Haas PMC-500SS
Image: haascnc.com, Haas Automation
Key Specifications
X Travel
Y Travel
Z Travel
Max Spindle
Spindle Taper
Tool Capacity
How much does the Haas PMC-500SS cost?
Estimated price range
Our best estimate for a vertical machining centers (vmc) in this class — not a quote from Haas Automation. Configuration moves it a long way.
Overview
The Haas PMC-500SS is a five-axis positioning machining center: a 12,000 rpm 40-taper vertical with 24 × 16 × 16 in (610 × 406 × 406 mm) of travel and a 15.7 in (400 mm) platter that tilts on B from +120° to -35° and rotates through 360° on C. Both rotary axes are listed as Positioning Only, which means they index to an angle and hold it while X, Y and Z do the cutting.
It is the smallest of the three PMC models. The PMC-750SS has 30 × 20 × 20 in (762 × 508 × 508 mm) travels and a 19.7 in (500 mm) platter for 660 lb (300 kg); the PMC-1000SS has 40 × 25 × 25 in (1,016 × 635 × 635 mm) and a 25 in (635 mm) platter for 1,000 lb (454 kg). Here the platter load is 500 lb (226.8 kg) and the largest part swing on C is 18 in (457 mm).
On this size B and C share the same ratings: 179 °/sec, 1,854 ft-lbf (2,514 N·m) of drive torque and 900 ft-lbf (1,220 N·m) of brake torque. The brake figure is the one that matters for positioning work, since it is what holds the platter against the cut.
The spindle is inline direct-drive and liquid cooled, rated 30 hp (22.4 kW) and 90 ft-lbf (122 N·m) at 2,000 rpm, in CT40, BT40 or HSK-A63. The 30+1 side-mount changer runs 1.8 s tool-to-tool and 2.4 s chip-to-chip, and rapids are 1,200 ipm (30.5 m/min).
Haas's table also carries rows for alternative configurations: a pallet pool, which cuts the platter load to 200 lb (90.7 kg), and 50+1, 70+1 and 120+1 tool changers, some with a conveyor. None of these is part of the base machine, which ships at 11,900 lb (5,400 kg).
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| X-Axis Travel | 24 in (610 mm) |
| Y-Axis Travel | 16 in (406 mm) |
| Z-Axis Travel | 16 in (406 mm) |
| Spindle Nose to Platter (max) | 20 in (508 mm) |
| Spindle Nose to Platter (min) | 4 in (102 mm) |
| Spindle Motor Power | 30 hp (22.4 kW) |
| Max Spindle Speed | 12,000 rpm |
| Spindle Torque | 90 ft-lbf @ 2,000 rpm (122 N·m @ 2,000 rpm) |
| Spindle Drive | Inline Direct-Drive |
| Spindle Taper | CT40 / BT40 / HSK-A63 |
| Spindle Bearing Lubrication | Air / Oil Injection |
| Spindle Cooling | Liquid Cooled |
| B Axis Travel | 120 ° to -35 ° |
| B Axis Max Speed | 179 °/sec |
| B Axis Torque | 1,854 ft-lbf (2,514 N·m) |
| B Axis Brake Torque | 900 ft-lbf (1,220 N·m) |
| B Axis Control Type | Positioning Only |
| C Axis Travel | 360 ° |
| C Axis Max Speed | 179 °/sec |
| C Axis Torque | 1,854 ft-lbf (2,514 N·m) |
| C Axis Brake Torque | 900 ft-lbf (1,220 N·m) |
| C Axis Max Part Swing | 18 in (457 mm) |
| C Axis Control Type | Positioning Only |
| Platter Diameter | 15.7 in (400 mm) |
| Max Platter Load | 500 lb (226.8 kg) |
| Max Platter Load with Pallet Pool | 200 lb (90.7 kg) |
| Platter T Slot Width | 0.626 in to 0.63 in (15.9 mm to 16 mm) |
| Platter T Slots | 5 |
| Platter T Slot Center Distance | 2.48 in (63 mm) |
| Max Cutting Feedrate | 833 ipm (21.2 m/min) |
| Rapid Traverse Rate | 1,200 ipm (30.5 m/min) |
| Max Thrust X | 2,750 lbf (12,233 N) |
| Max Thrust Y | 2,750 lbf (12,233 N) |
| Max Thrust Z | 3,400 lbf (15,124 N) |
| Tool Changer Type | SMTC |
| Tool Capacity | 30+1 |
| Max Tool Diameter (full magazine) | 2.5 in (64 mm) |
| Max Tool Diameter (adjacent pockets empty) | 5 in (127 mm) |
| Max Tool Length | 12 in (305 mm) |
| Max Tool Weight | 12 lb (5.4 kg) |
| Tool Change (tool-to-tool) | 1.8 s |
| Tool Change (chip-to-chip) | 2.4 s |
| Coolant Capacity | 55 gal (208 L) |
| Air Required | 4 scfm @ 100 psi (113 L/min @ 6.9 bar) |
