what are pros and cons for having greater machine power and spindle torque

Dear all,
We are about to purchase new multitask machine . We have two proposal from two suppliers. All of the proposal satisfy our need. However, one of proposal has much greater machine power and spindle torque than another proposal.

Please could you advice me what is the advantage and the disadvantages for having greater machine power and greater spindle torque ?

Best Regards

On a South Bend you have to know which way the chuck is screwed on.

/ joke off. This poor bastard originally posted in general. The mighty Monichrist & Billy D sorted him out,

You still need to declare what machine's your contemplating.

Med said:

However, one of proposal has much greater machine power and spindle torque than another proposal.

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Is there any chance, one of those proposals is from HAAS?

Med said:

.....However, one of proposal has much greater machine power and spindle torque than another proposal.

Click to expand...

A couple thing to consider....

Are the rating methods the same between the builders? Some builders use a 5 minute rating and other use a 30 minute rating for maximum power specification. It's best to look at the continuous rating.

If the rest of the machine does not have the strength and rigidity to utilize the additional power or torque then you will gain little to nothing.

IMO, big numbers are often used purely for marketing purposes. It is not a big jump in cost for a machine builder to go from a 20 to a 30 HP spindle motor. When a buyer sees a spec that shows a 30 HP motor versus a 20 HP motor, most will rate the machine with the larger motor a "better buy".

machtool said:

The mighty Monichrist

Click to expand...

LMFAO!! That's too much, I gotta borrow that. Or maybe I'll use Mono., HA.

Power is by definition torque x rpm. What is more interesting the torque curve - or power at any given RPM - especially very low ones. One can imagine a machine where there's "more power" at peak RPM, but not more torque at 0. And since the workpiece starts at zero, the torque at zero matters.

If you (OP) are asking "could a motor be too big or too powerful" - will, it could be more expensive to buy, to run (more electric load), or maintain (most costly to fix) - a thing to think about.

I'll try to answer while keeping very simple, broad and basic in my explanation.

Greater machine Power and Spindle Torque allows the machine to take heavier cuts, push larger drills, cut larger work pieces than machines with less power and torque.

Down side of a Higher power machine is the higher cost to own and operate and they tend to be a bit slower as mass of everything is higher to compensate for additional power.


Think of a Pickup Truck compared to Large Dump Truck. If you need to make lots of little deliveries...why buy a huge dump truck. Need to move massive amounts of material from point A to B, the Dump truck becomes the clear winner.


Very general with lots of gray areas in between.

What it comes down to is the machine needs to fit your needs.