Burkhardt+Weber TCX 850

$2,000,000 - $4,000,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

X Travel

1,200 mm (47.2 in)

Y Travel

700 mm (27.6 in)

Z Travel

3,000 mm (118 in)

Max Turn Length

3,000 mm (118 in)

max turning diameter

850 mm (33.5 in)

spindle speed turning

1,200 RPM max (direct drive)

Overview

The Burkhardt+Weber TCX 850 is a large-format turn-mill center combining high-torque turning with full five-axis milling capability in a single machine. The TCX series represents Burkhardt+Weber's answer to the growing demand for complete machining of large, complex rotational parts in a single setup — a workflow that eliminates re-fixturing errors, reduces work-in-process, and dramatically shortens lead times for complex components in aerospace, energy, and defense manufacturing.

The 850 designation refers to the maximum turning diameter — 850 mm swing over the machine bed — placing the TCX 850 firmly in the large-part turn-mill segment. The machine uses a robust horizontal configuration with a large-bore headstock capable of supporting heavy, unbalanced workpieces characteristic of aerospace frames, turbine disks, and large valve bodies. The integrated milling spindle — driven by a separate high-speed motorized spindle — provides the RPM and torque needed for interpolated contour milling, eccentric feature machining, and drilling operations that would otherwise require a second machine setup.

The TCX 850 is built on a heavily ribbed cast iron base designed for thermal stability across long multi-hour cycles. The turning headstock uses a large-bore spindle with direct drive for minimal backlash and consistent roundness, while the milling unit traverses in three linear axes (X, Y, Z) plus a B-axis swivel to achieve five-axis simultaneous machining capability. Burkhardt+Weber integrates Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl or the Siemens ONE TNC7 control for full simultaneous five-axis interpolation, turn-mill synchronization, and advanced surface quality cycles.

Primary application sectors for the TCX 850 include large aerospace structural components with rotational features (turbine disks, shaft housings, bearing carriers), energy sector shafts and valve bodies, defense sector gun barrels and propulsion components, and oil and gas wellhead components requiring complex compound angle features. The single-setup complete machining philosophy of the TCX 850 is particularly valuable when the cost of a re-fixturing error on a $50,000 titanium billet is unacceptable.

The TCX 850 competes in the large turn-mill segment with the WFL Millturn M80 and M120, the Mazak Integrex i-800, and the DMG Mori NTX 3000. Burkhardt+Weber differentiates through German manufacturing precision, the company's century of experience with large-format boring and milling, and close application engineering support for customers transitioning complex multi-operation workflows to single-setup machining. The TCX 850 is positioned as a premium solution where part complexity and tolerance requirements justify the capital investment.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Turning Diameter	850 mm (33.5 in)
Max Turning Length	3,000 mm (118 in)
Spindle Speed Turning	1,200 RPM max (direct drive)
Spindle Torque Turning	8,000 Nm at S1
Spindle Power Turning	75 kW (100.5 hp)
Milling Spindle Speed	12,000 RPM
Milling Spindle Power	37 kW (49.6 hp)
B Axis Swivel	±120°
X-Axis Travel	1,200 mm (47.2 in)
Y-Axis Travel	700 mm (27.6 in)
Z-Axis Travel	3,000 mm (118 in)
Tool Taper	HSK-A100 / HSK-T100
CNC Control	Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl
Machine Weight	80,000 kg (176,370 lb) approximate

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Complete large-part machining — turning, milling, boring, drilling, and five-axis contouring — in a single setup, eliminating re-fixturing errors that are catastrophic with high-value aerospace and energy workpieces
850 mm swing and 3,000 mm turning length handles large-diameter shafts, turbine disks, and bearing housings that most turn-mill competitors cannot reach
75 kW / 8,000 Nm turning spindle delivers the torque needed for heavy interrupted cuts in titanium, Inconel, and hardened steel — materials common in aerospace and energy work
B-axis swivel milling head enables full five-axis simultaneous contouring for compound-angle features, deep pocket milling, and complex surface work without additional setups
Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl control with advanced turn-mill cycles simplifies programming complex multi-operation parts and provides reliable thermal compensation for long-cycle accuracy

Limitations

Entry price of $2M–$4M requires a strong pipeline of high-value large complex parts to justify; not viable for general job shops without a clear aerospace or energy sector niche
Machine footprint is extremely large — installation requires a specially prepared foundation, significant floor space, and overhead crane access; facility preparation is a major project in itself
Burkhardt+Weber's global service network is more concentrated in Europe; North American and Asian customers may face longer service response windows compared to Japanese or American machine builders

Best For

Aerospace tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers machining large rotational components: turbine disks, bearing carriers, shaft housings, and structural frames requiring both turning and complex milling in one setup Energy OEMs and job shops producing large valves, pump shafts, compressor rotors, and turbine components in stainless, titanium, and nickel alloys Defense contractors machining large gun components, propulsion shafts, and submarine or vehicle drivetrain parts requiring complete five-axis machining from a single setup Oil and gas equipment manufacturers producing complex wellhead components, riser flanges, and blowout preventer bodies requiring multi-operation machining with zero re-fixturing error tolerance

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the difference between the TCX 850 and a standard large lathe with live tooling?

A standard large CNC lathe with live tooling provides basic milling and drilling capability with limited Y-axis reach and no B-axis swivel. The TCX 850 adds a full five-axis milling spindle with B-axis swivel (±120°), a dedicated 37 kW milling motorized spindle, and full simultaneous five-axis interpolation — enabling complex contour milling, deep compound-angle pockets, and surface machining that is impossible on a conventional lathe with live tooling.

02 What materials can the TCX 850 effectively machine?

The TCX 850 is designed for difficult aerospace and energy materials: titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V ELI), nickel superalloys (Inconel 718, Inconel 625, Waspaloy), hardened steels, stainless steel, and large cast iron and ductile iron components. The 8,000 Nm turning spindle torque and rigid machine structure make it suitable for the high cutting forces and heat generation characteristic of these materials.

03 How does the TCX 850 compare to the WFL Millturn M80?

Both are large-format five-axis turn-mill centers targeting aerospace and energy applications. The WFL Millturn M80 is Austrian-made and well-established in the large turn-mill segment with strong application engineering support. The Burkhardt+Weber TCX 850 offers comparable turning diameter and length capabilities with the Burkhardt+Weber tradition of rigid large-format boring and milling machine design. Selection typically comes down to specific application requirements, existing control ecosystem (Siemens vs. Fanuc preference), and local service support.

04 Does the TCX 850 support simultaneous five-axis machining or only indexed five-axis?

The TCX 850 supports full simultaneous five-axis machining through the B-axis swivel milling head combined with the three linear axes and the C-axis turning spindle. The Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl control provides simultaneous five-axis interpolation capability. This is critical for aerospace contour work where surfaces must be machined while the tool maintains a continuous normal vector relationship to the workpiece surface.

05 What is the typical installation timeline for the TCX 850?

Large turn-mill centers of this scale typically require 18–30 months from order to installation, depending on configuration. Foundation design and preparation begins well before machine delivery. On-site commissioning and acceptance testing typically takes 4–8 weeks. Burkhardt+Weber application engineers typically provide on-site training for programming and setup of the first production parts.