraving machine runs on the X, Y, and Z axes like a 3-axis CNC engraving machine, but it also includes rotation around the X axis, which is called the A axis. This is the fourth axis we added during the machining process. In most cases, the workpiece will be rotated to allow cutting around the B axis.
4-axis milling is very useful when holes and cuts need to be made on the side of the workpiece or around the cylinder. They can provide fast and effective work based on computer digital input to obtain precise results.
The 4-axis CNC router has all the same axes of the 3-axis router, plus an additional A-axis, which can rotate the main shaft 180 degrees around the X-axis during the cutting process. This rotating axis allows cutting on multiple sides of the workpiece without resetting, while the 3-axis router can only perform cutting on one side of the same workpiece at a time. The 4-axis CNC router is the preferred method for advanced and complex cutting and engraving, such as those commonly found in furniture, musical instruments, cabinets, etc.