Mazak HCN-4000 III
Key Specifications
X Travel
Y Travel
Z Travel
Max Spindle
Spindle Taper
Tool Capacity
Overview
The Mazak HCN-4000 III is the third-generation compact horizontal machining center in Mazak's HCN family, built around a 400 mm (15.7 in) pallet and targeting high-volume production of small-to-medium prismatic parts. At 400 mm pallet size, the HCN-4000 III sits at the entry point of Mazak's horizontal lineup, offering the fundamental advantages of horizontal machining — gravity chip fall, dual-pallet automation, multi-face access — in the most compact and affordable HMC configuration the company offers.
The standard twin-pallet configuration enables continuous production: one pallet machines while the operator loads and probes the second pallet at the load station, achieving spindle utilization rates that VMCs cannot match in production environments. The 400 mm pallet accommodates workpieces up to 500 mm (19.7 in) diameter and 800 mm (31.5 in) height. Axis travels are 560 x 560 x 560 mm (22.0 x 22.0 x 22.0 in), forming a compact work cube suited to the majority of automotive, aerospace, and general precision prismatic components at this scale.
The standard spindle is a 15,000 RPM, 22 kW (30 hp) unit with HSK-A63 interface, delivering both high-speed aluminum performance and adequate steel roughing capability without spindle selection tradeoffs. The B-axis rotary pallet indexes in 1-degree increments as standard, with 0.001-degree CNC B-axis as an option for angular positioning work. The standard ATC holds 48 tools, with magazine options up to 160 tools for long unattended runs.
The HCN-4000 III runs on MAZATROL SmoothAi with built-in thermal compensation and vibration control. It competes against the DMG Mori NH 4000 DCG, the Makino a40, the Okuma MA-400HII, and the Brother Speedio series for small prismatic parts. Pricing for new machines runs $500,000 to $750,000 with twin-pallet standard.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Pallet Size | 400 mm (15.7 in) square |
| Number Of Pallets | 2 (standard) |
| X-Axis Travel | 560 mm (22.0 in) |
| Y-Axis Travel | 560 mm (22.0 in) |
| Z-Axis Travel | 560 mm (22.0 in) |
| B Axis Indexing | 1-degree increments (0.001-degree CNC optional) |
| Max Spindle Speed | 15,000 RPM |
| Spindle Taper | HSK-A63 |
| Spindle Motor Power | 22 kW (30 hp) at 25% ED |
| Spindle Torque | 120 Nm (89 ft-lb) at 25% ED |
| Max Workpiece Size | 500 mm dia x 800 mm H (19.7 x 31.5 in) |
| Max Workpiece Weight | 300 kg (661 lb) |
| Rapid Traverse Rate | 60 m/min (2,362 ipm) |
| Tool Capacity | 48 tools standard (80, 120, 160 optional) |
| Machine Weight | 13,000 kg (28,660 lb) |
| CNC Control | MAZATROL SmoothAi CNC |
Specifications sourced from mazakusa.com — verified 2026-03-28
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Standard twin-pallet configuration provides built-in production automation, enabling spindle utilization rates of 80%+ versus 50-60% for single-pallet VMCs
- Horizontal spindle orientation delivers gravity-assisted chip fall, dramatically reducing chip recutting and built-up edge compared to vertical machining centers on the same materials
- 15,000 RPM HSK-A63 spindle handles high-speed aluminum machining and steel production work without spindle compromises
- 60 m/min rapid traverse minimizes non-cutting time across programs with many tool changes and repositioning moves
Limitations
- $500,000-$750,000 entry price is 2-3x the cost of a comparable VMC, requiring high volume or complex multi-face work to justify the premium
- 400 mm pallet limits maximum workpiece size compared to 500 mm or 630 mm horizontal machining centers for larger prismatic parts
- 300 kg maximum workpiece weight is restrictive for heavier castings and forgings that could fit within the dimensional envelope
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
For production work on prismatic parts, horizontal machining centers deliver three key advantages: gravity chip fall (chips fall away from the work zone rather than accumulating in pockets and bores), built-in dual-pallet automation (spindle keeps cutting while you load the next part), and 4-face accessibility (B-axis indexes to all four sides in one setup). The HCN-4000 III typically delivers 40-60% higher throughput than a comparable VMC on the same family of parts, which justifies the higher upfront cost.
02
The standard configuration is a 2-pallet system. Mazak offers expansion to larger pallet pools via the PALLETECH flexible manufacturing system, which can add 8, 16, 32, or more pallets for extended unattended operation. PALLETECH allows scheduling parts across multiple machines and enables overnight and weekend production runs without operator presence.
03
Standard 1-degree B-axis indexing clamps the pallet at any multiple of 1 degree with high clamping force for rigid machining. The optional CNC B-axis allows positioning to 0.001-degree resolution for angularly positioned features like off-angle bores and compound-angle surfaces. The CNC B-axis adds cost and is only needed when your parts have angular features at non-90-degree orientations.
04
Both are 400 mm pallet horizontal machining centers targeting similar applications. The Makino a40 is known for exceptional thermal stability and is often chosen for high-precision aerospace work. The HCN-4000 III offers MAZATROL conversational programming and Mazak's broad service network, with generally competitive pricing. Most shops evaluate both with application-specific test cuts before deciding at this specification level.
05
Yes. The HCN-4000 III is designed to connect to Mazak's PALLETECH management system and can be combined with other Mazak HCN machines of different pallet sizes in a single FMS cell. Mazak also supports third-party robot integration via standardized interfaces for shops building custom automation cells.
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