5 Axis Pocket NC Application

Pocket NC: The Ultimate 5-Axis CNC Machine

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines have been used in manufacturing for decades, allowing companies to produce parts with high precision and accuracy. However, these machines have always been large, expensive, and typically limited to a few axes of movement. Enter the Pocket NC, a 5-axis CNC machine that fits on your desktop and packs a powerful punch.

Precision is King

The Pocket NC was designed specifically to meet the needs of small businesses, makers, and educational institutions who don’t have access to larger, more expensive CNC machines. The main standout feature of the Pocket NC is its incredible level of precision. With a resolution of 0.0001 inches, this machine can produce intricate designs and parts with exceptional accuracy.

The machine’s latest release boasts a new feature that allows users to mill tiny components with diameters as small as 1 mm. This opens up new opportunities for creating medical devices, electronic components, and other small parts that were previously impossible to manufacture in-house.

Five Axes of Freedom

One of the biggest advantages of the Pocket NC is its five axes of movement, making it a true 5-axis CNC machine. This means the machine can move the cutting tool in multiple directions, allowing for more complex shapes and designs. The head can rotate 360 degrees, tilt up to 110 degrees, and swivel 90 degrees, giving users a huge range of movements to work with.

Having a 5-axis CNC machine on your desk not only means more freedom in terms of design but also faster and more efficient production. The machine can complete a job that would usually take several tools and multiple setups in just one process, sparing you time and avoiding potential errors.

RTCP Functionality

RTCP (Rotary Tool Center Point) is an essential tool in the Pocket NC’s arsenal. This function allows users to apply a corner in a workpiece as a reference point for the machine to adjust its movements every time it rotates around the Z-axis. This is crucial for high precision parts where small deviations in the rotation axis could result in imperfect finished parts.

RTCP works by tracking the tool’s position in relation to the workpiece (0,0,0 coordinate) and adjusts the machine movement in real-time as the part rotates. This helps keep everything perfectly aligned throughout the whole process, further improving the precision of the final product.

Application Requirements

While the Pocket NC has been designed with small businesses and makers in mind, there are some application requirements to keep in mind. The machine requires the user to have some experience with CNC machines, CAD/CAM software, and G-code programming. Additionally, the machine has a smaller work area compared to larger CNC machines, meaning the size of parts that can be manufactured is limited.

The Pocket NC is compatible with most CAD/CAM software, such as Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and Rhino. It’s important to check that the software that you are using is compatible with the Pocket NC, and to ensure that the software has a 5-axis post-processor.

Conclusion

The Pocket NC is a game-changer in the world of small-scale CNC manufacturing. Its incredible precision, 5-axis movement, and RTCP functionality make it the ultimate tool for producing complex and intricate parts with ease and efficiency. It’s an empowering investment for small businesses, makers, and educational institutions to have a high-quality CNC machine at an affordable cost. With the Pocket NC, the possibilities for manufacturing are endless.