CMS Athena

$400,000 – $1,200,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

Working Area (X×Y×Z)

3,000–10,000 mm × 2,000–4,000 mm × 800–1,200 mm (configurable)

Spindle Power

12–30 kW (16–40 hp)

Max Spindle Speed

24,000 RPM

Feed Rate

Up to 40,000 mm/min (1,575 IPM) rapid

Positioning Accuracy

±0.05 mm (ISO 230-2)

Repeatability

±0.03 mm

Overview

The CMS Athena is a 5-axis CNC machining center purpose-built for the processing of advanced composite materials, carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), glass fiber composites, and honeycomb sandwich structures. Developed by CMS S.p.A. in Zogno, Italy, the Athena is widely deployed in aerospace tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, automotive motorsport fabricators, and wind energy blade manufacturers where tight geometric tolerances and high-quality trimmed edges are essential to structural performance.

The Athena's bridge-type gantry is constructed from welded and stress-relieved steel, with all axis guideways mounted on precision-machined surfaces. The machine's moving crossbeam carries a 5-axis fork-type milling head that delivers simultaneous 5-axis interpolation for trimming compound-curved aerostructure panels, drilling angled fastener holes, and milling complex contour paths in a single uninterrupted setup. The standard work envelope spans 3,000 to 10,000 mm in the longitudinal axis (X) to accommodate wing skins, fuselage panels, and large tooling boards.

Spindle options include high-frequency electrospindles from 12 kW up to 30 kW, with speeds to 24,000 RPM for dry cutting of carbon fiber and aluminum skins. An integrated dust extraction enclosure and composite-specific toolpath strategies reduce delamination risk at trimmed edges — a critical quality requirement for aerospace structural panels. An automatic tool changer with up to 30 positions handles the variety of trimming routers, drill bits, countersinks, and milling cutters typical of an aerostructure machining program.

CMS supports the Athena with dedicated software integration for CATIA and SIEMENS NX-generated NC programs, as well as a full post-processor library for the Siemens 840D sl and Fanuc 30i-B controls offered on the machine. The Athena is a long-term reference platform for aerospace composite machining in Europe and has been adopted by major North American and Asian aerospace suppliers as a high-precision alternative to manual or legacy trimming fixtures.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Working Area (X×Y×Z)	3,000–10,000 mm × 2,000–4,000 mm × 800–1,200 mm (configurable)
Spindle Power	12–30 kW (16–40 hp)
Max Spindle Speed	24,000 RPM
Feed Rate	Up to 40,000 mm/min (1,575 IPM) rapid
Positioning Accuracy	±0.05 mm (ISO 230-2)
Repeatability	±0.03 mm
Control System	Siemens 840D sl or Fanuc 30i-B
Axes	5-axis simultaneous (X, Y, Z, A, C) fork-type head
Table Type	Vacuum/fixture table; workpiece-specific tooling fixtures
ATC	Up to 30 positions (chain or disc magazine)
Machine Weight	Approx. 15,000–35,000 kg (configuration-dependent)

Specifications sourced from scmgroup.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Simultaneous 5-axis fork head enables trimming and drilling of complex compound-curved aerostructure panels in a single setup
Configurable longitudinal travel up to 10,000 mm accommodates full wing skin panels and large composite structures
Composite-optimized spindle and toolpath strategies reduce delamination and fiber pullout at trimmed edges
Proven platform with deep aerospace tier-1 and tier-2 customer base across Europe, North America, and Asia

Limitations

High acquisition cost positions the Athena outside the budget of smaller job shops not focused on aerospace composites
Large machine footprint and foundation requirements demand significant facility planning
Vacuum workholding setup for complex curved panels requires application-specific fixture engineering

Best For

Aerospace tier-1 suppliers trimming and drilling CFRP fuselage panels, wing skins, and control surface structures Automotive motorsport and high-performance vehicle manufacturers machining body panels, chassis components, and aerodynamic parts Wind turbine blade manufacturers profiling and trimming composite blade structures

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What composite materials can the CMS Athena machine?

The Athena is optimized for CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer), GFRP (glass fiber), Kevlar/aramid composites, honeycomb sandwich panels (Nomex, aluminum core), and aluminum-CFRP hybrid structures. It also handles aluminum alloy sheet, tooling board (Renshape, Ureol), and prepreg lay-up tools.

02 What makes the Athena suitable for aerospace trimming versus a standard 5-axis machining center?

The Athena is designed for thin-wall, large-format composite panels where the challenge is maintaining edge quality, controlling delamination, and accurately following 3D contour paths over meters of travel. The dedicated composite spindle speeds (up to 24,000 RPM), integrated dust extraction, and large working envelope address these requirements in ways that standard compact 5-axis machining centers cannot.

03 What control systems are available on the CMS Athena?

CMS offers the Athena with Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl as standard and Fanuc 30i-B as an option. Both controls are compatible with post-processors generated from major CAM systems including CATIA V5/V6, Siemens NX, and Mastercam. CMS provides application-specific post-processors and has dedicated application engineers for aerospace composite programming.