Klingelnberg G 60

$1,500,000 - $2,200,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

machine type

CNC Bevel Gear Cutting Machine (Palloid Face Hobbing)

max ring gear diameter

600 mm (23.6 in)

max pinion diameter

400 mm (15.7 in)

max module

14 mm

min module

2 mm

max face width

100 mm (3.94 in)

Overview

The Klingelnberg G 60 is a CNC bevel gear cutting machine for the production of large spiral bevel and hypoid gear sets up to 600 mm in ring gear diameter using the Klingelnberg Palloid continuous face-hobbing process. As the largest machine in Klingelnberg's G-series bevel gear cutting range, the G 60 serves the heavy truck tandem axle market, construction equipment final drives, marine bevel gear applications, and large industrial gearboxes where ring gear diameters exceed those addressable by smaller Klingelnberg G-series or competitive machines. The G 60 represents the cutting (soft machining) complement to the Klingelnberg P-series bevel gear grinding line, designed to be used in the pre-harden sequence before finish grinding.

The Palloid face-hobbing process used by the G 60 employs a continuous-indexing epicyclic cutter head to generate the bevel gear tooth form in a single continuous cutting motion. Unlike face-milling (Gleason system) which cuts one tooth gap at a time, the Palloid process generates all tooth spaces simultaneously as the cutter rotates through the gear blank. This characteristic produces a gear with uniform tooth depth along the face width and a specific spiral angle distribution. The process is especially well-suited to large bevel gears where cycle time reduction from continuous cutting versus indexing is most significant.

The G 60's cutter spindle accommodates Klingelnberg's range of epicyclic cutter heads, with the machine providing the CNC-controlled 6-axis motions needed to generate correct tooth geometry across the full 600 mm work range. The work spindle holds the gear blank via standardized arbor or chuck interfaces, with a maximum workpiece weight of 500 kg supported. Machine bed design uses high-mass Meehanite cast iron to provide thermal and vibration stability during heavy cutting. Klingelnberg's CNC control with KIMoS gear geometry software handles job programming, cutter path generation, and integration with downstream grinding and measurement operations.

At approximately $1,500,000-$2,200,000, the G 60 is a capital-intensive machine positioned at large-scale bevel gear producers. Primary competition comes from Gleason's 600H and 900H bevel gear cutting machines in the Gleason face-milling process camp, and from Oerlikon/Klingelnberg's own smaller G-series machines for shops that already standardize on the Palloid system. For shops running the full Klingelnberg process chain (G-series cutting → P-series grinding → P-series measurement), the KIMoS software continuity across all three machine types is a significant competitive differentiator.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Machine Type	CNC Bevel Gear Cutting Machine (Palloid Face Hobbing)
Max Ring Gear Diameter	600 mm (23.6 in)
Max Pinion Diameter	400 mm (15.7 in)
Max Module	14 mm
Min Module	2 mm
Max Face Width	100 mm (3.94 in)
Max Workpiece Weight	500 kg (1,102 lb)
Cutting Process	Continuous face hobbing (Palloid/Oerlikon system)
Cutter Spindle Power	45 kW (60.3 hp) continuous
Number Of Cnc Axes	6
Materials Capability	Steel alloys up to 42 HRC (pre-hardened), through-hardened to 60+ HRC before grinding
Coolant	Flood coolant (cutting oil or water-soluble)
CNC Control	Klingelnberg proprietary CNC (KIMoS software)
Loading	Manual or robotic loading interface
Machine Weight	35,000 kg (77,162 lb)
Machine Dimensions	6,000 x 5,000 x 3,500 mm (236 x 197 x 138 in)
Workpiece Diameter	Ø 600 mm
Normal Module Range	2 – 12 mm
Facewidth	110 mm
Number Of Teeth	360
Basic Angle Setting Range	± 90°
Grinding Wheel Diameter	102 – 406 mm (4 - 16“)
Grinding Wheel Height Incl Base Plate	135 mm
Seat	HSK-E63 E DIN 69893-5
Grinding Spindle Rotation Speed	4,500 rpm
Eccentric Speed	3,800 rpm
Dresser Speed	6,000 rpm
Nominal Grinding Wheel Drive Rating	22 kW
Seating Diameter Inner Cone	Ø 203.218 mm (8“)
Workpiece Spindle Bore Hole	Ø 150 mm
Work Spindle Depth	740 mm
Workpiece Spindle Rotation Speed	40 rpm
Total Connected Load Without Filter System	57 kVA
Machine Dimensions Including Filter System Approx	5,620 x 4,500 x 3,190 mm
Machine Net Weight Approx	22,900 kg
Salutation	Mr.Mrs.
Zip Code	City*
Country	E-Mail*
Phone	Fax

