Heller HF 5500

$500,000 - $700,000 Updated 2026-03-11

Key Specifications

X Travel

900 mm (35.4 in)

Y Travel

950 mm (37.4 in)

Z Travel

930 mm (36.6 in)

Spindle Taper

HSK-A63 or HSK-A100

Tool Capacity

100 tools standard

Rapid Traverse

65 m/min (2,559 ipm)

Overview

The Heller HF 5500 is a 5-axis horizontal machining center with a swiveling rotary table and Heller's proprietary motor spindle technology. With X/Y/Z travels of 900 x 950 x 930 mm (35.4 x 37.4 x 36.6 in), the HF 5500 provides a generous work envelope for medium-to-large aerospace, automotive, and energy components. The fifth axis is in the workpiece via an A/B swivel rotary table with integrated counter bearing, providing full 5-axis simultaneous capability with exceptional rigidity.

Heller offers seven HSK motor spindle options built in-house, ranging from the SC63 SpeedCutting spindle at 18,000 RPM with 100 Nm torque to the PC100 PowerCutting spindle at 10,000 RPM with 354 Nm torque. This range covers high-speed aluminum machining through heavy titanium and Inconel roughing. The swivel rotary table tilts through 150 degrees (30 to -120 degrees) standard, with an extended 225-degree option for maximum access angles. A counter bearing on the table provides rigidity that cantilevered designs cannot match, critical for heavy cutting on large parts.

The twin-pallet system with 810 x 880 mm (31.9 x 34.6 in) pallets and 750 kg (1,653 lb) capacity keeps the machine productive during part loading. A 100-station tool magazine handles complex multi-operation parts. Through-spindle coolant at up to 70 bar (1,015 PSI) standard with 100 bar (1,450 PSI) optional supports deep-hole drilling and titanium machining. Heller's new operation interface features a 24-inch touchscreen. Competitors include the Grob G550, DMG Mori DMU 80 FD, and Starrag LX 051. New HF 5500 machines price between $500,000 and $700,000. Used units from 2018-2023 trade between $275,000 and $475,000.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
X-Axis Travel	900 mm (35.4 in)
Y-Axis Travel	950 mm (37.4 in)
Z-Axis Travel	930 mm (36.6 in)
Spindle Options	SC63 (18,000 RPM / 100 Nm), PC63 (12,000 RPM / 201 Nm), SC100 (12,000 RPM / 201 Nm), PC100 (10,000 RPM / 354 Nm)
Spindle Taper	HSK-A63 or HSK-A100
Table Swivel Range	150° standard (30° to -120°); 225° optional
B Axis	360° continuous
Pallet Size	810 x 880 mm (31.9 x 34.6 in)
Max Workpiece Weight	750 kg (1,653 lb)
Tool Capacity	100 tools standard
Rapid Traverse Rate	65 m/min (2,559 ipm)
Pallet System	Twin pallet standard
Through Spindle Coolant	70 bar (1,015 PSI) standard; 100 bar (1,450 PSI) optional
Machine Weight	18,500 kg (40,786 lb) approx.
CNC Control	Heller Operation Interface on Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl
Counter Bearing	Integrated table counter bearing for maximum rigidity
Modelhf 5500brandheller Grouptypehorizontal Machining Centerscontact Sales Rep	Contact Sales Rep.
Modelhf 5500brandheller Grouptypehorizontal Machining Centers	Contact Sales Rep.
Model	HF 5500
Brand	HELLER GROUP
Type	Horizontal Machining Centers
X35433y37402z35433	Pallet-W19.685"Pallet-L24.803"# Axis5
X	35.433"
Y	37.402"
Z	35.433"
Pallet W	19.685"
Pallet L	24.803"
Axis	5
Looking To Purchase A New Heller Group Hf 5500	Contact Sales Rep.
Listings	(2)
Machining Centers Horizontal	8 photosYear: 2022
8 Photos	Year: 2022

