Hermle C 42

Est. $450,000 - $650,000 Updated 2026-08-10

Key Specifications

X Travel

800 mm

Y Travel

800 mm

Z Travel

550 mm

Max Spindle

15,000 / 16,000 / 20,000 / 25,000 rpm (HSK A 63); 42,000 rpm (HSK E 40)

Spindle Taper

HSK A 63 / HSK T 63 (MT variants) or HSK E 40

Tool Capacity

42 pockets standard (additional magazines ZM 30 / ZM 50 / ZM 88 k / ZM 216 / ZM 528)

Overview

The Hermle C 42 is a mid-to-large 5-axis machining centre with a swivelling rotary table. Travels are 800 × 800 × 550 mm on X, Y and Z, with 700 mm of vertical clearance above the table. Maximum workpiece diameter is Ø 800 mm and maximum height 560 mm, inside a Ø 990 mm collision circle with the A axis at 0° — the figure that actually governs fixture design, since a part within the diameter limit can still foul as the table swivels.

Table options set the machine's working weight class more than the envelope does. A Ø 440 mm swivelling table carries 450 kg; a Ø 800 x 630 mm table carries 850 kg on a worm drive or 1,400 kg in torque tandem form; a rigid clamping table of 1,050 x 805 mm takes 2,000 kg but forgoes the rotary axes. The MT variant uses a Ø 750 mm table with HSK T 63 tooling for combined milling and turning. The A axis swivels ±130°.

The spindle range is unusually wide. In HSK A 63 the options run 15,000 rpm at 31 kW and 194 Nm, 16,000 rpm at 20 kW and 173 Nm, 20,000 rpm at 42 kW and 148 Nm, or 25,000 rpm at 31 kW and 98 Nm; an HSK E 40 spindle reaches 42,000 rpm at 35 kW and 17.5 Nm. All are quoted at 20% c.d.f. That spread means the same machine can be configured for heavy tool steel work or for fine small-diameter work in graphite and aluminium, and since the choice is effectively permanent it is the first decision to get right.

Rapids are 45 / 45 / 40 m/min, or 60 m/min on all three axes in the dynamic specification, with 6 (10) m/s² acceleration and 8,500 N of feed force. Positioning uncertainty is ≤ 0.006 mm to ISO 230-2 on the linear axes. Chip-to-chip is approximately 4.5 s from a 42-pocket standard magazine, expandable with ZM 30, ZM 50, ZM 88 k, ZM 216 or ZM 528 units. Tools reach 350 mm long and Ø 80 mm, or Ø 125 mm with adjacent pockets allocated, at 8 kg in HSK A/T 63 or 2.5 kg in HSK E 40, within magazine load limits of 168 kg and 105 kg respectively.

The machine weighs approximately 13.5 t and draws up to 57 kVA, or 61 kVA as the C 42 MT, at 400 V / 50 Hz or 460 V / 60 Hz. Control is Heidenhain TNC7 or Siemens SINUMERIK ONE.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
X-Axis Travel	800 mm
Y-Axis Travel	800 mm
Z-Axis Travel	550 mm
Rapid Traverse Xyz	45 - 45 - 40 m/min (dynamic: 60 - 60 - 60 m/min)
Linear Acceleration	6 (10) m/s² (X-Y-Z)
Linear Feed Force	8,500 N (X-Y-Z)
Max Vertical Table Clearance	700 mm
Max Workpiece Diameter	Ø 800 mm
Max Workpiece Height	560 mm
Collision Circle	Ø 990 mm (A-axis in 0° position)
Spindle Taper	HSK A 63 / HSK T 63 (MT variants) or HSK E 40
Max Spindle Speed	15,000 / 16,000 / 20,000 / 25,000 rpm (HSK A 63); 42,000 rpm (HSK E 40)
Spindle Motor Power	31 kW at 15,000 rpm; 20 kW at 16,000 rpm; 42 kW at 20,000 rpm; 31 kW at 25,000 rpm; 35 kW at 42,000 rpm (20% c.d.f.)
Spindle Torque	194 Nm at 15,000 rpm; 173 Nm at 16,000 rpm; 148 Nm at 20,000 rpm; 98 Nm at 25,000 rpm; 17.5 Nm at 42,000 rpm
Tool Capacity	42 pockets standard (additional magazines ZM 30 / ZM 50 / ZM 88 k / ZM 216 / ZM 528)
Chip To Chip Time	approx. 4.5 s
Max Tool Length	350 mm
Max Tool Diameter	Ø 80 mm (Ø 125 mm with corresponding adjacent pocket allocation)
Max Tool Weight	8 kg (HSK A/T 63); 2.5 kg (HSK E 40)
Max Magazine Load	168 kg (HSK A/T 63); 105 kg (HSK E 40)
Table Variants	Swivelling rotary table Ø 440 mm or Ø 800 x 630 mm; MT variant Ø 750 mm; rigid clamping table 1,050 x 805 mm
Swivelling Range	+/- 130° (A-axis)
Table Load Capacity	450 kg (Ø 440 mm table); 850 kg (Ø 800 x 630 mm worm drive); 1,400 kg (Ø 800 x 630 mm torque tandem); 2,000 kg (rigid clamping table)
Positioning Uncertainty	≤ 0.006 mm (ISO 230-2, X-Y-Z)
Machine Weight	approx. 13.5 t
Power Supply	400 V / 50 Hz \| 460 V / 60 Hz, up to 57 kVA (C 42) / 61 kVA (C 42 MT)
CNC Control	Heidenhain TNC7 or Siemens SINUMERIK ONE

