Hermle C 250

Est. $270,000 - $400,000 Updated 2026-08-10

Key Specifications

X Travel

600 mm

Y Travel

550 mm

Z Travel

450 mm

Max Spindle

15,000 rpm (SK 40); 16,000 rpm or 20,000 rpm (HSK A 63)

Spindle Taper

SK 40 / HSK A 63

Tool Capacity

30 pockets standard (additional magazines ZM 30 / ZM 50 / ZM 88 k / ZM 216)

Overview

The Hermle C 250 is a compact 5-axis machining centre with a swivelling rotary table — three axes in the tool, two in the workpiece. Travels are 600 × 550 × 450 mm on X, Y and Z, with 550 mm of maximum vertical clearance above the table. Maximum workpiece diameter is Ø 450 mm and maximum height 355 mm, inside a collision circle of Ø 770 mm with the A axis at 0°. That collision circle is the figure to check a fixture against: a part within the stated diameter can still foul as the table swivels.

Table choice largely determines what the machine is for. A swivelling rotary table of Ø 320 mm or Ø 450 x 360 mm carries 300 kg; a rigid clamping table of 800 x 616 mm carries 1,100 kg but gives up the two rotary axes. The A axis swivels ±115°, enough to roll a part well past vertical and bring steep walls and undercuts square to the tool, and C runs at 40 rpm.

Spindle options split cleanly. SK 40 runs to 15,000 rpm; HSK A 63 to 16,000 or 20,000 rpm. Power is 20 kW with 173 Nm at 15,000 or 16,000 rpm, and 42 kW with 148 Nm at 20,000 rpm, both at 20% c.d.f. The 173 Nm specification is the one for tool steel and titanium; the 20,000 rpm spindle trades torque for speed and suits aluminium and small-cutter finishing.

Rapids are 35 m/min on all three linear axes, with 6 m/s² acceleration and 5,000 N of feed force. Positioning uncertainty is quoted at ≤ 0.006 mm to ISO 230-2 on the linear axes. Chip-to-chip time is approximately 6 s from a 30-pocket standard magazine, extendable with ZM 30, ZM 50, ZM 88 k or ZM 216 units. Tools go to 300 mm long and Ø 80 mm — Ø 125 mm if adjacent pockets are left free — at 8 kg each, within a 120 kg total magazine load.

The machine weighs approximately 8.2 t and draws up to 43 kVA at 400 V / 50 Hz or 460 V / 60 Hz, running a Heidenhain TNC7. It suits mould, medical and precision component work: parts that are small, geometrically awkward, and finished to a standard where surface quality off the machine decides how much hand work follows.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
X-Axis Travel	600 mm
Y-Axis Travel	550 mm
Z-Axis Travel	450 mm
Rapid Traverse Xyz	35 - 35 - 35 m/min
Linear Acceleration	6 m/s² (X-Y-Z)
Linear Feed Force	5,000 N (X-Y-Z)
Max Vertical Table Clearance	550 mm
Max Workpiece Diameter	Ø 450 mm
Max Workpiece Height	355 mm
Collision Circle	Ø 770 mm (A-axis in 0° position)
Spindle Taper	SK 40 / HSK A 63
Max Spindle Speed	15,000 rpm (SK 40); 16,000 rpm or 20,000 rpm (HSK A 63)
Spindle Motor Power	20 kW at 15,000 / 16,000 rpm; 42 kW at 20,000 rpm (20% c.d.f.)
Spindle Torque	173 Nm at 15,000 / 16,000 rpm; 148 Nm at 20,000 rpm (20% c.d.f.)
Tool Capacity	30 pockets standard (additional magazines ZM 30 / ZM 50 / ZM 88 k / ZM 216)
Chip To Chip Time	approx. 6 s
Max Tool Length	300 mm
Max Tool Diameter	Ø 80 mm (Ø 125 mm with corresponding adjacent pocket allocation)
Max Tool Weight	8 kg
Max Magazine Load	120 kg
Table Variants	Swivelling rotary table Ø 320 mm or Ø 450 x 360 mm; rigid clamping table 800 x 616 mm
Swivelling Range	+/- 115° (A-axis)
C Axis Speed	40 rpm
Table Load Capacity	300 kg (swivelling rotary table); 1,100 kg (rigid clamping table)
Positioning Uncertainty	≤ 0.006 mm (ISO 230-2, X-Y-Z)
Machine Weight	approx. 8.2 t
Power Supply	400 V / 50 Hz \| 460 V / 60 Hz, up to 43 kVA
CNC Control	Heidenhain TNC7

