Hwacheon Hi-TECH 550BB

Specs verified 2026-10-03 · hwacheon.com Updated 2026-10-03

Image: hwacheon.com, Hwacheon

Key Specifications

Max Spindle

1,000 rpm

Spindle Power

37 / 30 kW (49.6 / 40.2 hp)

Max Turn Length

1,100 mm (43.3 in); L 2,100 mm (82.7 in); XL 3,200 mm (126.0 in)

swing over bed

Ø800 mm (Ø31.5 in)

max turning diameter

Ø590 mm (Ø23.2 in)

standard turning diameter

Ø275 mm (Ø10.8 in)

How much does the Hwacheon Hi-TECH 550BB cost?

Price estimate

Uncertain

We do not have a price for the Hwacheon Hi-TECH 550BB that we can stand behind, so we show no number. Configuration, options and installation move the final price a long way: a quote is the reliable figure.

Overview

The Hwacheon Hi-TECH 550BB is the big-bore member of the Hi-TECH 550 class: a 12-station turret lathe whose spindle passes bar up to Ø190 mm (Ø7.5 in) through a Ø195 mm (Ø7.7 in) bore. Swing over the bed is Ø800 mm (Ø31.5 in). The largest turning diameter, Ø590 mm (Ø23.2 in), is the same as on the standard Hi-TECH 550.

What changes is the headstock. The Hi-TECH 550 has an A2-11 nose, a Ø132 mm (Ø5.2 in) bore, Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in) bar capacity and a 2,000 rpm, 30 / 22 kW (40.2 / 29.5 hp) spindle. The 550BB moves to an A2-15 nose with a Ø240 mm (Ø9.4 in) front bearing, raises the motor to 37 / 30 kW (49.6 / 40.2 hp) and caps speed at 1,000 rpm. It is built for pipe, tube and thick bar that has to pass through the spindle, not for small parts at high surface speed.

Three bed lengths are listed. The standard bed turns 1,100 mm (43.3 in), the L bed 2,100 mm (82.7 in) and the XL bed 3,200 mm (126.0 in). Z rapid falls with length: 24 m/min (945 ipm) on the standard bed, 20 m/min (787 ipm) on the L and 10 m/min (394 ipm) on the XL, while X stays at 20 m/min (787 ipm) on 345 mm (13.6 in) of travel. The tailstock has an MT #5 quill with 150 mm (5.9 in) of travel on a Ø120 mm (Ø4.7 in) cylinder.

The only chuck in the table is an optional Ø470 mm (Ø18.5 in) air chuck, so workholding has to be specified with the order. The MC version adds driven tools at up to 4,000 rpm from a 7.5 / 5.5 kW (10.1 / 7.4 hp) motor, taking end mills to Ø32 mm in ER 40 collets, with C-axis indexing in 0.0001° steps. The control is a FANUC 0i-TF Plus, with a FANUC 31i-B as an option. Plan for a 75 kVA supply.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Swing Over Bed	Ø800 mm (Ø31.5 in)
Max Turning Diameter	Ø590 mm (Ø23.2 in)
Standard Turning Diameter	Ø275 mm (Ø10.8 in)
Max Turning Length	1,100 mm (43.3 in); L 2,100 mm (82.7 in); XL 3,200 mm (126.0 in)
Chuck Size	(Opt.) air chuck Ø470 mm (Ø18.5 in)
Spindle Nose	A2-15
Max Spindle Speed	1,000 rpm
Spindle Bore	Ø195 mm (Ø7.7 in)
Bar Capacity	Ø190 mm (Ø7.5 in)
Spindle Bearing Front ID	Ø240 mm (Ø9.4 in)
Spindle Motor Power	37 / 30 kW (49.6 / 40.2 hp)
Turret Stations	12
Tool Shank Size	□32 mm × Ø60 mm boring bar
Turret Index Time	0.2 sec/step
Rapid Traverse Xz	20 / 24 m/min (787 / 945 ipm); L 20 / 20 m/min (787 / 787 ipm); XL 20 / 10 m/min (787 / 394 ipm)
X Axis Travel	345 mm (13.6 in)
Z Axis Travel	1,150 mm (45.3 in); L 2,150 mm (84.6 in); XL 3,250 mm (128.0 in)
Tailstock Travel	980 mm (38.6 in); L 1,980 mm (78.0 in); XL 3,080 mm (121.3 in)
Tailstock Cylinder Diameter	Ø120 mm (Ø4.7 in)
Tailstock Quill Travel	150 mm (5.9 in)
Tailstock Quill Taper	MT #5
Live Tool Motor	7.5 / 5.5 kW (10.1 / 7.4 hp) (MC)
Live Tool Speed Max	4,000 rpm (MC)
Live Tool Capacity	End mill Ø32 mm / ER 40 collet (MC)
C Axis Indexing	0.0001° (MC)
Power Requirement	75 kVA
Machine Dimensions	4,590 x 2,450 x 2,400 mm (180.7 x 96.5 x 94.5 in); L 5,590 x 2,450 x 2,450 mm; XL 6,890 x 2,600 x 2,660 mm
CNC Control	FANUC 0i-TF Plus / (Opt.: FANUC 31i-B)

