Klingelnberg C 50 Bevel Gear Cutting Center

$800,000 – $1,500,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

Maximum Gear Diameter

500 mm (19.7 in)

Maximum Module

Gear Type

Spiral bevel and hypoid gears (Palloid process)

Tool Type

Conical hob (Palloid cutter)

CNC Axes

Swivel Head

CNC-controlled for hypoid offset

Overview

The Klingelnberg C 50 is a CNC bevel and hypoid gear cutting machine designed for the production of spiral bevel gears and hypoid gears used in automotive rear axle differentials, racing drivelines, and industrial right-angle gearboxes. Klingelnberg's Palloid process generates gear teeth using a conical hob, producing a gear geometry with theoretical line contact that provides smoother rolling action and lower noise than competing Gleason face-milled spiral bevel processes under equivalent load conditions. The C 50 accommodates gear diameters up to 500 mm and is one of Klingelnberg's mid-range bevel gear cutting centers. The machine features a CNC-controlled swivel head that positions the cutting tool axis relative to the workpiece axis, enabling the generation of hypoid offset for front and rear differential applications. Klingelnberg's KIMoS (Klingelnberg Integrated Manufacturing of Spiral Bevel Gears) software provides complete closed-loop control from gear design through cutting parameter optimization to inspection, using the Klingelnberg P-series gear measuring centers as feedback for closed-loop manufacturing.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Maximum Gear Diameter	500 mm (19.7 in)
Maximum Module	10
Gear Type	Spiral bevel and hypoid gears (Palloid process)
Tool Type	Conical hob (Palloid cutter)
CNC Axes	6
Swivel Head	CNC-controlled for hypoid offset
Gear Quality	DIN 5 with grinding; DIN 7 hobbed
Control	Klingelnberg proprietary CNC + KIMoS
Automation Interface	Gantry loader compatible
Lubrication	Flood cutting oil standard
Manufacturer	ABB
Model	PSE
Horsepower	121 hp
Hours	1,321 h
Capacity	192,000 kg
Stroke Length	6,985.0 mm

Specifications sourced from machinio.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Palloid process produces theoretically optimal line contact for quiet, efficient bevel gears
KIMoS software provides closed-loop manufacturing from design through inspection
6 CNC axes enable full hypoid offset control for automotive differential production
Klingelnberg's global network provides applications engineering for complex bevel gear programs
Industry-leading reputation for precision bevel gear production in automotive and aerospace

Limitations

Very high capital investment — viable only for dedicated bevel gear production lines
Palloid process tooling (conical hobs) is specialized and sourced only from Klingelnberg
Software complexity requires specialized operators trained by Klingelnberg
Competing Gleason face-mill process is better supported in North American service market

Best For

Automotive axle manufacturers producing spiral bevel and hypoid differentials Racing and performance driveline manufacturers needing precision hypoid gears Industrial gearbox makers producing right-angle drives in volume Aerospace bevel gear producers needing DIN 5 precision for flight-critical applications

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the Palloid process and how does it differ from Gleason face milling?

The Palloid (also called Cyclo-Palloid or Klingelnberg-Palloid) process uses a conical hob in a continuous generating motion, producing gears with lengthwise curved teeth and a theoretically constant tooth height. Gleason face milling uses a face cutter head in a single-indexing process to produce gears with tapered tooth depth. Palloid gears have theoretical line contact; Gleason gears have point contact. Klingelnberg claims Palloid gears have lower noise at equivalent load.

02 Can the C 50 cut both spiral bevel and hypoid gears?

Yes. The C 50 cuts spiral bevel gears (where pinion and ring gear axes intersect) and hypoid gears (where the axes are offset, as in automotive rear axle differentials). The CNC swivel head controls the offset distance.

03 What tooth quality does the C 50 achieve?

The C 50 cutting center achieves approximately DIN 7 (AGMA 9) in the hobbed condition. Lapping or grinding on Klingelnberg grinding machines improves quality to DIN 5 (AGMA 11) for precision applications.