EMAG VL 3 DUO

The EMAG VL 3 DUO is a twin-spindle vertical pick-up turning machine engineered for high-throughput production of chucked components up to 150 mm in diameter. By doubling up the machining stations on a single platform, the VL 3 DUO effectively halves the per-part cycle time compared to a single-spindle VL machine, making it the go-to solution for automotive Tier 1 suppliers and bearing manufacturers running volumes in the hundreds of thousands per year.

Each spindle runs at up to 5,000 RPM with 17.9 kW (24 hp) at 40% duty cycle and 15.5 kW (21 hp) continuous. Torque ratings of 144 Nm at 40% and 98 Nm continuous are well-matched for the turning, drilling, and light milling operations typical on small chucked parts like gear blanks, bearing races, and valve components. The 210 mm chuck on each spindle handles workpieces up to 150 mm diameter and 110 mm length, which covers the sweet spot of high-volume automotive and industrial turned components.

The machine provides X-axis travel of 505 mm and Z-axis travel of 250 mm, with an optional Y-axis offering +/- 30 mm for off-center drilling and milling operations. Each spindle feeds a 12-position turret, allowing independent tool selection for OP10 and OP20 operations to run simultaneously. This dual-operation capability is the VL 3 DUO's primary competitive advantage: two complete machining operations happen in the time of one, with integrated part transfer between spindles eliminating manual handling.

The MINERALIT polymer concrete base provides 6-8x better vibration damping than cast iron, which is particularly important in a twin-spindle configuration where vibrations from simultaneous cutting could otherwise interfere. The inverted vertical spindle design ensures gravity-assisted chip evacuation on both stations. EMAG's pick-up automation concept handles loading, transfer between operations, and unloading without external robots, keeping the cell compact and the capital investment focused on productive machining rather than material handling.

New VL 3 DUO machines typically price between $400,000 and $600,000, reflecting the twin-spindle configuration. For shops currently running two separate single-spindle machines, the VL 3 DUO consolidates both operations into a single footprint with lower total cost and faster throughput.