Specifications sourced from hwacheon.com — verified 2026-10-03

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Ø195 mm (Ø7.7 in) spindle bore and Ø190 mm (Ø7.5 in) bar capacity, against Ø132 mm (Ø5.2 in) and Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in) on the Hi-TECH 550
37 / 30 kW (49.6 / 40.2 hp) spindle on an A2-15 nose, more motor than the 30 / 22 kW (40.2 / 29.5 hp) of the Hi-TECH 550
Three bed lengths with 1,100 mm (43.3 in), 2,100 mm (82.7 in) or 3,200 mm (126.0 in) of turning length
12-station turret indexing at 0.2 sec/step, taking □32 mm shanks and Ø60 mm boring bars
MC version adds 4,000 rpm driven tools and C-axis indexing in 0.0001° steps

Limitations

Spindle speed tops out at 1,000 rpm, half the 2,000 rpm of the Hi-TECH 550, which limits surface speed on small diameters
No chuck is listed as standard; the Ø470 mm (Ø18.5 in) air chuck is an option
Z rapid drops to 10 m/min (394 ipm) on the XL bed, against 24 m/min (945 ipm) on the standard bed
Driven tools and the C axis come only with the MC version

Best For

Pipe and tube work that needs up to Ø190 mm (Ø7.5 in) through the spindle Long shafts on the L or XL bed, up to 3,200 mm (126.0 in) of turning length Heavy bar turning at low speed on an A2-15 spindle Turned parts with cross holes or flats, using the MC driven tools

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How does the Hi-TECH 550BB differ from the Hi-TECH 550?

The turning envelope is the same, Ø590 mm (Ø23.2 in) and 1,100 mm (43.3 in) on the standard bed. The 550BB has a larger spindle: A2-15 nose, Ø195 mm (Ø7.7 in) bore, Ø190 mm (Ø7.5 in) bar and 37 / 30 kW (49.6 / 40.2 hp), but a 1,000 rpm limit. The Hi-TECH 550 has an A2-11 nose, Ø132 mm (Ø5.2 in) bore, Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in) bar, 30 / 22 kW (40.2 / 29.5 hp) and 2,000 rpm.

02 What turning length do the bed options give?

1,100 mm (43.3 in) on the standard bed, 2,100 mm (82.7 in) on the L bed and 3,200 mm (126.0 in) on the XL bed. Z travel is 1,150 mm (45.3 in), 2,150 mm (84.6 in) and 3,250 mm (128.0 in), and tailstock travel 980 mm (38.6 in), 1,980 mm (78.0 in) and 3,080 mm (121.3 in).

03 How does the 550BB compare with the Hi-TECH 700BB?

The 550BB has the larger bore of the two: Ø195 mm (Ø7.7 in) against Ø185 mm (Ø7.3 in) for the BB version of the Hi-TECH 700BB/BB+. In return the BB version of the Hi-TECH 700BB/BB+ turns up to Ø680 mm (Ø26.8 in) against Ø590 mm (Ø23.2 in), runs to 1,300 rpm and has a 45 / 37 kW (60.3 / 49.6 hp) motor. On the Hi-TECH 700BB/BB+ the BB+ version opens the bore to Ø300 mm (Ø11.8 in).

04 What does the MC version add?

Driven tools on the turret with a 7.5 / 5.5 kW (10.1 / 7.4 hp) motor and up to 4,000 rpm, taking end mills up to Ø32 mm and ER 40 collets, plus a C axis that indexes in 0.0001° steps. The turret has 12 stations in either version.

05 How much floor space and power does it need?

The standard-bed machine is 4,590 x 2,450 x 2,400 mm (180.7 x 96.5 x 94.5 in). The L bed grows to 5,590 x 2,450 x 2,450 mm and the XL to 6,890 x 2,600 x 2,660 mm. The power requirement is 75 kVA.