What is the difference between a CNC 3-axis and a 4-axis machine? I found this question on Quora.
I know that there are many friends will be often confused with this two kind of CNC routers. Today FORSUN CNC will be showing you the difference that exists between the three-axis and four-axis engraving machines. In 5 different parts, including what is it, what they can do, some considerations for selecting a CNC machine, what are the differences in configurations, what industries they apply to. Choosing the CNC machine that is more suitable for your processing needs is what you do. Join us as we share in detail.
The entry-level engraving machine for the engraving machine industry that is what 3 axis CNC router is. It performs intelligent cutting, milling, engraving, drilling, and grooving functions in different materials by moving a tool bit on the three-axis. As a basic machine, an upgrade to other machines like multi-process CNC router,multi-head CNC router, and other CNC machines is vital.
4 axis CNC router generally can be divided into a 4th axis CNC router and rotary axis CNC router. Comparing the 4 Axis CNC router to the 3 axis CNC router, the 4th axis engraving machine is special in its spindle which can swing 180 degrees in both positions – left and right. The 4 axis CNC router can realize plane processing and also make work possible on both sides. It does some surface processing of 3D workpieces.
Another 4 axis CNC router is also called a rotary axis CNC router. Compared with the 3 axis CNC router, this type of CNC machine includes adding a rotary device to the 3 axis CNC router. The rotary device majorly realizes the machining of cylindrical workpieces. It should be noted that the rotary device can be placed in any position you want to either in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction of the machine.
Similarly, the rotary device can not only be placed on the machine but also function independently of the machine. It is easier to operate, transport, and maintain. Therefore this type 4 axis CNC router can realize processing cylindrical workpieces and the plain engraving.
2. The differences of 3 Axis & 4 Axis CNC Router in Configurations
Machine bed: The bed of the 4-axis engraving machine is thicker, which ensures the machine is more stable at high speed and also ensures the accuracy of the machine, compared with that of a 3-axis engraving machine. This ensures that the service life of the machine is extended accordingly.
Motor: Three-axis CNC router can choose between stepper motors and servo motors depending on the customer requirements. But this does not apply to 4-axis CNC router which is recommended to choose servo motors above 850 watts, and they must be equipped with a reducer. The greater the motor power, the greater the torque provided with the accuracy of the machine better guaranteed.
Guide rail: The recommended guide rail for the four-axis engraving machine is 25 mm or more. But the commonly used guide rail sizes are 20mm, 25mm, 30mm. Rails of these sizes have a strong carrying capacity, which not only helps to increase the processing efficiency but also increases the speed of the machine accordingly.
Control system: The four-axis machine is to choose the control system with faster processing speed and higher control precision such as Syntec, Baoyuan, Siemens. While the conventional 3-axis engraving machine chooses Mach3, DSP, and NK105.
Cooling method: The three-axis engraving machine generally adopts manual spray cooling, and a four-axis engraving machine uses automatic oil mist/water spray cooling to facilitate the processing of stone metals.
3. CNC Router Functions
What can a 3 axis CNC machine do?
The 3 Axis CNC Router has limitations of the working direction and as such, it only can realize the plane engraving. The 3 axis engraving machine has only three working directions as X, Y, and Z-axis. Achieving complicated hollowing out and 3D engraving is not possible. These three-axis machines can meet your machining requirements if you want to achieve simple flat machining in advertising, wooden furniture, and other industry.
Examples of what is achievable include shoe polishers, cabinet doors, mahjong tables, solid wood doors, craft doors, panel furniture products’ auxiliary processing, paint-free doors, screens, craft window processing, game cabinets and panels, three-dimensional wave board processing and computer tables.
What can a 4 axis CNC machine do?
4 axis engraving machine has four processing directions of A, X, Y, and Z-axis. It includes both a three-dimensional CNC router and a rotary CNC router. The four-axis engraving machine can realize the processing of three-dimensional workpieces such as Buddha statue, Dragon pillar column, Roman column, Guanyin statue, gourd and so on, and other cylindrical workpieces like Corel, chair leg, turned and box newel posts, handrail, door, and window frame based on the plane engraving machine.
4. What Industries Use CNC Machines?
CNC router applies to various industries. It is widely used in electronics, printing and packaging, furniture, advertising, crafts, molds, construction, crystal products, wood, tombstone, and decoration industry. As mentioned earlier, the four-axis engraving machine is an upgrade of the 3-axis CNC router. Therefore, the application range of the four-axis engraving machine is more extensive, compared with the 3 axis CNC router.
5. How to choose a right CNC router?
Choosing an engraving machine is important for users because there are various types of engraving machines. FORSUN will show you how to choose between three-axis and four-axis engraving machines. Depending on your goals, you will choose the machine that fits your purpose. For simple plane processing, the three-axis engraving machine can meet your needs. And to perform complex, three-dimensional, and diverse processing, the four-axis engraving machine is the best choice.
How to choose the four-axis engraving machine with two linkage modes?
Next we shall discuss the rotary engraving machine. How do users choose a machine based on where the rotary device is placed? The precautionary measures when purchasing a four-axis engraving machine.
When the rotary device is directly placed on the machine table, it does not affect the processing size. The rotary device can be inserted and taken off at any time, which is more convenient for users. This is suitable for users with small workpieces.
We need to consider the size of the workpiece to be processed and the effective processing size of the machine when inserting the rotary device on the side of the machine.
The user needs to have a clear understanding of the size of the workpiece to be machined and that of the processing machine when choosing. This will help to decide on the position where the rotary device is placed because the diameter of the rotary device affects whether the gantry is raised.
Some users are suitable for the case where the rotary device is independent of the machine bed, and what are the benefits? It is recommended that the rotary shaft be placed independently of the machine, if the width of the machine is greater than 2 meters and the diameter of the rotary shaft is greater than 200 mm. This will not only affect the effective processing size of the user but will also benefit the packaging and transportation of the machine.
The above is a different case of a 4-axis engraving machine with a rotary device. We shall proceed to discuss how users choose a four-axis CNC router whose spindle can be swung? The machining size of the workpiece in the transverse direction will be reduced to a certain extent because the spindle can swing left and right. The machining accuracy will be affected too when the spindle is swung. The accuracy of the machine’s parts and that of the machine’s assembly are particularly important here.
So the user must choose a manufacturer with sufficient production strength like FORSUN, a professional in technology and assembly to reduce the error range and achieve satisfactory processing results.
6. What can FORSUN provide for you?
Complete CNC machine types:
In Part 7, we shall discuss the selection guide for our 3 axis CNC router and 4 axis CNC router. Depending on your production volume, if it is relatively large and you want higher processing efficiency, you can choose both an ATC engraving machine and a multi-process engraving machine. But If your processing workpiece is relatively small, you can choose our mini engraving machine.
You can choose our stone engraving machine if you mainly process in the stone industry. If your focus is to process large molds, you can choose the EPS engraving machine. As a professional engraving machine manufacturer, we are committed to helping you choose the most cost-effective machine that will meet your diverse processing needs and we provide customized services.
Perfect after-sales service:
Our professional after-sales service team provides you with 24-hour online and offline services. Regardless of the challenges you have with either machine selection, installation, maintenance, repair operation, and much more, you can always reach out to us. Prompt response to our customers has always been our commitment. Because we have a dedicated technical team that visits customers every year to solve any problems related to the CNC engraving machine according to customer needs.
