Whether toolmakers can gain the same benefits from five-axis inspection as the manufacturers of complex aerospace and automotive parts will depend on the size and complexity of their molds. Manufacturers of very large or, more specifically,

very deep tools should obtain more accurate results with the five-axis approach because of the ability to use shorter, tip-sensing probes. For firms making smaller and simpler molds a three-axis CMM may well provide perfectly adequate inspection reports but, as applications vary greatly, the five-axis technology should at least be investigated to determine any increase in measurement speed that might be possible.

Companies that are making tools incorporating complex designs, and those needing to machine particularly accurate surfaces, will be able to take more measurements with a five-axis system, and take them more quickly, and so give more complete inspection reports to their customers. This could be especially important for those firms making large tools for composite components, such as wind turbines or truck cabs and fenders.