Kitamura Mycenter-5XiG

The Kitamura Mycenter-5XiG is Kitamura's large-format 40-taper vertical machining center, offering 1,270 x 610 x 610 mm (50.0 x 24.0 x 24.0 in) of travel on a platform that maintains the Japanese builder's commitment to hand-scraped precision and box-way rigidity at a scale more commonly associated with workhorse production VMCs from Mazak or Mori Seiki. For shops that need to machine large parts — structural aerospace components, large mold cavities, defense hardware, energy sector components — the 5XiG delivers Kitamura-level accuracy in a format that most shops would never expect from a builder known for compact precision machines.

The 15,000 RPM Big Plus spindle produces 18.5 kW (25 hp) through a 2-speed geared head, generating up to 350 Nm (258 ft-lbf) of torque at low speed. That torque figure matters on a large machine where face milling and heavy shoulder milling in steel or stainless are common operations. The geared head lets the 5XiG operate at full torque below 2,000 RPM while still reaching 15,000 RPM for finishing passes — a combination not achievable with a direct-drive spindle at this power level.

The 1,450 x 620 mm (57.1 x 24.4 in) table handles large fixtures and large workpieces, and the 610 mm Z-stroke provides ample clearance for tombstone setups and tall workpieces. The 40-tool ATC is appropriately sized for the complex parts this machine is built to handle. Rapids of 20,000 mm/min (787 ipm) are moderate — a reflection of the machine's mass (approximately 9,500 kg) and box-way construction, which trades raw speed for structural rigidity.

New Mycenter-5XiG machines typically price between $220,000 and $300,000, placing them in direct competition with Mazak's Nexus VCN series and Mori Seiki's NV series at large format. The Kitamura wins on precision and surface finish quality; the Japanese competitors often win on rapids and throughput.