Breton Hawx E2 K18

The Breton Hawx E2 K18 is the starting size of the modular Hawx E2: a 5-axis gantry machining centre whose bridge spans 2,700 mm (106.3 in) of Y while X is only 1,800 mm (70.9 in). Z is 1,300 mm (51.2 in). The envelope is wider than it is long, which is unusual for a gantry and worth understanding before comparing it with the other columns of the table.

Breton explains the reason. The E2 begins as a pre-assembled starting module, a U-shape monoblock structure, and grows lengthwise when one or more calibrated U-shape supporting frames are added. The K18 is that first module on its own. The longer E2 sizes share its Y, Z, head and spindle rows and differ in X alone; the Breton Hawx E2 K38 has 3,800 mm (149.6 in).

Compared with the E1 machines, the E2 trades some speed and spindle power for width. Rapids are 70 m/min (2,756 ipm) in X and Y. The spindle is rated 18 kW (24.1 hp) in S6 and 15 kW (20.1 hp) in S1 at up to 24,000 rpm, where the Breton Hawx E1 K40 lists 25 kW (33.5 hp) in S6. Torque is 15 Nm (11.1 lb-ft) in S6.

So the K18 suits wide, relatively short work in materials that cut easily: resin and foam models, thermoformed shells, laminate panels, light aluminium parts. If the parts are certain to get longer, the question to put to the maker is how an installed K18 is extended, since the page describes the principle but not the procedure.