Specifications sourced from hermle.de — verified 2026-08-09

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

The A axis swivels ±115°, enough to roll a part well past vertical and bring steep walls and undercuts square to the tool
Spindle choice covers both ends of the work: 20 kW with 173 Nm at 15,000 or 16,000 rpm, or 42 kW with 148 Nm at 20,000 rpm, both at 20% c.d.f., in SK 40 or HSK A 63
Positioning uncertainty is quoted at ≤ 0.006 mm to ISO 230-2 on X, Y and Z
Rapids of 35 m/min on all three linear axes, with 6 m/s² acceleration and 5,000 N of feed force
Table choice is real flexibility: a swivelling rotary table of Ø320 mm or Ø450 x 360 mm carrying 300 kg, or a rigid clamping table of 800 x 616 mm carrying 1,100 kg
Chip-to-chip is approximately 6 s, and the 30-pocket standard magazine extends via ZM 30, ZM 50, ZM 88 k or ZM 216 units

Limitations

Maximum workpiece diameter is Ø450 mm and height 355 mm, but the collision circle is Ø770 mm with the A axis at 0° - a part within the stated diameter can still foul as the table swivels, so check fixtures against the collision circle
The 1,100 kg table rating belongs to the rigid clamping table, which gives up the two rotary axes; the swivelling rotary table carries 300 kg
The 30-pocket standard magazine is lean for complex 5-axis work, and it carries a 120 kg total load limit alongside the 8 kg per-tool cap
Z travel is 450 mm with 550 mm of maximum vertical clearance, which is tight for tall workpieces needing deep 5-axis reach
Tools are limited to 300 mm long and Ø80 mm - Ø125 mm only with the corresponding adjacent pockets left free

Best For

Precision mould and die work in hardened steels where surface finish off the machine decides how much hand work follows Medical device components in titanium and cobalt-chrome alloys Small, geometrically awkward parts finished to a high standard Aerospace prototype and detail parts under Ø450 mm Shops standardised on Heidenhain control, since the machine runs a TNC7

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What size part fits the Hermle C 250?

Maximum workpiece diameter is Ø450 mm and maximum height 355 mm, with 550 mm of vertical clearance above the table and travels of 600 x 550 x 450 mm. The figure to check a fixture against, though, is the collision circle: Ø770 mm with the A axis at 0°. A part inside the stated diameter can still foul as the table swivels.

02 Which table should I specify?

A swivelling rotary table of Ø320 mm or Ø450 x 360 mm gives the two rotary axes and carries 300 kg. A rigid clamping table of 800 x 616 mm carries 1,100 kg but gives up those rotary axes. The choice is effectively between 5-axis capability and load capacity - it is not an upgrade in one direction.

03 Which spindle option suits which work?

SK 40 runs to 15,000 rpm; HSK A 63 to 16,000 or 20,000 rpm. Power is 20 kW with 173 Nm at 15,000 or 16,000 rpm, and 42 kW with 148 Nm at 20,000 rpm, both at 20% c.d.f. The 173 Nm specification is the one for tool steel and titanium; the 20,000 rpm spindle trades torque for speed and suits aluminium and small-cutter finishing.

04 What are the tooling and magazine limits?

Thirty pockets as standard, extendable with ZM 30, ZM 50, ZM 88 k or ZM 216 units. Tools go up to 300 mm long and Ø80 mm - Ø125 mm if the corresponding adjacent pockets are left free - at 8 kg each, within a 120 kg total magazine load. Chip-to-chip time is approximately 6 s.

05 What does the machine need for installation?

It weighs approximately 8.2 t and draws up to 43 kVA at 400 V / 50 Hz or 460 V / 60 Hz, running a Heidenhain TNC7 control. Positioning uncertainty is quoted at ≤ 0.006 mm to ISO 230-2 on the linear axes, so a stable floor and a sensible thermal environment are worth having if that accuracy is the reason for buying the machine.