EMAG VL 6

$300,000 - $400,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

X Travel

210 mm (8.3 in)

Z Travel

400 mm (15.7 in)

Max Spindle

4,500 RPM

Spindle Power

28 kW (37.5 hp)

Max Workpiece ⌀

300 mm (11.8 in)

max workpiece length

200 mm (7.87 in)

Overview

The EMAG VL 6 is a vertical pick-up turning machine designed for high-volume production of medium-sized chuck-type components up to 300 mm (11.8 in) diameter. Building on the proven VL platform that EMAG pioneered, the VL 6 extends the pick-up turning concept to larger parts including automotive brake rotors, gear blanks, bearing housings, and industrial flanges that exceed the capacity of the VL 4. The integrated workpiece automation — where the inverted spindle picks up raw parts from a conveyor, machines them, and places finished parts back — remains the defining feature that makes VL machines the productivity benchmark for high-volume chuck-type turning.

The main spindle delivers 28 kW (37.5 hp) continuous power with speeds up to 4,500 RPM and a maximum torque of 530 Nm (391 ft-lb). The increased power and torque compared to the VL 4 reflects the larger workpiece sizes and heavier cuts the VL 6 is designed to handle. The spindle nose accommodates a 315 mm (12.4 in) hydraulic chuck, and the vertical orientation ensures chips fall away from the workpiece and machine guideways under gravity — improving surface finish and reducing maintenance intervals.

The 12-position VDI 50 turret provides larger tool shank capacity for the heavier tooling needed when machining larger-diameter parts. X and Z axis travels of 210 mm (8.3 in) and 400 mm (15.7 in) respectively are optimized for the geometries of chuck-type components in the VL 6's size range. Optional driven tools enable light milling, drilling, and tapping operations without secondary operations on a separate machine.

The MINERALIT polymer concrete machine base provides vibration damping 6-8 times better than cast iron, which is particularly beneficial for the VL 6 as larger workpieces amplify vibration effects. The Fanuc 31i control with EMAG's production interface manages the integrated automation including conveyor positioning, spindle pick-up sequencing, and statistical process control. The load-to-load cycle time of approximately 8-10 seconds keeps idle time between parts to a minimum. New VL 6 machines are priced between $300,000 and $400,000, making them cost-competitive against horizontal lathes with separate robot loading when total cell cost is considered.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Workpiece Diameter	300 mm (11.8 in)
Max Workpiece Length	200 mm (7.87 in)
Max Spindle Speed	4,500 RPM
Spindle Motor Power	28 kW (37.5 hp)
Spindle Torque	530 Nm (391 ft-lb)
X-Axis Travel	210 mm (8.3 in)
Z-Axis Travel	400 mm (15.7 in)
Turret Stations	12 (VDI 50)
Chuck Size	315 mm (12.4 in)
Rapid Traverse X	30 m/min (1,181 ipm)
Rapid Traverse Z	30 m/min (1,181 ipm)
Machine Base	MINERALIT polymer concrete
Workpiece Handling	Integrated pick-up automation with conveyor
CNC Control	Fanuc 31i
Machine Weight	7,200 kg (15,873 lb)
Floor Space Required	2,600 x 2,700 mm (102.4 x 106.3 in)
Workpiece Dia Max	mmin
Workpiece Length Max	mmin
Chuck Dia Max	mmin
Swing Diameter	mmin
X Axis Travel	mmin
Y Axis Travel	mmin
Z Axis Travel	mmin
Main Spindle Power Rating At 40 100 Duty Cycle	kWhp
Main Spindle Torque At 40 100 Duty Cycle	Nmft-lb
Main Spindle Speed Max	rpm

Specifications sourced from emag.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Integrated pick-up automation handles parts up to 300 mm diameter without separate robot or gantry loader — fully automated turning in a single machine footprint
28 kW spindle with 530 Nm torque provides the cutting power needed for aggressive roughing of medium-sized castings and forgings
Vertical inverted spindle design ensures gravity-assisted chip evacuation, reducing chip recutting and improving surface finish quality
MINERALIT polymer concrete base provides exceptional vibration damping — critical for maintaining finish quality on larger-diameter parts where chatter risks increase
8-10 second load-to-load cycle time means near-continuous cutting, maximizing spindle utilization for high-volume production
Modular platform integrates into EMAG production lines with TrackMotion conveyor systems connecting multiple VL machines for multi-operation processing

Limitations

300 mm maximum diameter limits the VL 6 to medium-sized chuck parts — larger components require the VL 8 or alternative platform
Vertical pick-up concept requires parts to be loaded consistently on the conveyor — irregularly shaped workpieces may need custom part carriers
$300K-$400K pricing is justified only at production volumes — shops running fewer than 50,000 parts per year should evaluate total cost of ownership carefully
Not designed for shaft-type or long workpieces — the VL platform is exclusively for disc, ring, and short chuck-type parts
4,500 RPM maximum spindle speed is lower than many horizontal CNC lathes, limiting surface speed on smaller-diameter finish cuts

Best For

Automotive suppliers producing brake rotors, hubs, and wheel bearings at volumes exceeding 100,000 parts per year Bearing manufacturers machining medium-sized inner and outer races requiring consistent concentricity and surface finish Gear manufacturers producing ring gears, gear blanks, and synchronizer components for automotive and industrial transmissions Shops building multi-machine production lines where VL 6 machines connect via EMAG TrackMotion for sequential turning and grinding operations Industrial flange and coupling manufacturers running production volumes of medium-diameter precision-turned components

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How does the VL 6 compare to the EMAG VL 4?

The VL 6 handles workpieces up to 300 mm diameter versus 200 mm for the VL 4. The VL 6 has a more powerful spindle (28 kW vs 18.1 kW, 530 Nm vs 245 Nm), a larger turret (VDI 50 vs VDI 40), and a larger chuck (315 mm vs 210 mm). Both share the same pick-up automation concept and MINERALIT base construction. For parts in the 200-300 mm range, the VL 6 is the correct choice. For parts under 200 mm, the VL 4 is more cost-effective. The VL 6 costs approximately $50K-$80K more than the VL 4.

02 Can the VL 6 perform hard turning?

Yes, hard turning of case-hardened parts up to 62 HRC is a common VL 6 application. The MINERALIT base's vibration damping and the vertical spindle's chip evacuation are both advantageous for hard turning where surface finish quality is critical. Many automotive bearing and gear producers use VL 6 machines for hard turning operations after heat treatment, achieving surface finishes that eliminate the need for subsequent grinding in some applications.

03 What is the typical cycle time for automotive brake rotors on the VL 6?

Brake rotor turning on the VL 6 typically runs 45-90 seconds machining time per operation, plus 8-10 seconds for the automated load/unload cycle. A complete brake rotor often requires two operations (front and back), so two VL 6 machines connected via TrackMotion can produce a complete rotor every 60-100 seconds. Production rates of 40-60 rotors per hour per line are common in automotive production environments.

04 Can the VL 6 be connected to other EMAG machines in a production line?

Yes, production line integration is a core strength of the VL platform. EMAG's TrackMotion linear transport system connects multiple VL machines, VSC grinding machines, and other EMAG platforms for sequential multi-operation processing. A typical line might include a VL 6 for soft turning OP10, a second VL 6 for OP20, and a VLC grinding machine for finish grinding. The TrackMotion system handles part transfer, orientation, and buffering between stations automatically.