Quintax R-Series

$400,000 - $900,000+ (configured to order) Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

Spindle Taper

HSK-63F

Rapid Traverse

Up to 50 m/min (1,969 ipm)

Spindle Power

Up to 25 kW (33.5 hp)

machine type

5-axis gantry CNC router for aerospace composites

x travel

Up to 15,000 mm (590 in) for stringer applications

y travel

Up to 1,500 mm (59 in)

Overview

The Quintax R-Series is a specialized 5-axis CNC router from Quintax Inc. of Hudson, Ohio, engineered specifically for aerospace composite trimming and drilling applications with an emphasis on long, narrow part geometries such as stringers, spars, longerons, and frame sections. Quintax has built their reputation in the aerospace composites sector over decades, and the R-Series reflects the company's deep knowledge of aerospace composite fabrication requirements — particularly the need to trim, drill countersink, and inspect long composite structural members in a single setup.

Aerospace stringers and spars — the longitudinal structural members running the length of a fuselage or wing — can reach 30 to 40 feet in length while being only 6 to 18 inches wide. Conventional CNC routers cannot accommodate these part geometries without repositioning, which introduces dimensional accumulation errors and extends cycle time. The Quintax R-Series is designed with extended X-axis travel configurations specifically to handle these long, narrow parts in a single fixture, maintaining the positional accuracy required for countersunk fastener hole locations and trim line positions that must meet aerospace geometric tolerancing requirements.

The R-Series uses a fork-type 5-axis electrospindle head providing full simultaneous 5-axis motion. The control system supports industry-standard aerospace CAM outputs, and the machine's RTCP (Rotating Tool Center Point) compensation ensures that the tool tip remains at the programmed position as the A and C axes rotate during simultaneous contouring. This is essential for accurate drilling at the correct angle-to-surface for countersunk fastener installations in composite primary structure.

Quintax machines are found in major US aerospace Tier 1 facilities and at several OEM final assembly lines. The company maintains close relationships with major composite part manufacturers and offers application engineering support for aerospace composite trimming and drilling process development. The R-Series is also used for composite fuselage frame and bulkhead trimming where the part geometry, though not as long as a stringer, requires the accuracy and simultaneous 5-axis capability that Quintax provides.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Machine Type	5-axis gantry CNC router for aerospace composites
X Travel	Up to 15,000 mm (590 in) for stringer applications
Y Travel	Up to 1,500 mm (59 in)
Z Travel	Up to 600 mm (23.6 in)
A Axis Range	+/- 120°
C Axis Range	360° continuous
Spindle Speed	24,000 – 40,000 RPM (electrospindle)
Spindle Motor Power	Up to 25 kW (33.5 hp)
Spindle Taper	HSK-63F
Rapid Traverse Rate	Up to 50 m/min (1,969 ipm)
CNC Control	Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl
Primary Materials	CFRP, fiberglass, Kevlar, prepreg composite
Accuracy	Position repeatability to ±0.025 mm over full travel

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Extended X-axis travel up to 15 meters enables single-setup trimming and drilling of full-length aerospace stringers and spars — eliminating repositioning errors that accumulate over re-fixturing operations
Full simultaneous 5-axis with RTCP compensation provides the angle-to-surface accuracy required for countersunk fastener holes in composite primary structure per aerospace geometric tolerancing standards
Quintax's deep aerospace application knowledge translates to machines configured for specific part families, with tooling and fixturing recommendations based on decades of composite trimming experience
US-based company with a domestic service team familiar with aerospace production environments and quality documentation requirements

Limitations

Highly specialized machine — the R-Series is optimized for long narrow aerospace parts and is not a general-purpose composite router for production shops with diverse part geometries
Pricing reflects aerospace engineering content and can exceed $900,000 for long-travel configurations with full automation, requiring dedicated capital justification
Limited name recognition outside the aerospace composite sector; fewer user reviews and less market visibility than more broadly marketed router brands

Best For

Aerospace Tier 1 suppliers producing CFRP fuselage stringers, wing spars, longerons, and keel beams that require single-setup trimming and precision countersunk drilling Commercial aircraft OEM production lines requiring high-accuracy composite stringer trimming at production rates with documented process control Defense aerospace manufacturers producing long composite structural members for military aircraft, UAVs, and helicopter structural frames Aerospace research centers developing composite manufacturing processes for next-generation aircraft structures requiring accurate 5-axis trimming capability

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What makes the Quintax R-Series different from other 5-axis composite routers?

The R-Series is specifically engineered for long, narrow aerospace part geometries — stringers, spars, and longerons — that other composite routers cannot accommodate in a single setup. The extremely long X-axis travel (up to 15 meters), combined with 5-axis simultaneous accuracy and RTCP compensation, addresses a specific gap in the aerospace composite trimming market that general-purpose routers do not fill.

02 Can the R-Series drill countersunk holes in composite primary structure?

Yes. Drilling countersunk fastener holes in composite primary structure is one of the R-Series' primary applications. The machine's 5-axis simultaneous head maintains drill-normal orientation relative to the composite surface, ensuring correct countersink depth and angle for aerospace fastener installations. This eliminates the manual drilling operations and associated quality risk of conventional trim fixture approaches.

03 What CAM software is used to program the Quintax R-Series?

The R-Series uses a Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl control that accepts standard 5-axis G-code from aerospace CAM environments including Siemens NX, Catia V5/V6, and Mastercam. Quintax's application engineering team assists customers with post-processor development and verification to ensure accurate 5-axis output for their specific part families.

04 Is the Quintax R-Series used by major aircraft OEMs?

Yes. Quintax machines are found in aerospace Tier 1 facilities supplying major commercial and military aircraft programs. Quintax maintains close relationships with aerospace OEMs and their supply chains, and the R-Series has been validated in production environments for composite stringer and spar trimming operations. Specific OEM and program references are subject to customer confidentiality agreements.

05 What fixturing is used for long composite stringers on the R-Series?

Quintax provides or specifies vacuum and mechanical fixturing designed for specific stringer cross-sections and lengths. Stringer fixtures typically use distributed vacuum pods along the length of the part to hold the stringer without distortion during trimming. Quintax's application engineers work with customers to design fixturing that meets both process requirements and part dimensional tolerancing.