Willemin-Macodel 251MT

$300,000 - $500,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

X Travel

200 mm (7.9 in)

Y Travel

150 mm (5.9 in)

Z Travel

200 mm (7.9 in)

Spindle Taper

HSK-E32 or equivalent for small tool shanks

max part diameter

~30 mm (1.18 in)

max part length

~100 mm (3.94 in)

Overview

The Willemin-Macodel 251MT is the most compact mill-turn machine in Willemin-Macodel's lineup, engineered for very small precision parts — the class of components measuring 25 mm diameter or less where Swiss-style precision machining philosophy and tight geometrical tolerances are non-negotiable. Built in Delémont, Switzerland, the 251MT targets watchmaking movement components, micro-medical device parts, precision connector pins, dental implant screws, and small aerospace fasteners and fittings where complexity and accuracy per millimeter of material are the defining manufacturing challenges.

Despite its compact form factor, the 251MT delivers full mill-turn capability: the workpiece spindle (C-axis) rotates for turning operations while live tooling performs milling, drilling, boring, and threading in any orientation. This combination allows complete part machining of rotationally symmetric parts with milled features — the typical profile of watchmaking and medical parts — in a single clamping. The 5-axis simultaneous machining capability (X, Y, Z, B, C) eliminates the multiple setups that would otherwise be required to machine all surfaces of a complex small part.

The machine's working envelope is configured for parts up to approximately 25-30 mm diameter and 100 mm length. The workpiece spindle achieves speeds up to 60,000 rpm, enabling ultra-high-speed turning of watchmaking components and dental implant screws in titanium and stainless steel — speeds that create the fine surface texture on thread flanks and bearing surfaces that medical standards require. The tool spindle reaches 40,000 rpm for high-speed milling of fine features and undercuts.

The base structure is mineral cast composite with exceptional thermal stability. Thermal compensation software corrects for spindle and structural growth throughout the production run. The 251MT integrates with Erowa automation systems for unattended production of small parts in high-mix configurations, and runs on Willemin-Macodel's proprietary CNC or Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl. Bar feeder interface is standard for automatic stock feeding in screw machine-style production.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Part Diameter	~30 mm (1.18 in)
Max Part Length	~100 mm (3.94 in)
X-Axis Travel	200 mm (7.9 in)
Y-Axis Travel	150 mm (5.9 in)
Z-Axis Travel	200 mm (7.9 in)
B Axis	+/-110 deg
C Axis	360 deg continuous (workpiece spindle)
Workpiece Spindle Speed	Up to 60,000 rpm
Tool Spindle Speed	Up to 40,000 rpm
Spindle Taper	HSK-E32 or equivalent for small tool shanks
Machine Base	Mineral cast composite
Thermal Compensation	Active — spindle and structural
Bar Feeder Interface	Standard
Automation	Erowa robot compatible
CNC Control	Willemin-Macodel proprietary CNC or Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl
Axis Configuration	5-axis simultaneous (X, Y, Z, B, C)
Manufacturer	Leadcrete
Spindle Bore	120 mm
Model	LZ3ER
Power Requirement	100 kW
Fuel Type	Electric
Drive Types	Electric

Specifications sourced from machinio.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

60,000 rpm workpiece spindle enables ultra-high-speed turning of small-diameter titanium and stainless steel watchmaking and medical components with fine thread and surface quality
Full 5-axis mill-turn in a machine scaled for sub-30mm parts — complete machining of complex small parts in a single clamping is the defining workflow advantage
Mineral cast composite base provides inherently high structural damping for chatter-free micro-cutting at very high spindle speeds
Bar feeder interface enables screw machine-style automatic stock feeding for production runs of small turned parts with milled features
Erowa automation compatibility supports lights-out production of high-mix small part families without manual intervention
Swiss engineering origin with thermal compensation tuned for the stringent dimensional requirements of watchmaking and medical part tolerances

Limitations

Extremely specialized machine — sub-30mm part capacity limits the 251MT to a narrow application niche within precision machining
Premium Swiss pricing is difficult to justify for shops that can use a larger and less expensive mill-turn for their smallest parts
60,000 rpm spindles require careful maintenance protocols including controlled cooldown cycles and frequent bearing condition monitoring
Willemin-Macodel service network in North America is sparse — primary support is in Switzerland and Western Europe
Programming and setup complexity for 5-axis micro-mill-turn work requires highly skilled machinists and programmers

Best For

Swiss watchmaking manufacturers machining movement components including balance wheels, escapement parts, gears, and balance springs from brass and beryllium copper Dental implant manufacturers turning implant screws, abutment posts, and micro-components from Grade 5 titanium and cobalt-chrome Medical device contract manufacturers machining bone screws, surgical needles, catheter components, and endoscopic tool shafts Aerospace fastener and fitting manufacturers producing complex small titanium and Inconel parts requiring milled features on turned blanks Precision connector and electronics manufacturers machining small brass and copper precision connector pins with milled engagement features

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the price of a Willemin-Macodel 251MT?

The Willemin-Macodel 251MT typically prices between $300,000 and $500,000 new, depending on spindle configuration, automation integration, and control system. The price reflects the precision Swiss engineering required for sub-30mm 5-axis mill-turn capability.

02 Why does a small machine need 60,000 rpm?

For very small diameter parts — watchmaking screws, dental implant components, and micro-medical parts under 5-10 mm diameter — achieving the correct surface cutting speed (which determines surface finish and tool life) requires extremely high spindle speeds. At 2 mm diameter and 60,000 rpm, the surface cutting speed is approximately 377 m/min — within the optimal range for titanium. At conventional spindle speeds of 10,000 rpm, the same part would have 63 m/min surface speed, resulting in poor finish and short tool life.

03 How does the 251MT compare to a Swiss-type screw machine?

A Swiss-type screw machine (sliding headstock lathe) is optimized for high-volume turning of small-diameter parts with minimal milling operations. The 251MT's 5-axis mill-turn capability handles far more complex milled features and surface orientations than a screw machine, at the cost of lower cycle throughput. The 251MT is best suited for high-complexity, moderate-volume parts where complete machining in one setup is the priority.

04 What materials does the 251MT machine?

The 251MT machines titanium (Grades 2, 5, 23 — medical grade Ti-6Al-4V ELI), 316L medical stainless steel, cobalt-chrome, brass, beryllium copper, aluminum alloys, and engineering plastics such as PEEK and Delrin for medical and precision instrument applications.

05 Can the 251MT run fully unattended?

Yes. With bar feeder integration for automatic stock loading and Erowa robot automation for workpiece handling, the 251MT can run unattended for extended periods. Part programs can be queued on the Erowa system with different workpiece pallets loaded, enabling automatic changeover between different part numbers without operator intervention.