CNC Horizontal Machining Centers (HMC)
Makino A81NX
8 Makino A81NX listings have come through the used market we track: 4 marketplaces, built 2014–2019 where given.
35.4 inX-axis travel
40.2 inZ-axis travel
60Tool capacity
35.4 inY-axis travel
What the maker publishes about the current Makino A81NX
Makino's a81nx is a horizontal machining center built around a 630 mm pallet. Strokes are 900 mm in X, 900 mm in Y and 1,020 mm in Z, and the table rotates 360 degrees as the B axis. The largest workpiece is ø1,000 mm by 1,300 mm, and the maximum payload is 1,200 kg, with 1,500 kg listed as an option. The standard spindle turns 10,000 rpm on a CAT50 taper; a high torque spindle at 8,000 rpm and an HSK-A100 taper are optional. Rapid traverse and cutting feed are both 50,000 mm/min, or 36,000 mm/min with the high torque spindle. The magazine holds 60 tools, with 80, 136, 187 or 299 optional. Tools can reach 690 mm long, 356 mm across and 30 kg. A tool change takes 1.7 seconds tool to tool and 3.7 seconds chip to chip. Makino states that 100 mm of additional Y stroke, together with changes to the table and column castings, gives this model 12.5% more work envelope than its predecessor.
Source: Makino, October 14, 2026.
What the Makino A81NX is used for
Makino aims the a81nx at large parts that carry many features of different sizes, and it names automotive engine blocks and cylinder heads, whose mating surfaces need milling passes that feed on and off the part, and hard metals for its optional 8,000 rpm high-torque spindle.
Source: Makino, an archived copy of the maker's page from 2014, October 27, 2026.
Makino A81NX specifications
Manufacturer specification. Read from the manufacturer’s published specification and checked against it word for word.
Figures as currently published; an older unit may differ in control generation and options.
Capacity and travels
X-axis travelX: 900 mm Y: 900 mm Z: 1,020 mm
900 mm
Y-axis travelX: 900 mm Y: 900 mm Z: 1,020 mm
900 mm
Z-axis travelX: 900 mm Y: 900 mm Z: 1,020 mm
1,020 mm
AxesHorizontal Machining 4-Axis
4-Axis
Spindle and speed
Max spindle speedSpindle RPM
10,000 (8,000 High Torque opt)
Spindle taperSpindle Taper
CAT50 (HSK-A100 opt)
Rapid traverseRapid Traverse
50,000 mm/min (Std)
Table, turret and tools
Max table loadMaximum Payload
1,200 kg (1,500 kg opt)
Pallet sizePallet:
630 mm x 630 mm
Tool capacityATC Capacity
60 (80, 136, 187, 299 opt)
Further figures the manufacturer publishes
Maximum Workpiece
ø1,000 mm x 1,300 mm
Maximum Tool Length (Cat)
690 mm
Maximum Tool Diameter
356 mm
Maximum Tool Weight
30 kg (35 kg opt.)
Cutting Feedrate
50,000 mm/min (Std), 36,000 mm/min (High Torque)
Chip to Chip
3.7 sec
- manufacturer specification page, fetched September 16, 2026.
What fits a Makino A81NX
Each of these follows from a published specification above, which is named beside it.
50-taper toolholders
This is a 50-taper spindle — the 7:24 steep taper that CAT-50, BT-50 and DIN 69871 (SK-50) holders all share. They share the taper and nothing else that matters: the retention knob and the flange form differ between those standards, so holders do not swap between them without changing pull studs. Knowing which standard a machine was tooled for is worth doing before the holders are packed. The manufacturer names CAT for this machine. HSK-A100 is offered as an OPTION on this model, so a given machine may or may not have it. It is a different interface from the taper above, and worth confirming on the machine itself rather than from the model number.
Derived from Spindle taper: CAT50 (HSK-A100 opt)
Pallets and fixturing
Fixtures, tombstones and spare pallets are cut for a pallet of this size and do not transfer to another machine. On a horizontal they are a large share of what is being sold, so count them before quoting.