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Integrated counter bearing on the swivel rotary table provides rigidity that cantilevered table designs cannot match, critical for heavy cutting on large parts in titanium and Inconel
Seven in-house HSK motor spindle options let shops precisely match spindle characteristics to their primary material — from 18,000 RPM aluminum speed to 354 Nm titanium torque
900 x 950 x 930 mm travel with twin pallets provides a production-capable 5-axis work envelope for medium-to-large parts in aerospace and energy applications
100-tool magazine standard keeps the machine running through complex multi-operation parts and multiple job setups without operator intervention for tool management
70-100 bar through-spindle coolant supports deep-hole drilling and efficient chip evacuation in titanium and Inconel that lower-pressure systems struggle with
Heller's automotive and aerospace production heritage means the HF 5500 is engineered for high-utilization production environments, not intermittent job-shop duty

Limitations

At $500,000-$700,000, the HF 5500 is a significant capital investment best suited for shops with consistent high-value work to justify the cost
18,500 kg machine weight and twin-pallet footprint require substantial floor space and foundation preparation, limiting placement flexibility
Siemens SINUMERIK is the only control platform, requiring operator retraining for shops standardized on FANUC or Heidenhain
Heller's North American presence, while growing through Ellison Technologies, is still smaller than DMG Mori, Mazak, or Okuma for local service and parts support

Best For

Aerospace manufacturers machining large titanium and Inconel structural components, engine casings, and landing gear fittings where the counter bearing provides rigidity for heavy cuts Energy sector companies producing turbine blades, valve bodies, and compressor components from superalloys that demand high spindle torque and through-spindle coolant pressure Automotive production shops running high-volume 5-axis machining of large castings, transmission housings, and EV structural components with twin-pallet productivity Die and mold shops working large molds that benefit from the generous travel envelope and horizontal orientation for deep-cavity machining with gravity-assisted chip evacuation Contract manufacturers serving aerospace primes that need a production 5-axis platform capable of titanium, Inconel, aluminum, and steel in configurable spindle setups

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What does a new Heller HF 5500 cost?

New HF 5500 machines start around $500,000 for a base SPEED or POWER package. Adding the HSK-A100 PowerCutting spindle, mill-turn functionality, expanded coolant pressure, probing, and additional pallet storage can push the price to $600,000-$700,000+. Used HF 5500 units from 2018-2023 trade between $275,000 and $475,000 depending on spindle option, hours, and configuration.

02 What is the counter bearing and why does it matter?

The counter bearing is a support on the opposite side of the swivel rotary table from the drive, preventing the table from deflecting under heavy cutting loads. Machines without a counter bearing have a cantilevered table that can flex, especially with heavy workpieces at extreme tilt angles. The HF 5500's counter bearing maintains table rigidity at all positions, which is critical for consistent accuracy when roughing titanium or Inconel at high feed rates.

03 Which spindle package should I choose?

Heller offers SPEED, POWER, and PRO packages. For aluminum-dominant shops, the SC63 SpeedCutting spindle (18,000 RPM, HSK-A63) maximizes material removal in aluminum. For titanium and superalloy work, the PC100 PowerCutting spindle (10,000 RPM, 354 Nm, HSK-A100) provides the torque and rigidity needed. The PC63 (12,000 RPM, 201 Nm) offers a balanced mid-range option for mixed-material shops.

04 How does the HF 5500 compare to the Grob G550?

Both are production 5-axis horizontal machines in a similar size class. The HF 5500 has the counter bearing advantage for table rigidity and higher standard coolant pressure (70 bar vs standard on G550). The G550 has Grob's tunnel design for maximum dynamic stiffness and a broader spindle torque range up to 575 Nm. Both use Siemens control. The choice often depends on which machine's table design better suits your part fixturing and whether you prioritize table rigidity (Heller) or axis dynamics (Grob).

05 Does the HF 5500 support mill-turn operations?

Yes, optional mill-turn functionality enables combined milling and turning on the HF 5500. The rotary table can operate as a high-speed turning spindle for OD/ID turning, facing, and threading operations. This eliminates moving large, heavy workpieces to a separate lathe for turned features, improving accuracy and reducing handling time. The mill-turn option adds cost but is increasingly popular in aerospace production.

06 What is the Heller Operation Interface?

Heller's Operation Interface is a 24-inch touchscreen HMI built on top of the Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl control. It provides intuitive machine operation, job management, and diagnostic functions in a modern interface. The system includes machine status monitoring, tool management, and connectivity features for Industry 4.0 integration. It simplifies daily operation while maintaining full Siemens CNC capabilities for advanced programming.