I have nothing to add, I just wanted to tell CompositeGeek that you are my new hero. I work in a jobshop where they try to apply every new management philosophy that comes down the pike. The end result is a useless amalgam that makes money in spite of itself.
I think the most common 5 stroke engine, if I can say that, is the Atkinson cycle engine. You can see it on www.sixstroke.com The new hybrid Ford Escape advertises an Atkinson cycle engine even though I believe it's just a 2.5L Zetec motor with different cam timing.
2 axis=Basic lathe. "X" and "Z" only
3 axis=Basic mill. "X","Y", and "Z"
4th axis would be an indexing head
5th axis would be an indexing head that can pivot up/down.
There are multi-axis mills that the spindle can twist and turn in several directions. Used in things like CNC porting of...