Liebherr LC 280 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine
Key Specifications
Max Workpiece ⌀
max module
axial travel
shift distance
hob diameter
hob speed
How much does the Liebherr LC 280 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine cost?
Estimated price range
Our best estimate for a cnc gear cutting machine in this class — not a quote from Liebherr. Configuration moves it a long way.
Overview
The Liebherr LC 280 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine pairs a 280 mm maximum workpiece diameter with fast rotary axes: hob speed is listed at 6,000 / 2,250 rpm and table speed at 800 / 250 rpm. Those two rows are the reason to consider it for volume work on small and medium gears. The LC 300, one size up, lists 3,000 rpm as its highest hob speed and 400 rpm for its fastest table.
Hob speed depends on the head. The 2,250 rpm figure is the standard head with 13 kW; 6,000 rpm needs the optional direct-drive head with 23 kW. During hobbing the table turns in a fixed ratio to the hob that is set by the number of teeth, so a gear with few teeth demands a fast table. The higher of the two listed table speeds, 800 rpm, is what allows a fast hob to be used on low-tooth-count pinions, where a slower table would force the hob speed down.
Speed comes with tighter limits on the tool. On the direct-drive head the hob is no larger than 90 mm, the shift distance is 180 mm and the module stops at 4 mm, against 150 mm, 200 mm and 6 mm on the standard head. A smaller hob with a shorter shift has less cutting edge to work through between regrinds, so the faster setup should be judged on tool consumption as well as cycle time.
Axial travel is 400 mm and shank cutters clamp up to 360 mm long. When ordering, name the head, the table speed and the largest hob you intend to run, since Liebherr's table gives the options but not every pairing. The LC 180 carries identical figures except for its 180 mm workpiece diameter. LHGearTec is the listed software.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Max Workpiece Diameter | 280 mm |
| Max Module | 4.00 / 6.00 mm |
| Axial Travel | 400 mm |
| Shift Distance | 200 mm |
| Hob Diameter | 150 mm |
| Hob Speed | 6,000 / 2,250 rpm |
| Table Speed | 800 / 250 rpm |
| Max Tool Clamping Length Shank Cutter | 360 mm |
| Hob Head Standard | Drive power 13 kW; speed of cutter spindle 2,250 rpm; max. module 6 mm; shift distance 200 mm; max. hob diameter 150 mm |
| Hob Head Direct Drive | Drive power 23 kW; speed of cutter spindle 6000 rpm; max. module 4 mm; shift distance 180 mm; max. hob diameter 90 mm (option) |
| Software | LHGearTec |
Specifications sourced from liebherr.com — verified 2026-10-03
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Hob speed up to 6,000 rpm with the optional 23 kW direct-drive head
- Table speed listed up to 800 rpm, twice the 400 rpm of the T 400 D table on the LC 300
- Covers gears up to 280 mm in diameter, against 180 mm for the LC 180 with the same heads
- Standard head handles module 6 mm with a 150 mm hob and 200 mm of shift
- Shank cutter clamping length of up to 360 mm
Limitations
- The headline 6,000 rpm is not the standard configuration: the standard head runs at 2,250 rpm with 13 kW
- At 6,000 rpm the module limit is 4 mm and the hob can be no larger than 90 mm
- Liebherr's table does not state which of the two table speeds, 800 or 250 rpm, comes with which configuration
- Hob diameter ends at 150 mm, where the LC 300 takes 240 mm
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
6,000 rpm, with the optional direct-drive hob head, which has 23 kW of drive power. The standard hob head runs at 2,250 rpm with 13 kW. Liebherr lists the pair as 6,000 / 2,250 rpm, so check which head a particular machine carries.
02
The table rotates in step with the hob at a ratio fixed by the tooth count, so the fewer teeth a gear has, the faster the table must turn for a given hob speed. The LC 280 is listed with table speeds of 800 / 250 rpm. A fast table lets a small pinion be cut without slowing the hob.
03
Module and hob size. The direct-drive head is limited to module 4 mm, a 90 mm maximum hob diameter and a 180 mm shift distance. The standard head cuts module 6 mm with hobs up to 150 mm and 200 mm of shift, at 2,250 rpm in place of 6,000 rpm.
04
The hob head first: standard with 13 kW and 2,250 rpm, or direct-drive with 23 kW and 6,000 rpm. Then the table speed, listed as 800 / 250 rpm. Check also that your parts fit the 400 mm axial travel and that any shank cutters are within the 360 mm clamping length.
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