| Inline Air Hose | 3/8 in |
| Air Coupler | 3/8 in |
| Air Pressure Min | 80 psi (5.5 bar) |
| Electrical Service (low voltage) | 220 VAC 3-phase, 70 A |
| Electrical Service (high voltage) | 440 VAC 3-phase, 35 A |
| Shipping Domestic Pallet | 128 × 98 × 110 in (325 × 249 × 279 cm) |
| Shipping Export Pallet | 128 × 92 × 101 in (325 × 234 × 257 cm) |
| Shipping Export Crate | 128 × 101 × 123 in (325 × 257 × 312 cm) |
| Machine Weight | 11,900 lb (5,400 kg) |
| Shipping Domestic Pallet with Conveyor 50 plus 1 SMTC | 128 × 98 × 110 in (325 × 249 × 279 cm) |
| Shipping Export Pallet with Conveyor 50 plus 1 SMTC | 128 × 92 × 100 in (325 × 234 × 254 cm) |
| Shipping Domestic Pallet with 70 plus 1 SMTC | 128 × 101 × 120 in (325 × 257 × 305 cm) |
| Shipping Export Crate with 70 plus 1 SMTC | 128 × 101 × 141.5 in (325 × 257 × 359 cm) |
| Machine Weight with 70 plus 1 SMTC | 13,320 lb (6,042 kg) |
| Machine Weight with Conveyor 50 plus 1 SMTC | 11,941 lb |
| Shipping Domestic Pallet with Conveyor 120 plus 1 SMTC | 131 × 120 × 108.5 in (333 × 305 × 276 cm) |
| Machine Weight with Conveyor 120 plus 1 SMTC | 13,960 lb (6,332 kg) |
| Shipping Export Pallet with Conveyor 120 plus 1 SMTC | 133.5 × 122.5 × 120 in (339 × 311 × 305 cm) |
Specifications sourced from haascnc.com — verified 2026-10-02
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- B-axis tilt from +120° to -35° and 360° of C rotation give five-sided access in one clamping
- 900 ft-lbf (1,220 N·m) of brake torque on both B and C to hold position under cut
- 12,000 rpm inline direct-drive spindle, 30 hp (22.4 kW), in CT40, BT40 or HSK-A63
- 30+1 side-mount tool changer: 1.8 s tool-to-tool, 2.4 s chip-to-chip
- B and C both index at 179 °/sec
Limitations
- B and C are Positioning Only, so the table offers indexed five-sided machining, not simultaneous contouring
- Platter load is 500 lb (226.8 kg), and 200 lb (90.7 kg) in the pallet-pool configuration
- Part swing on C is limited to 18 in (457 mm) on a 15.7 in (400 mm) platter
- Full-magazine tool diameter is 2.5 in (64 mm); 5 in (127 mm) needs adjacent pockets empty
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
It has five axes, but the B and C axes are both listed as Positioning Only. They rotate the part to an angle, B from +120° to -35° and C through 360°, and hold it there with 900 ft-lbf (1,220 N·m) of brake torque while the three linear axes cut. That is 3+2 machining, not simultaneous five-axis contouring.
02
The platter is 15.7 in (400 mm) in diameter with five T-slots at 2.48 in (63 mm) centers, and carries 500 lb (226.8 kg). Maximum part swing on C is 18 in (457 mm). Linear travels are 24 × 16 × 16 in (610 × 406 × 406 mm), with 4 in (102 mm) to 20 in (508 mm) between spindle nose and platter.
03
The PMC-750SS is the next size up: 30 × 20 × 20 in (762 × 508 × 508 mm) travels, a 19.7 in (500 mm) platter and a 660 lb (300 kg) platter load, at a shipping weight of 14,250 lb (6,463.8 kg). The PMC-500SS has 24 × 16 × 16 in (610 × 406 × 406 mm), a 15.7 in (400 mm) platter, 500 lb (226.8 kg) and 11,900 lb (5,400 kg). Spindle rating, rapids and the 30+1 tool changer are the same on both.
04
Haas lists a separate platter load for the pallet-pool configuration: 200 lb (90.7 kg), against 500 lb (226.8 kg) for the machine without it. Weigh the part and its fixture before planning unattended running around the pallet pool.
05
The base machine has a 30+1 side-mount tool changer. Haas's shipping table also has rows for 50+1, 70+1 and 120+1 changers, some with a conveyor, which are alternative configurations: the machine weight rises from 11,900 lb (5,400 kg) to 13,320 lb (6,042 kg) with the 70+1 changer and 13,960 lb (6,332 kg) with the conveyor and 120+1 changer.
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