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

The spindle range is unusually wide: in HSK A 63, 15,000 rpm at 31 kW and 194 Nm, 16,000 rpm at 20 kW and 173 Nm, 20,000 rpm at 42 kW and 148 Nm, or 25,000 rpm at 31 kW and 98 Nm, all at 20% c.d.f.
An HSK E 40 spindle reaching 42,000 rpm at 35 kW and 17.5 Nm is available for fine small-diameter work in graphite and aluminium
Table options set the working weight class: 450 kg on the Ø 440 mm swivelling table, 850 kg or 1,400 kg on the Ø 800 x 630 mm table depending on drive, and 2,000 kg on the rigid clamping table
The A axis swivels ±130°, so undercuts and steep walls come square to a short tool rather than being reached with a long one
Rapids of 45 / 45 / 40 m/min, or 60 m/min on all three axes in the dynamic specification, with 8,500 N of feed force and positioning uncertainty of ≤ 0.006 mm to ISO 230-2
Chip-to-chip is approximately 4.5 s from a 42-pocket standard magazine, expandable with ZM 30, ZM 50, ZM 88 k, ZM 216 or ZM 528 units

Limitations

Maximum workpiece diameter is Ø 800 mm but the collision circle is Ø 990 mm with the A axis at 0° - that is the figure fixture design has to respect, since a part within the diameter limit can still foul as the table swivels
The 2,000 kg table rating belongs to the rigid clamping table, which forgoes the rotary axes; the highest 5-axis rating is 1,400 kg on the Ø 800 x 630 mm torque tandem table
Spindle choice is effectively permanent and the options differ enormously - 194 Nm at 15,000 rpm against 17.5 Nm at 42,000 rpm - so getting it wrong is expensive
Z travel is 550 mm with 700 mm of vertical clearance, tighter than X and Y at 800 mm each, which limits deep-cavity work on tall parts
The machine weighs approximately 13.5 t and draws up to 57 kVA, or 61 kVA as the C 42 MT, so installation is a foundation and supply question rather than a delivery one

Best For

Die and mould work where surface finish off the machine decides how much hand polishing follows Aerospace structural aluminium and titanium components under Ø 800 mm Medical implants and instruments in titanium, cobalt-chrome and stainless steel Combined milling and turning on the MT variant, which pairs a Ø 750 mm table with HSK T 63 tooling Precision component work in optics, semiconductor equipment and scientific instruments

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What size part fits the Hermle C 42?

Travels are 800 x 800 x 550 mm with 700 mm of vertical clearance above the table. Maximum workpiece diameter is Ø 800 mm and maximum height 560 mm. The number that actually governs fixture design, though, is the collision circle: Ø 990 mm with the A axis at 0°. A part inside the diameter limit can still foul as the table swivels.

02 Which table should I specify?

Four choices, and they set the machine's working weight class more than the envelope does. A Ø 440 mm swivelling table carries 450 kg. A Ø 800 x 630 mm table carries 850 kg on a worm drive or 1,400 kg in torque tandem form. A rigid clamping table of 1,050 x 805 mm takes 2,000 kg but forgoes the rotary axes altogether.

03 Which spindle should I choose?

In HSK A 63 the options are 15,000 rpm at 31 kW and 194 Nm, 16,000 rpm at 20 kW and 173 Nm, 20,000 rpm at 42 kW and 148 Nm, or 25,000 rpm at 31 kW and 98 Nm. An HSK E 40 spindle reaches 42,000 rpm at 35 kW and 17.5 Nm. All are quoted at 20% c.d.f. Because the choice is effectively permanent, it is the first decision to get right - 194 Nm and 17.5 Nm are not variations on a theme.

04 What is the C 42 MT?

The mill-turn variant. It uses a Ø 750 mm table with HSK T 63 tooling, so turning and milling operations share a single clamping rather than being split across two machines. It also draws slightly more power than the standard machine, up to 61 kVA against 57 kVA.

05 What are the tooling and magazine limits?

Forty-two pockets as standard, expandable with ZM 30, ZM 50, ZM 88 k, ZM 216 or ZM 528 units. Tools reach 350 mm long and Ø 80 mm, or Ø 125 mm with the corresponding adjacent pockets allocated. Weight limits are 8 kg per tool in HSK A/T 63 or 2.5 kg in HSK E 40, within magazine loads of 168 kg and 105 kg respectively.

06 What does installation involve?

The machine weighs approximately 13.5 t and draws up to 57 kVA, or 61 kVA as the C 42 MT, at 400 V / 50 Hz or 460 V / 60 Hz. Control is Heidenhain TNC7 or Siemens SINUMERIK ONE. Positioning uncertainty is quoted at ≤ 0.006 mm to ISO 230-2 on the linear axes, which is worth protecting with a stable floor and a controlled thermal environment.