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

600 mm ring gear capacity covers the largest truck axle, construction equipment, and marine bevel gear sets in a single machine
Continuous Palloid face-hobbing process generates all tooth spaces simultaneously, providing shorter cycle times than indexing face-milling on large gears
500 kg maximum workpiece weight handles the heaviest large-diameter gear blanks used in heavy truck and industrial applications
KIMoS software continuity across Klingelnberg cutting, grinding, and measuring machines enables seamless process chain from blank to finished gear
Klingelnberg's Palloid tooth system provides uniform tooth depth along face width, which is advantageous for load distribution in heavy-duty applications

Limitations

$1.5M-$2.2M capital cost limits the G 60 to very high-volume production environments — low-volume job shops and OEM captive gear shops with limited output cannot justify the investment
Palloid system lock-in means gears must be designed on the Klingelnberg tooth system to take full advantage of the machine — retrofitting Gleason-system gear designs requires engineering rework
35,000 kg machine weight and 6,000 x 5,000 mm footprint require dedicated, specially reinforced floor space with adequate crane access for workpiece loading

Best For

Heavy truck tandem axle and drive axle manufacturers producing large ring gear and pinion sets in the 400-600 mm ring gear diameter range Construction equipment manufacturers (mining, earthmoving) producing large bevel gear sets for final drives and differentials in harsh-duty applications Marine propulsion and industrial gearbox producers requiring large-module bevel gears with long service life in demanding load environments Captive gear shops at major OEMs who standardize on the Klingelnberg Palloid process chain across cutting, grinding, and measurement

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the Palloid bevel gear cutting process?

The Palloid process (also called Klingelnberg face hobbing or Oerlikon process) uses a rotating epicyclic cutter head that indexes continuously through all tooth spaces simultaneously as the cutter and workpiece rotate together. This produces a bevel gear with uniform tooth depth along the face width, as opposed to the tapered depth produced by Gleason face-milling. The continuous indexing makes the process inherently faster on large gears with many teeth.

02 How does the G 60 compare to Gleason's large bevel gear cutting machines?

The G 60 uses the Klingelnberg Palloid face-hobbing process, while Gleason machines use face-milling (discontinuous indexing). Gleason has a larger installed base worldwide, particularly in North America and automotive applications. Klingelnberg's Palloid system is preferred in European truck and industrial gearbox manufacturers and has a strong installed base in that market. The two systems produce geometrically different but functionally equivalent gear forms — choice is often dictated by existing tooling investment and process standards.

03 What is the role of the G 60 in the overall gear manufacturing process?

The G 60 performs the soft (pre-hardened) cutting operation that generates the rough tooth form in the gear blank. After the G 60, parts are typically carburized or case-hardened (heat treated), then finish ground on a Klingelnberg P-series bevel gear grinder to achieve final dimensional accuracy and surface finish. The G 60's cutting accuracy directly impacts how much stock is left for grinding and how evenly that stock is distributed across the flanks.

04 Can the G 60 cut both ring gears and mating pinions?

Yes. The G 60 cuts both the ring gear and the mating pinion of a spiral bevel or hypoid gear set. The cutter head configuration and CNC programs are different for ring gear vs. pinion, but both use the same machine. Matched ring gear and pinion sets cut on the same G 60 are process-matched, meaning they will run together correctly after heat treatment and grinding.

05 What materials can the G 60 cut?

The G 60 cuts standard gear steels including case-hardening grades (e.g., 8620, 9310, 20MnCr5, 18CrNiMo7-6) and through-hardening grades in the annealed or normalized condition. Pre-hardened material up to approximately 42 HRC can be cut with appropriate tooling, though most production applications cut gears in the soft state before heat treatment. The machine uses flood coolant (cutting oil or water-soluble) for chip removal and tool life.