Hwacheon CUTEX-160A
Image: hwacheon.com, Hwacheon
Key Specifications
Max Spindle
Rapid Traverse
Spindle Power
Max Turn Length
swing over bed
max turning diameter
How much does the Hwacheon CUTEX-160A cost?
Estimated price range
Our best estimate for a cnc lathes / turning center in this class — not a quote from Hwacheon. Configuration moves it a long way.
Overview
The Hwacheon CUTEX-160A is a compact CNC lathe with a 6 in chuck, a 6,000 rpm A2-5 spindle and a Ø45 mm (Ø1.8 in) bar capacity, built for small turned parts. Maximum turning diameter is Ø300 mm (Ø11.8 in) and maximum turning length 300 mm (11.8 in), over a Ø550 mm (Ø21.7 in) swing. The same table also lists the 160B, which moves to an 8 in chuck on an A2-6 nose, so it is worth being clear which figures belong to which.
On the 160A the spindle bore is Ø56 mm (Ø2.2 in) and the front bearing Ø90 mm (Ø3.5 in). The 160B opens the bore to Ø62 mm (Ø2.4 in) and bar capacity to Ø51 mm (Ø2.0 in), but its top speed drops to 4,500 rpm and its turning length to 284 mm (11.2 in). Both versions share the 15 / 7.5 kW (20.1 / 10.1 hp) spindle motor, so the choice is between speed on small bar and a larger chuck for bigger blanks. The MC (live tool) version adds a 5,000 rpm, 3.7 / 2.2 kW (5.0 / 3.0 hp) rotary tool drive taking Ø16 mm end mills in ER 25 collets, with C-axis indexing in 0.0001° steps. It costs some envelope: maximum turning diameter falls to Ø260 mm (Ø10.2 in) and turning length to 225 mm (8.9 in) on the 160A MC, or 209 mm (8.2 in) on the 160B MC.
The axes run on LM guides with 36 m/min (1,417 ipm) rapids on X and Z, over 170 mm (6.7 in) of X and 335 mm (13.2 in) of Z travel. The 12-station turret indexes at 0.15 sec/step and takes □25 mm square shanks and Ø40 mm boring bars. A tailstock with a Ø60 mm (Ø2.4 in) quill, 80 mm (3.1 in) of quill travel and an MT #4 taper supports longer work.
The machine is small to install. It occupies 2,373 x 1,520 mm (93.4 x 59.8 in) and stands 1,720 mm (67.7 in) high, weighs 3,550 kg (7,826 lb), or 3,650 kg (8,047 lb) as an MC, and needs 20 kVA (25 kVA for the MC). The coolant tank holds 81 L (21 US gal). The control is a Fanuc 0i-TF Plus.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Swing Over Bed | Ø550 mm (Ø21.7 in) |
| Max Turning Diameter | Ø300 mm (Ø11.8 in); MC: Ø260 mm (Ø10.2 in) |
| Standard Turning Diameter | Ø186 mm (Ø7.3 in); MC: Ø204 mm (Ø8.0 in) |
| Max Turning Length | 300 mm (11.8 in) (160A); 225 mm (8.9 in) (160A MC); 160B: 284 mm (11.2 in) / MC 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Chuck Size | 6 in (160A) / 8 in (160B) |
| Spindle Nose | A2-5 (160A) / A2-6 (160B) |
| Max Spindle Speed | 6,000 rpm (160A) / 4,500 rpm (160B) |
| Spindle Bore | Ø56 mm (Ø2.2 in) (160A) / Ø62 mm (Ø2.4 in) (160B) |
| Bar Capacity | Ø45 mm (Ø1.8 in) (160A) / Ø51 mm (Ø2.0 in) (160B) |
| Spindle Bearing Front ID | Ø90 mm (Ø3.5 in) (160A) / Ø100 mm (Ø3.9 in) (160B) |
| Spindle Motor Power | 15 / 7.5 kW (20.1 / 10.1 hp) |
