Hwacheon CUT-EX 160A

$65,000 - $95,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

Max Spindle

4,500 RPM

Spindle Power

15/11 kW (20.1/14.7 hp)

Max Turn Length

500 mm (19.7 in)

Accuracy

±0.003 mm (±0.00012 in)

Repeatability

±0.001 mm (±0.00004 in)

max turning diameter over bed

360 mm (14.2 in)

Overview

The Hwacheon CUT-EX 160A is a compact, high-performance CNC turning center from Hwacheon Machinery designed for precision bar turning and chucking of small to medium-size parts in job shop, automotive parts, and precision component manufacturing environments. The CUT-EX series sits below Hwacheon's Hi-Tech series in terms of size but targets the large volume of shops requiring a capable 8-inch chuck turning center with optional live tooling, C-axis, and bar feeder integration at a competitive entry price point.

The CUT-EX 160A features a 30-degree slant-bed construction with hardened and ground box guideways on both axes — a specification uncommon at this price point, where most competitive machines use linear guideways. Hwacheon's use of box guideways on the CUT-EX 160A reflects their commitment to rigidity and long-term accuracy retention in production environments running hard interrupted cuts, high-cycle operations, and aggressive bar turning programs. Box guideways distribute cutting forces across a larger surface area, reducing the precision degradation that linear guides can experience after high cycle counts in abrasive environments.

The main spindle delivers 15/11 kW (20.1/14.7 hp) at up to 4,500 RPM through an A2-6 spindle nose. Optional live tooling at 4,500 RPM (2.2 kW) with C-axis positioning enables OD milling, cross-drilling, and thread milling without secondary VMC operations — a configuration popular in high-mix, lower-volume job shops seeking to reduce setup and handling time between operations. Bar capacity is 52 mm (2.0 in) through the spindle, supporting bar-fed automation with standard LNS and Iemca magazine feeders.

The CUT-EX 160A is controlled by the Fanuc 0i-TF with Hwacheon's diagnostics and monitoring overlay. Pricing starts around $65,000–$95,000 depending on live tooling and sub-spindle configuration. It competes with the Haas ST-10, the Mazak Quick Turn 200, the Doosan Lynx 220, and the Okuma GENOS L200E in the compact, 8-inch turning center market — a crowded segment where Hwacheon differentiates on box guideway rigidity and competitive Korean pricing.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Turning Diameter Over Bed	360 mm (14.2 in)
Max Turning Diameter Over Cross Slide	190 mm (7.5 in)
Max Turning Length	500 mm (19.7 in)
Chuck Size	8 in (203 mm) hydraulic
Bar Capacity	52 mm (2.0 in)
Max Spindle Speed	4,500 RPM
Spindle Motor Power	15/11 kW (20.1/14.7 hp)
Spindle Nose	A2-6
Guideway Type	Box guideways (X and Z axes)
Turret Stations	8-station or 12-station VDI 30 (optional)
Turret Index Time	0.18 sec (adjacent station)
Live Tool Speed Max	4,500 RPM (optional)
Live Tool Power	2.2 kW (3 hp) (optional)
C Axis	0.001° resolution (optional)
X Axis Travel	185 mm (7.3 in)
Z Axis Travel	530 mm (20.9 in)
Rapid Traverse X	24 m/min (945 ipm)
Rapid Traverse Z	30 m/min (1,181 ipm)
Positioning Accuracy	±0.003 mm (±0.00012 in)
Repeatability	±0.001 mm (±0.00004 in)
Machine Weight	3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
CNC Control	Fanuc 0i-TF
Born	March 22, 1929,Matsumoto,Japan(age 97)
Awards And Honors	Praemium Imperiale (2006)
Notable Works	“Grand Orgy to Awaken the Dead”
Movement Style	Minimalism

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Box guideways on both axes provide higher rigidity and better long-term accuracy retention than linear guides in production environments — a standout feature in the compact 8-inch lathe class
4,500 RPM main spindle with 20 HP is strong for an 8-inch turning center — enabling higher surface speeds in small-diameter aluminum and stainless finishing
0.18-second adjacent turret index time is among the fastest in the compact turning center class, reducing non-cutting time in high-tool-count bar turning programs
52 mm bar capacity covers the vast majority of bar turning applications in the 8-inch class, compatible with standard LNS and Iemca 64 mm bore feeders
Hwacheon's in-house manufacturing expertise (including in-house spindle and guideway machining) provides quality control advantages over OEMs sourcing components externally

