The Hermle C22U is a German-engineered 5-axis vertical machining center with a reputation for spindle accuracy, structural rigidity, and long-term precision retention that has made it a go-to platform in aerospace, medical, die/mold, and complex production environments. This 2012 example runs a Heidenhain iTNC 530 CNC control with a 5-axis swivel trunnion table — an NC rotary table with a 12.6" (Ø 320mm) diameter, +/-135° B-axis travel, and 0.001° A-axis indexing resolution — creating a working envelope of 17.7" (X) × 23.6" (Y) × 12.99" (Z). The HSK-A63 spindle reaches 18,000 RPM and is driven by a 35 HP main motor, with the spindle professionally rebuilt in March 2025. Internal coolant flows through the spindle center at 80 bar (approximately 1,160 PSI). The 55-tool ATC manages HSK-A63 tooling. This machine ships with an extensive option package: a 96-station HSK 100 Receiver Pallet Pool with two loading/unloading stations, glass scales on all three linear axes, a Blum laser tool break-off detection system, a torque drive and A-axis dynamics package on the rotary assembly, automatic cabin door, iTNC electronic heat compensation, bed wash, swarf spray gun, and oil mist extraction.
The C22U is the direct evolution of Hermle's earlier C20U compact 5-axis platform, and the spec differences between them are meaningful for buyers comparing both on the used market. The C20U was built around a Ø 250mm (9.8") rotary table versus the C22U's Ø 320mm (12.6") — a 28% increase in table diameter that translates directly to larger part capacity and improved clearance in complex 5-sided setups. Where the C20U topped out at 12,000 or 15,000 RPM in most configurations, the C22U supports an 18,000 RPM spindle option, enabling substantially faster material removal in aluminum, titanium alloys, and precision steel work. The C22U also introduced expanded automation-readiness through its pallet pool integration, improved structural geometry in the trunnion casting, and the dynamic axis package that sharpened acceleration profiles across both rotary and linear axes. Buyers stepping from a C20U — or any comparable compact 5-axis platform — into this C22U gain a wider table, faster spindle ceiling, richer control features via the iTNC 530, and a pallet automation system that transforms single-part setups into repeatable production runs.