| Guideway Type | LM guide |
| Turret Stations | 12 |
| Tool Shank Size | □25 mm x Ø40 mm boring bar |
| Turret Index Time | 0.15 sec/step |
| Rapid Traverse Rate | X / Z 36 / 36 m/min (1,417 ipm) |
| X Axis Travel | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Z Axis Travel | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Feed Axis Motors | X / Z 1.8 / 1.8 kW (160A); 3.0 / 1.8 kW (160B) |
| Tailstock Quill Diameter | Ø60 mm (Ø2.4 in) |
| Tailstock Quill Travel | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Tailstock Quill Taper | MT #4 |
| Live Tool Motor | 3.7 / 2.2 kW (5.0 / 3.0 hp) (MC) |
| Live Tool Speed Max | 5,000 rpm (MC) |
| Live Tool Capacity | End mill Ø16 mm / ER 25 collet (MC) |
| C Axis Indexing | 0.0001° (MC) |
| Coolant Tank | 81 L (21 US gal) |
| Power Requirement | 20 kVA; MC: 25 kVA |
| Machine Dimensions | 2,373 x 1,520 x 1,720 mm (93.4 x 59.8 x 67.7 in) (L x W x H) |
| Machine Weight | 3,550 kg (7,826 lb); MC: 3,650 kg (8,047 lb) |
| CNC Control | Fanuc 0i-TF Plus |
Specifications sourced from hwacheon.com — verified 2026-10-03
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- 6,000 rpm A2-5 spindle on the 160A, suited to small-diameter bar work
- LM guideways with 36 m/min (1,417 ipm) rapids on X and Z
- 12-station turret indexing at 0.15 sec/step
- MC version adds 5,000 rpm live tooling and 0.0001° C-axis indexing
- Compact 2,373 x 1,520 mm (93.4 x 59.8 in) footprint and 20 kVA supply
Limitations
- Bar capacity is Ø45 mm (Ø1.8 in) on the 160A and Ø51 mm (Ø2.0 in) on the 160B
- Spindle motor is 15 / 7.5 kW (20.1 / 10.1 hp), limiting heavy roughing
- Turning length is 300 mm (11.8 in) at most, and 225 mm (8.9 in) on the 160A MC
- Live tooling is 3.7 / 2.2 kW (5.0 / 3.0 hp) and takes end mills only up to Ø16 mm
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
The 160A has a 6 in chuck, an A2-5 nose, 6,000 rpm, a Ø56 mm (Ø2.2 in) bore and Ø45 mm (Ø1.8 in) bar capacity. The 160B has an 8 in chuck, an A2-6 nose, 4,500 rpm, a Ø62 mm (Ø2.4 in) bore and Ø51 mm (Ø2.0 in) bar capacity. Turning length is 300 mm (11.8 in) on the 160A and 284 mm (11.2 in) on the 160B.
02
A live tool drive of 3.7 / 2.2 kW (5.0 / 3.0 hp) at up to 5,000 rpm, taking end mills up to Ø16 mm in ER 25 collets, and C-axis indexing in 0.0001° steps. Maximum turning diameter falls from Ø300 mm (Ø11.8 in) to Ø260 mm (Ø10.2 in), and the machine needs 25 kVA instead of 20 kVA.
03
The CUTEX-180 turns up to Ø350 mm (Ø13.8 in) on its A and B versions, has bar capacities of Ø51 / Ø65 mm (Ø2.0 / Ø2.6 in) and a 15 / 11 kW (20.1 / 14.8 hp) spindle. The CUTEX-160A turns up to Ø300 mm (Ø11.8 in), takes Ø45 mm (Ø1.8 in) bar and has a 15 / 7.5 kW (20.1 / 10.1 hp) spindle.
04
The turret has 12 stations and indexes at 0.15 sec/step. It takes □25 mm square-shank tools and boring bars up to Ø40 mm. The tailstock quill is Ø60 mm (Ø2.4 in) with 80 mm (3.1 in) of travel and an MT #4 taper.
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