How Much Does a 5-Axis Machine Tool Cost?

Thinking Past the Initial Price Tag – Total Cost of Ownership

Did you know? In some cases, 15% of a machine’s total cost is its purchase price and 85% is its lifetime operations and consumables. We all understand the concept of Total Cost of Ownership. With this thought in mind, it is important to understand that purchasing a high-quality, but more costly, 5-axis machine tool will ultimately pay back a higher ROI and be more profitable in the years (or decades) to come. There are several key characteristics of a machine tool that directly impact total cost of ownership:

• Machine Mass: The mass of a 5-axis machine tool speaks directly to the quality, longevity, and durability of the machine. A heavier machine dissipates cutting energy away from the tool tip, resulting in quieter cuts, better surface finishes, and increased tool life. In extreme cases, we’ve had customers who switched to high-end machines experience an 80% reduction in monthly carbide costs!
  
  Want to know more? Find out how a high-quality, robust machine tool basically pays for itself.

• Thermal Stability: Naturally, you expect high accuracy and performance from a 5-axis machine. Perhaps the biggest enemy to those goals is thermal growth. The last thing you want is to scrap an insanely expensive billet as the result of uncontrolled thermal growth of your machine tool. Whatever brand you are looking at, make sure they can clearly articulate a proactive strategy for limiting, measuring, and compensating for thermal growth.
  
  Okuma combats thermal growth in 2 phases: Thermo-Friendly Concept means the machine is mechanically and kinematically designed to not only minimize thermal growth, but also make it repeatable and predictable. Thermo Active Stabilizer (TAS) is then added as an intelligent technology that can measure real time temperature to make instantaneous adjustments so your parts come out perfect, all day.
  
  Interested in how thermal stability directly impacts your bottom line? Read More.
  

• Serviceability and Repair: When you pay for a high-end 5-axis machine, you naturally expect peak performance over a longer timeframe – in some cases, 20 years or more! Investing in a top quality machine gives peace of mind that this machine will pay for itself quickly, and then keep on ticking for years to come. Although safeguards, such as digital twin simulation and collision avoidance software are helpful, the likelihood of crashes and downtime still exist. Also, having a trusted machine tool builder and distributor partner that can provide high-level support with your operation or service needs is critical.