China's first milling machine for propellers
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After attending the acceptance of the national "863 Program" project undertaken by Wuhan Heavy Machine Tool Group Co., Ltd. (Wuzhong), Professor Sheng Bohao, a senior engineer and deputy chief at the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute, praised the CKX5680 CNC seven-axis five-link motor-milling combined machining center highly. He emphasized that this is China's first large-scale vertical turning and milling machine, primarily designed for processing large ship propellers. Previously, such machines had to be imported at a cost exceeding 10 million U.S. dollars, but with this new development, the cost has been reduced to over 10 million yuan. According to Sheng, this breakthrough addresses both strategic and economic challenges.
The machine features a maximum processing diameter of 8 meters, a height of 2 meters, and a worktable capable of handling 100 tons. It not only enables precision milling of propeller blades, including complex overlapping sections, but also leverages its turning and milling capabilities to achieve single-clamping multi-surface machining. This significantly improves the quality of ship propellers in China.
For non-industry professionals, the strategic importance of five-axis CNC machines may be unclear. However, the Toshiba Incident serves as a clear example. In the late 20th century, Japan’s Toshiba sold several five-axis CNC machines to the Soviet Union, which were later used to manufacture nuclear submarine propellers. The enhanced precision reduced noise, making it harder for U.S. sonar to detect these submarines. This led to severe consequences for Toshiba, as it violated U.S. export restrictions on strategic materials.
The strategic value of five-axis CNC machines extends beyond defense. They play a crucial role in aviation, aerospace, military, scientific research, precision instruments, and high-precision medical equipment. Liang Xunyi, honorary chairman of the China Machine Tool Association, highlighted that the equipment manufacturing industry is the cornerstone of a nation’s industrial base. It drives technological innovation and modern production. Even developed countries place great emphasis on this sector.
In recent years, with China’s growing economy and national defense needs, there has been an urgent demand for advanced CNC machines. These tools are a symbol of a country’s manufacturing capabilities. Five-axis linkage systems, in particular, reflect a nation’s industrial maturity. For decades, Western countries, especially the U.S., have restricted the export of such technology. Despite globalization, high-precision CNC machines remain difficult to acquire. At this year’s International Machine Tool Show, Cincinnati showcased a high-end machine for aircraft composites, but only offered finished products, not the machine itself.
Guilin, the chief engineer at Wuzhong, noted that the success of the CKX5680 project was hard-won, taking four years of effort. He believes the project achieved independent innovation in host design, control systems, and surface processing. The core technologies can be applied to key components in China’s energy industry, such as large turbine blades and runners. This provides common processing solutions for aircraft engines, rocket engines, and ship propellers, filling domestic gaps and breaking foreign technological blockades.
Before this, Wuzhong also held a technical review for a super-large single-column vertical turning and milling machine ordered by Dongfang Electric (Guangzhou) Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd. With a load capacity of 600 tons, it is the world’s first of its kind.
2006 marked a significant year for Wuzhong’s technological advancements. At the National Science and Technology Conference, its self-developed CKX53160 CNC single-column vertical milling lathe won the second prize for scientific and technological progress from the State Council—this being the highest award ever given to the national machine tool industry. Additionally, the National Development and Reform Commission recognized Wuzhong as an “Important Unit in the Localization of Major Technical Equipments.†Only three machine tool enterprises nationwide received this honor, and among them, Hubei Province had just one: Wuzhong.
Liang emphasizes that these innovations are vital. They not only elevate China’s machine tool design and production standards but also enable breakthroughs in key technologies, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening domestic brands. Just as the competition between Lekai Film and Kodak/Fuji wasn’t just about products, but also about market influence, breaking the existing competitive landscape is essential for China’s long-term industrial development.