Limitations

Live tooling power at 2.2 kW is limited — adequate for drilling, tapping, and light OD milling but insufficient for heavy face milling on the lathe
Hwacheon's US dealer network for the CUT-EX series is less comprehensive than Haas Automation's nationwide service coverage, which can be a disadvantage for shops in rural or less-industrialized regions
The CUT-EX 160A's smaller machine footprint means less thermal mass — shops running continuous production in temperature-variable environments may see more thermal growth than on heavier turning centers

Best For

Production job shops running high-cycle bar turning programs in automotive, pneumatics, hydraulics, and industrial fastener applications where box-guide rigidity and 0.18-second turret index reduce cycle times Precision component shops producing close-tolerance turned parts in stainless steel, titanium, and aerospace aluminum where the ±0.001 mm repeatability and box-guide accuracy retention support quality requirements Job shops running mixed chuck and bar work in the 8-inch class who want optional live tooling and C-axis to eliminate secondary VMC setups for cross-drilled holes and milled flats Shops evaluating the Haas ST-10 or Doosan Lynx 220 and seeking an alternative with box guideways and comparable or better accuracy specifications at a competitive price

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How does the CUT-EX 160A compare to the Haas ST-10?

The Haas ST-10 is priced around $55,000–$75,000 with live tooling — competitive with the CUT-EX 160A at $65,000–$95,000. The Haas offers a well-known control, extensive US service network, and large used market. The Hwacheon CUT-EX 160A distinguishes itself with box guideways (Haas uses linear guides), 0.18-second turret index (faster than Haas), and ±0.001 mm repeatability. For shops prioritizing lowest acquisition cost and best service network, Haas wins. For shops prioritizing long-term accuracy retention in production environments with box guideways, the Hwacheon is worth the premium.

02 Why does Hwacheon use box guideways on the CUT-EX 160A when most competitors use linear guides?

Hwacheon's design philosophy prioritizes long-term rigidity and accuracy retention over lowest-cost production. Box guideways have higher contact surface area and load distribution, making them more resistant to wear from chip contamination and abrasive cutting environments. In production turning centers running 16-hour daily cycles on abrasive materials (cast iron, stainless), linear guides can show measurable accuracy degradation over several years — box guides resist this more effectively. The trade-off is slower rapid traverse (24/30 m/min vs 30/36 m/min for some linear-guide competitors) and somewhat higher initial machine cost.

03 What bar feeder options are compatible with the CUT-EX 160A?

The CUT-EX 160A's 52 mm spindle through-bore is compatible with standard LNS Sprint, LNS Hydrobar, and Iemca Eco feeders in the 65 mm bore diameter class. Hwacheon provides standard M-code interface outputs for bar feeder communication. Bar feeders are available in 1.5 m, 3 m, and 3.2 m magazine lengths — 3 m is the most common for production use. Collet sizing within the feeder must match the bar diameter being run. Hwacheon's applications team can advise on feeder models confirmed to interface cleanly with the CUT-EX 160A.

04 Is a sub-spindle available on the CUT-EX 160A?

A sub-spindle option is available on the CUT-EX 160A (A2-5, 3,000 RPM, 5.5 kW) for complete front-and-back machining in a single cycle. With sub-spindle, a part can be fully machined on the main spindle, transferred automatically to the sub-spindle, and back-worked (back-facing, back-boring, drilling from the back) without manual part flip. This is particularly valuable in automated bar-fed production where eliminating the second-operation lathe or back-working cell reduces handling and improves cycle-to-cycle consistency.

05 What is the CUT-EX 160A's accuracy advantage in a production environment?

The ±0.001 mm repeatability specification reflects the combined benefit of box guideways, Hwacheon's precision-machined bed and cross-slide castings, and the Fanuc 0i-TF control's positioning accuracy. In practice, shops running turned parts to ±0.01 mm tolerances will find the CUT-EX 160A holds these consistently across shift changes and temperature swings better than lower-mass, linear-guide lathes. Shops running to ±0.005 mm or tighter on turned diameters benefit from the box-guide construction's resistance to stick-slip motion and the machine's thermal stability from its 3,200 kg mass.