Brother Industries Vertical Machining Centers (VMC)

Brother TC-22B

Est. $50,000 - $70,000 (new) Discontinued Specs verified 2026-10-03 · machinetool.global.brother Updated 2026-10-03

Key Specifications

X Travel

500 mm (19.7 in)

Y Travel

450 mm (17.7 in)

Z Travel

410 mm (16.1 in)

Max Spindle

12,000 rpm (16,000 rpm optional)

Tool Capacity

18 tools (+1)

Rapid Traverse

70 / 70 / 70 m/min (2,756 / 2,756 / 2,756 ipm)

How much does the Brother TC-22B cost?

Estimated price range

Est.$50,000 - $70,000 (new)

Our best estimate for a vertical machining centers (vmc) in this class — not a quote from Brother Industries. Configuration moves it a long way.

Overview

The Brother TC-22B is a tapping center with a deep Y axis: 500 mm (19.7 in) of X, 450 mm (17.7 in) of Y and 410 mm (16.1 in) of Z, a 12,000 rpm spindle (16,000 rpm optional), 18 tools (+1) and 70 m/min (2,756 ipm) rapids on every axis. Brother has discontinued it.

Y travel is the reason to choose it. The TC-32BN has more X at 550 mm (21.7 in) and a bigger 26-tool (+1) magazine on the same spindle and rapids, but only 400 mm (15.7 in) of Y. Where a part, or a fixture holding two rows of parts, is deeper than that, the TC-22B reaches it and the TC-32BN does not. The 410 mm (16.1 in) of Z leaves room for vises on risers and long drills.

At 70 m/min (2,756 ipm) the rapids are well above the 50 m/min (1,968 ipm) of smaller models such as the TC-31B and TC-R2B, which matters on hole patterns where most of the cycle is spent moving between holes rather than cutting.

The 18-tool (+1) magazine is the trade. Jobs with long tool lists, or several parts kept loaded at once, fill it faster than they would the 26-tool (+1) magazine of the TC-32BN. Brother gives the footprint as 1,496 × 3,102 mm (58.9 × 122.1 in).

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Spindle Speed	12,000 rpm (16,000 rpm optional)
X-Axis Travel	500 mm (19.7 in)
Y-Axis Travel	450 mm (17.7 in)
Z-Axis Travel	410 mm (16.1 in)
Tool Capacity	18 tools (+1)
Rapid Traverse Rate	70 / 70 / 70 m/min (2,756 / 2,756 / 2,756 ipm)
Floor Space Required	1,496 × 3,102 mm (58.9 × 122.1 in)

Specifications sourced from machinetool.global.brother — verified 2026-10-03

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

450 mm (17.7 in) of Y travel, more than the 400 mm (15.7 in) of the TC-32BN
70 m/min (2,756 ipm) rapids on all three axes
410 mm (16.1 in) of Z for raised fixtures and long tools
12,000 rpm spindle with a 16,000 rpm option

Limitations

18 tools (+1), against 26 tools (+1) on the TC-32BN
X travel of 500 mm (19.7 in) is shorter than the 550 mm (21.7 in) of the TC-32BN
Discontinued by Brother, so it is bought used and the fitted spindle has to be checked
Footprint of 1,496 × 3,102 mm (58.9 × 122.1 in) needs a deep bay

Best For

Parts or fixtures deeper than 400 mm in Y, up to 450 mm (17.7 in) Dense hole patterns where 70 m/min rapids cut idle time Drilling and tapping with up to 18 tools (+1)

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the difference between the TC-22B and the TC-32BN?

Both run a 12,000 rpm spindle (16,000 rpm optional) with 70 m/min (2,756 ipm) rapids. The TC-22B has 500 × 450 × 410 mm (19.7 × 17.7 × 16.1 in) of travel and 18 tools (+1). The TC-32BN has 550 × 400 × 415 mm (21.7 × 15.7 × 16.3 in) and 26 tools (+1). Choose the TC-22B for Y, the TC-32BN for X and tool count.

02 Is the TC-22B still in Brother's lineup?

No, Brother has discontinued the TC-22B, so machines come from the second-hand trade. Confirm whether the 16,000 rpm spindle option is fitted, since the standard spindle stops at 12,000 rpm, and test all 18 tool positions (+1).

03 How fast are the TC-22B rapids?

70 m/min (2,756 ipm) on X, Y and Z. Smaller models such as the TC-31B run 50 m/min (1,968 ipm), so on parts with many holes the TC-22B spends less of each cycle moving between them.