SW BA 342 & BA 342i
Key Specifications
Spindle Taper
Spindle Power
number of spindles
spindle distance
spindle speed range
spindle torque
How much does the SW BA 342 & BA 342i cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the SW BA 342 & BA 342i that we can stand behind, so we show no number. Configuration, options and installation move the final price a long way: a quote is the reliable figure.
Overview
The SW BA 342 & BA 342i carries four spindles and two work tables, the densest arrangement in the BA 3 series. SW lists both names in a single table column. The i marks integrated automation in SW's naming scheme.
Four HSK-A40 spindles stand 150 mm (5.9 in) apart. Each has a speed range of 1-20,000 rpm with 18 kW and 17 Nm, and a work space of 150 mm (5.9 in) in X, 450 mm (17.7 in) in Y and 375 mm (14.8 in) in Z. One of SW's videos for the series shows four-spindle 5-axis simultaneous machining on a BA 342, which gives an idea of the intended work: small contoured parts such as impellers, four per cycle.
Output per square metre is the argument. Four parts leave the machine each cycle, and the second table is loaded while the first is in the cut. SW's energy claim for the series is 50% less energy used per part than single-spindle machining.
The limits are just as clear. A part must fit a 150 mm pitch, fixtures must turn inside Ø 475 x 830 mm, and four fixtures have to be set up and kept identical. That effort only pays back on long-running series, which is where the BA 342i with its integrated automation belongs.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Spindles | 4 |
| Spindle Distance | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Spindle Speed Range | 1-20,000 min-1 |
| Spindle Motor Power | 18 kW (24.1 hp) per spindle |
| Spindle Torque | 17 Nm (12.5 lb-ft) per spindle |
| Spindle Taper | HSK-A40 |
| X Axis Travel | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Y Axis Travel | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
| Z Axis Travel | 375 mm (14.8 in) |
| Interference Circle 4th Axis | Ø 475 x 830 mm (Ø 18.7 x 32.7 in) |
Specifications sourced from sw-machines.com — verified 2026-10-04
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Four spindles and two work tables: four parts per cycle with loading in parallel to machining time
- 18 kW and 17 Nm per HSK-A40 spindle at up to 20,000 rpm
- The BA 342i comes with integrated automation as a ready-to-connect production cell
- SW states 50% less energy used per part compared with single-spindle machining
Limitations
- 150 mm (5.9 in) spindle distance and X travel restrict the machine to narrow parts
- 17 Nm per spindle is light for anything but small tools
- Four fixtures per table side must be built and maintained alike
- Interference circle of Ø 475 x 830 mm, against Ø 575 x 830 mm on the BA 341
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Four, one per spindle. The spindles are 150 mm (5.9 in) apart and each has 150 mm of X travel. With two work tables, four more parts can be loaded on the second table while the first four are machined.
02
Four HSK-A40 spindles, each with a speed range of 1-20,000 rpm, 18 kW and 17 Nm. For higher speed SW offers the BA 341 with HSK-E50 spindles at up to 40,000 rpm, which gives 13 kW and 8 Nm per spindle.
03
The same machine with integrated automation. SW says it equips machining centers of certain sizes with integrated automation to create self-sufficient production cells and supplies them ready for connection. The spindle and travel figures in SW's table are shared by both versions.
04
SW's series page includes a video titled four-spindle 5-axis simultaneous machining on the BA 342. The spec table itself lists only the 4th-axis interference circle, Ø 475 x 830 mm, so ask SW how the fifth axis is configured and what it does to the usable part size.
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