High-speed CNC milling machine for large aluminium parts (gantry and five-axis)
High-speed CNC mills for large aluminium parts · gantry and five-axis layouts, spindle power curve, linear drives, table and part envelope
A high-speed CNC milling machine for large aluminium parts is a gantry or five-axis machine built to mill aluminium plate and billet into large structural parts, using spindles that run at tens of thousands of rpm with high power, fast linear axes and chip handling sized for large volumes of chips. Ask three things first: what power and torque the spindle gives at the speeds your cutters run, how large a part and table load the machine takes, and how the axes are driven and how fast they move and accelerate.
Gantry (bridge) and five-axis CNC milling machines built for high-speed machining of large aluminium parts such as aerospace structural components and plates, and long-bed CNC machining centres for aluminium profiles. Three-axis vertical machining centres are covered on the CNC machining centers page; turning centres, routers for wood and composites, and cutting tools are outside this page.
CNFX editorial research · Sources checked October 12, 2026 · 3 sources
Read spindle power and torque at the speeds you will cut
APEC's specification for its SKM gantry machining centre, sold for aerospace aluminium and listed by its distributor Phillips, gives an HSK63A spindle running to 24,000 rpm with 60 kW (S1) and 75 kW (S6) of power and 48 Nm (S1) and 60 Nm (S6) of torque, carried in a fork-type two-axis milling head swivelling B ±120° and rotating C ±360°. [1] Makino lists a 33,000 rpm, 130 kW spindle for its MAG3 five-axis horizontal machine, which it describes as designed for high-productivity machining of complex aluminium monolithic aerospace parts. [2] A 2019 trade report on APEC's G and GM gantry series describes a newer two-axis head with an HSK-63A spindle of 167 HP and 30,000 RPM. [3]
Editorial calculation: power equals torque times angular speed, so the SKM's 60 kW at 48 Nm is reached from about 60,000 ÷ 48 = 1,250 rad/s, or about 11,900 rpm (1,250 × 60 ÷ 2π), and 75 kW at 60 Nm from the same speed; below that, power falls with speed. At 33,000 rpm, 130 kW corresponds to about 130,000 ÷ (33,000 × 2π ÷ 60) ≈ 38 Nm. 167 HP is about 125 kW (× 0.7457). These figures assume the listed power and torque are available together; ask for the maker's power and torque curve. [1][2][3]
Editorial note: compare spindles at the speed and tool diameter of your roughing cutters, not by maximum rpm alone, and ask which spindle rating (S1 continuous or S6 intermittent) the quoted power refers to. [1]
Give the supplier the part sizes and weights, alloys, stock form (plate, billet, forging or profile), cutters and spindle speeds, required power and torque at those speeds, tool taper and magazine size, axis travels and table size, accuracy needs, chip and coolant volumes, automation such as pallet changers, controls, and site power.
02
Fit the part envelope, table load and axis drives
APEC lists the SKM in three widths with X travels of 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 or 8,000 mm, Y travels of 2,700, 3,200 or 3,700 mm and a Z travel of 1,000 mm; tables of 2,200, 2,700 or 3,500 mm width; a maximum table load of 8,000 kg/m²; rapid traverse of 60 m/min on X, Y and Z; a 30-tool magazine with tools up to 300 mm long; and machine weights of 52 to 99 tonnes. All three axes are driven by dual linear motors. Its feature list gives a maximum acceleration of 5 m/sec² while the specification table gives 5-8 m/sec², so confirm the figure for the quoted size. [1]
Makino lists the MAG3 with X, Y and Z travels of 3,000, 1,500 and 1,000 mm, a 3,000 × 1,500 mm pallet, a maximum workpiece of 3,000 × 1,500 × 750 mm and 3,000 kg, rapid traverse of 62,700 mm/min on X and 58,000 mm/min on Y and Z, a cutting feedrate of 50,000 mm/min and a tool magazine of 120 (180) tools, and says it can be linked to a pallet transfer and storage system for extended unattended operation. [2] The trade report states that APEC's linear-drive design allows large parts to be produced 1.5 to 2 times quicker than a standard ball-screw bridge mill, with the G and GM series available from 12 ft to 98 ft long. [3]
Editorial calculation: on the 6,000 mm SKM with the 2,200 mm table, the table area is 6.0 × 2.2 = 13.2 m², so the 8,000 kg/m² limit would allow about 105,600 kg if a load were spread evenly over the whole table; a part and fixture concentrated on a smaller area are limited by that area, so give the supplier the footprint of the part and fixture as well as their weight. [1]
03
Window-profile aluminium machines from Jinan Haikai and Jinan JMD
Jinan Haikai lists aluminium CNC milling machines and CNC aluminium machining centres among machines for aluminium window and door profiles; Jinan JMD lists a double-station aluminium machining centre (LJSQX-7000) among aluminium window machinery. Ask each for spindle power and torque at speed, axis travels and the profile or part sizes the machine takes.
04
Gantry, two-axis head, linear drives and chip removal
For aluminium the head and chip removal carry as much weight as the frame: high-speed spindles with tilt and rotation, and flushing that clears chips from a large table.
Assembly
Role
Fix in the order
Gantry or column and crossbeam
Carries the head over a large table; box-in-box design on one gantry. [1][3]
Spindle power at speed, travels and rapid rates for large aluminium parts
The published examples span gantries of 4,000 to 8,000 mm travel and a 3,000 mm five-axis pallet machine; compare spindle power at the speed you will cut, not peak power.
Field
What it means and published values
Ask the supplier for
Spindle power (kW)
Examples: 60/75 kW (S1/S6) at 24,000 rpm; 130 kW at 33,000 rpm. [1][2]
Power and torque curve.
X-axis travel (mm)
Examples: 4,000 to 8,000 mm gantry; 3,000 mm five-axis. [1][2]
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
Share this page
Compiled and source-reviewed by the CNFX editorial team.
Each manufacturer above links to the page on that company's own website where the product is listed, with the date we checked it. How we source and review
· Page last updated 13 October 2026
Buyer questions
How fast do spindles for aluminium milling run?
Examples from reviewed sources: 24,000 rpm on APEC's SKM gantry, 30,000 rpm on its newer G/GM head and 33,000 rpm on Makino's MAG3. [1][3][2]
Why ask for spindle torque as well as power?
Power equals torque times speed; on the SKM's 48 Nm and 60 kW, full power is reached from about 11,900 rpm (editorial calculation). [1]
How large are gantry mills for aluminium parts?
APEC lists SKM X travels of 4,000 to 8,000 mm with Y up to 3,700 mm; the G and GM series are reported from 12 ft to 98 ft long. [1][3]
Why use linear motor drives?
A trade report states APEC's linear-drive design produces large parts 1.5 to 2 times quicker than a standard ball-screw bridge mill. [3]
Sources and what still needs a direct check
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Makino is a machine tool maker describing its own machine; the APEC specification is published by its distributor Phillips; Manufacturing News is a trade publication reporting an APEC statement. Figures apply to the machines named.
