The widest application of the continuous cutting method is achieved on 6-axis machines with the kinematics of three linear axes (XYZ), a tilting axis (e.g. A), a rotary axis (e.g. C) and a smoothly controlled spindle axis, as shown in Figure 8.
This solution allows any tool paths to be run on the milling machine with smooth maintenance of a constant angle of attack, controlled by the A and C axes in the example discussed with a machine with a so-called ‘cradle’, and the appropriate direction of the rake plane to the velocity vector V of the tool controlled by the spindle axis S.
