Niles-Simmons N40S

$600,000 - $1,200,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

Max Turn Length

3,000 - 6,000 mm (depending on configuration)

max swing diameter

~400 mm (15.7 in)

spindle nose

DIN 55026 / A2-11 equivalent

live tooling

Yes — milling and drilling with C-axis

c axis resolution

0.001 deg

eccentric turning

Yes — crankpin journal machining with phase indexing

Overview

The Niles-Simmons N40S is a large-format CNC turning center from Niles-Simmons Industrieanlagen GmbH, the Chemnitz, Germany-based manufacturer specializing in heavy-duty turning, milling, and grinding equipment for the automotive, aerospace, rail, and energy sectors. The N40S is engineered specifically for crankshaft and large shaft work — the cylindrical components with irregular geometry and demanding accuracy requirements that are found throughout powertrain manufacturing, marine propulsion, and power generation applications.

The N40S designation covers machines with swing diameter around 400 mm, which corresponds to automotive crankshafts for large diesel engines, camshafts, and medium industrial shafts. The machine features OD turning capability with live tooling for milling and drilling operations, allowing complex shaft components to be completed in a single setup rather than requiring multiple dedicated machines. This capability is central to Niles-Simmons' mill-turn philosophy for powertrain components — reducing setup count, improving geometric accuracy by eliminating re-chuck error, and compressing throughput time.

The machine bed is a heavy cast iron design with wide slideways optimized for rigidity during deep turning cuts on difficult materials including forged steel crankshafts and hardened camshaft blanks. The spindle is designed for both concentric turning and, through the machine's phase-indexing capability, eccentric journal turning — the defining operation in crankshaft machining where the crankpin journals must be turned relative to the main bearing centerline. Niles-Simmons' control software includes dedicated crankshaft turning cycles that automate the eccentric turning process.

The control is Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl, the dominant CNC platform for German heavy-duty machine tools. The machine integrates Niles-Simmons' proprietary shaft machining software layer on top of the Siemens control, providing application-specific cycles, measurement cycles, and compensation strategies for shaft work. Production monitoring and OPC-UA connectivity are standard for integration into Industry 4.0 manufacturing environments.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Swing Diameter	~400 mm (15.7 in)
Max Turning Length	3,000 - 6,000 mm (depending on configuration)
Spindle Nose	DIN 55026 / A2-11 equivalent
Live Tooling	Yes — milling and drilling with C-axis
C Axis Resolution	0.001 deg
Eccentric Turning	Yes — crankpin journal machining with phase indexing
Workpiece Type	Crankshafts, camshafts, industrial shafts, spindles
CNC Control	Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl with Niles-Simmons shaft machining software
Connectivity	OPC-UA Industry 4.0 standard
Guideway Type	Heavy cast iron bed, wide box slideways
Coolant System	High-pressure coolant with chip conveyor
Sun	Mon

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Phase-indexing capability for crankpin journal turning enables complete crankshaft machining on a single platform without dedicated crankshaft grinding prep
Live tooling with C-axis completes milling, drilling, and keyway operations in the same setup as turning — eliminating re-chuck error and transfer time
Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl provides a world-class control foundation with Niles-Simmons' proven shaft machining cycles on top
Heavy cast iron bed and wide slideways deliver the rigidity required for deep turning cuts on forged steel and hardened shaft blanks
OPC-UA connectivity enables seamless integration into Industry 4.0 production monitoring and MES environments
Niles-Simmons' specialization in powertrain and shaft machining brings application-specific engineering depth not available from general turning center manufacturers

Limitations

Investment cost in the $600K-$1.2M range places this machine firmly in the capital equipment category requiring production volume justification
Highly specialized machine — a crankshaft turning center is not a general-purpose lathe and requires application-specific programming expertise
Niles-Simmons is a niche manufacturer with limited North American sales and service presence compared to Mazak, DMG Mori, or Okuma
Lead times from the Chemnitz factory can be 12-24 months for custom-configured machines in high-demand periods
Maintenance and spare parts require coordination with German engineering staff for complex mechanical and software issues

Best For

Automotive powertrain manufacturers machining crankshafts for large diesel engines, trucks, and industrial equipment Marine and locomotive manufacturers producing large propulsion shafts, crankshafts, and camshafts Power generation OEMs machining turbine shafts, generator shafts, and compressor shafts Precision shaft subcontractors producing a mix of shaft types across powertrain, aerospace, and energy sectors Facilities replacing older dedicated crankshaft lathes with modern mill-turn centers that reduce setup count and improve accuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the price of a Niles-Simmons N40S?

Niles-Simmons N40S turning centers typically price between $600,000 and $1,200,000 depending on turning length, options, and spindle configuration. Custom configurations for specific crankshaft families may exceed this range.

02 Can the N40S machine crankshafts completely?

The N40S can perform the turning and milling operations in the crankshaft machining sequence including main bearing journal turning, crankpin journal turning via phase indexing, flange and snout turning, and auxiliary milling and drilling operations. Grinding of journals to final tolerance requires a separate grinding operation, typically on a dedicated crankshaft grinder.

03 What CNC control does the Niles-Simmons N40S use?

The N40S uses Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl, the industry-standard CNC for German heavy machine tools. Niles-Simmons adds proprietary shaft machining cycles and measurement routines on top of the Siemens platform for crankshaft and camshaft operations.

04 How does the N40S compare to the Niles-Simmons N20-MC and N60-MC?

The N-series covers a range of shaft sizes. The N20-MC addresses smaller automotive shafts, the N40S targets medium-large automotive and industrial crankshafts in the 400 mm swing class, and the N60-MC handles large industrial and marine shafts above 600 mm swing. The N40S sits in the production automotive powertrain segment.

05 Is Niles-Simmons equipment available in North America?

Niles-Simmons serves North American customers through a distribution and service network, but the primary manufacturing and engineering base is in Chemnitz, Germany. Major automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in North America do purchase Niles-Simmons equipment, but the local support structure is thinner than from Japanese or domestic manufacturers.