Liebherr LGT 1200 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine
Key Specifications
Maximum Workpiece Diameter
Maximum Module
Maximum Face Width
Hob Speed
Workpiece Speed
CNC Axes
Overview
The Liebherr LGT 1200 is a large-diameter CNC gear hobbing machine from Liebherr's Gear Technology Division, designed for the production of large industrial gears used in wind turbines, marine propulsion, mining equipment, and heavy construction machinery. The LGT 1200 accommodates ring gears and planetary gear carriers up to 1200 mm pitch diameter, enabling production of the largest gear types encountered in industrial gearboxes without outsourcing to specialty job shops. The machine features a direct-drive workpiece spindle and a high-torque hob spindle for wet hobbing with carbide hobs, maintaining DIN 6 gear quality on large module (up to 18) gears in a single setup. Liebherr's patented synchronization control eliminates pitch error accumulation across the large diameter, ensuring gear quality meets specifications even on modules that were historically difficult to hob accurately. The LGT 1200 is used by Renk AG, SKF, and major wind turbine gearbox OEMs for production of planetary ring gears and pinion shafts in alloy steel.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Workpiece Diameter | 1200 mm (47.2 in) |
| Maximum Module | 18 |
| Maximum Face Width | 700 mm (27.6 in) |
| Hob Speed | Up to 800 RPM |
| Workpiece Speed | Up to 200 RPM |
| CNC Axes | 6 CNC axes |
| Drive | Direct-drive workpiece spindle |
| Gear Quality | DIN 6 (ISO Grade 6) |
| Cutting Method | Wet hobbing (carbide or HSS hob) |
| Automation Interface | Crane loading compatible |
Specifications sourced from liebherr.com — verified 2026-03-28
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- 1200mm diameter capacity covers the largest industrial gears without job shop outsourcing
- Module 18 capability for large marine and mining gearbox gears
- Direct-drive spindle eliminates gear train error accumulation on large diameter
- Liebherr's precision synchronization control maintains DIN 6 quality at full diameter
- Crane loading compatibility for gears too heavy for gantry loaders
Limitations
- Very high capital investment — viable only for dedicated large gear production
- Limited market — few shops outside wind turbine and marine sectors need 1200mm capacity
- Long delivery times for custom large-format configurations
- Hob grinding for module 18 hobs requires specialized hob grinding equipment
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
The LGT 1200 produces external spur and helical gears up to 1200mm diameter and module 18. It does not hob internal gears (which require shaping or broaching) or bevel gears (which require Gleason or Klingelnberg machines).
02
Wind turbine gears are typically case-hardened alloy steels: 18CrNiMo7-6 (European standard) or 9310 steel (US standard). After hobbing to DIN 6, gears are case-hardened by carburizing to 58-62 HRC on the tooth flanks, then ground to DIN 4-5.
03
Workpieces are crane-loaded onto the rotary table using lifting equipment. The machine includes crane bridge interfaces for safe handling of gear blanks that can weigh 500-2,000 kg in large wind turbine sizes.
Community Discussions
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Pricing and buying discussion — gear hobbing : r/Machinists - RedditMachining - Reddithas anyone created a diy cnc gear hobbing machine?How difficult is gear making? : r/Machinists - RedditAny idea what’s causing this banding? : r/Machinists - RedditMachining spur gears without an A axis or rotary t
Community discussion — has anyone created a diy cnc gear hobbing machine?
Community discussion — How difficult is gear making? : r/Machinists - Reddit
Community discussion — Any idea what’s causing this banding? : r/Machinists - Reddit
Links to community discussions. Summaries are editorial — visit the original thread for full context.
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