Derived from Pallet size: 630 mm x 630 mm
What to check on a Makino A81NX
- Spindle. The manufacturer gives a spindle speed of 10,000 (8,000 High Torque opt). Run the spindle to top speed and listen for bearing noise.
- Spindle taper. The manufacturer gives a spindle taper of CAT50 (HSK-A100 opt). Check it for fretting and that the drawbar holds a tool.
- Axes and way covers. The manufacturer gives X 900 mm, Y 900 mm and Z 1,020 mm of travel. Run each axis end to end and check the way covers.
- Rapids and ballscrews. The manufacturer gives a rapid traverse of 50,000 mm/min (Std). Measure the backlash on each axis.
- Tool changer. The manufacturer gives the tool capacity as 60 (80, 136, 187, 299 opt). Cycle every pocket and watch for a hesitation.
- Tool-change time. The manufacturer gives a chip-to-chip time of 3.7 sec. Time a tool change against that.
- Pallet changer. The manufacturer gives a pallet size of 630 mm x 630 mm. Run a full pallet change, and count the pallets and fixtures that come with the machine.
- Table. The manufacturer gives a table load of 1,200 kg (1,500 kg opt). Check the table and its T-slots for damage.
- Work envelope. The manufacturer gives maximum workpiece ø1,000 mm x 1,300 mm. Measure your largest part, with its fixture, against that.
- Rotary axes. The manufacturer gives 4-Axis axes. Run each rotary axis through its range.
When the Makino A81NX was built
Makino introduced the a81nx on April 2, 2014, as the nx-Series successor to its original a81 horizontal machining center.
Source: Makino, an archived copy of the maker's page from 2014, October 27, 2026.
Makino A81NX listing history
Where it was listed
usedcnc.com
3 listings, 2016–2019
machinetools.com
2 listings, 2014
revelationmachinery.com
2 listings, 2016–2017
surplusrecord.com
1 listing, 2018
Filed under CNC Horizontal Machining Centers (HMC) (6).
Model years seen
2019, 2018, 2017 ×2, 2016 ×2, 2014.
What Makino A81NX listings agree on
X-axis travel
35.4 in
Y-axis travel
35.4 in
Z-axis travel
40.2 in
Spindle speed
10,000 RPM
Tool capacity
60
Machine weight
48,274 lb
What affects the value of a used Makino A81NX
- Build year. The units we tracked were built from 2014 to 2019, across 5 model years.
- Against the published figures. The manufacturer gives max spindle speed 10,000 (8,000 High Torque opt), tool capacity 60 (80, 136, 187, 299 opt), X-axis travel 900 mm and Y-axis travel 900 mm.
Looking for a Makino A81NX for sale?
We have tracked 8 Makino A81NX listings on 4 marketplaces (usedcnc.com, machinetools.com, revelationmachinery.com and surplusrecord.com), model years 2014 to 2019. We buy Makino A81NX machines and do not sell them.
Every Makino A81NX we have tracked
2018 Makino A81NX
2017 Makino A81NX
Metal Cutting
2017 Makino A81NX
2016 Makino A81NX
2016 Makino A81NX
Metal Cutting
2014 Makino A81NX
1 more listing, no year.
The Makino A81NX among machining centers and mills
Browse all CNC Horizontal Machining Centers (HMC), or see every Makino machine we track.
Models related to the Makino A81NX
Makino A92
Same series
- X-axis travel
- 1,520 mm1this model: 900 mm2
- Pallet size
- 800 x 1,000 mm1this model: 630 mm x 630 mm2
Makino A71NX
Same series
- Makino A92: manufacturer specification page, fetched October 14, 2026.
- Makino A81NX: manufacturer specification page, fetched September 16, 2026.
Have a Makino A81NX to sell?
We are the buyer, not a broker. No listing, no consignment, no waiting for someone else to find a buyer. Quote in 24 to 48 hours, and we can arrange rigging, freight and the pickup.
