EMAG VL 8

$400,000 - $550,000 Updated 2026-03-19

Key Specifications

X Travel

280 mm (11 in)

Z Travel

500 mm (19.7 in)

Max Spindle

3,600 RPM

Spindle Power

39.5 kW (53 hp)

Max Workpiece ⌀

400 mm (15.75 in)

max workpiece length

250 mm (9.84 in)

Overview

The EMAG VL 8 is the largest machine in EMAG's VL vertical pick-up turning platform, designed for high-volume production of chuck-type components up to 400 mm (15.75 in) diameter. Where the VL 4 and VL 6 handle automotive-scale parts, the VL 8 extends EMAG's inverted vertical spindle concept to larger industrial components including truck brake drums, heavy equipment gear blanks, large bearing housings, and wind turbine components. The integrated pick-up automation â€” spindle picks up the raw part, machines it, and places the finished component back on the conveyor â€” scales effectively to these larger workpieces, providing fully automated production without external robots or gantry loaders.

The main spindle delivers 39.5 kW (53 hp) continuous power with speeds up to 3,600 RPM and a maximum torque of 800 Nm (590 ft-lb). This substantial torque rating enables aggressive roughing of large-diameter castings and forgings with heavy depth of cut and feed rates. The spindle nose accommodates a 400 mm (15.75 in) hydraulic chuck, and the vertical inverted orientation ensures that heavy chips from large-diameter facing and boring operations fall clear of the workpiece under gravity.

The 12-position VDI 60 turret carries the heavy tooling required for machining larger-diameter parts, and optional driven tools enable milling, drilling, and tapping without secondary operations. X and Z axis travels of 280 mm (11 in) and 500 mm (19.7 in) respectively cover the machining envelope for thick-section disc, ring, and flange-type workpieces. The MINERALIT polymer concrete machine base scales with the VL 8's increased cutting forces, providing the vibration damping that maintains surface finish quality even during aggressive roughing passes.

The Fanuc 31i control manages the integrated automation including conveyor positioning, spindle pick-up sequencing, and production management functions. The load-to-load cycle time of approximately 12-15 seconds reflects the larger workpiece handling requirements but still provides near-continuous cutting for high-volume production. New VL 8 machines are priced between $400,000 and $550,000, offering significant cost savings compared to a horizontal lathe plus separate robot cell for the same production capability.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Workpiece Diameter	400 mm (15.75 in)
Max Workpiece Length	250 mm (9.84 in)
Max Spindle Speed	3,600 RPM
Spindle Motor Power	39.5 kW (53 hp)
Spindle Torque	800 Nm (590 ft-lb)
X-Axis Travel	280 mm (11 in)
Z-Axis Travel	500 mm (19.7 in)
Turret Stations	12 (VDI 60)
Chuck Size	400 mm (15.75 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	10,500 kg (23,149 lb)
Floor Space Required	3,100 x 3,200 mm (122 x 126 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

Largest VL platform handles parts up to 400 mm diameter â€” extends EMAG's proven pick-up automation concept to industrial and heavy vehicle components
39.5 kW spindle with 800 Nm torque provides serious roughing capability for large castings and forgings without sacrificing cycle time
Integrated pick-up automation eliminates separate robot or gantry loader, reducing total cell cost by $75K-$150K versus horizontal lathe plus automation
VDI 60 turret accommodates the heavy tooling needed for large-diameter facing, boring, and grooving operations
MINERALIT polymer concrete base provides vibration damping that maintains surface finish quality even at the higher cutting forces generated by larger workpieces
Modular VL platform architecture enables production line integration with TrackMotion for multi-operation processing of large components

Limitations

400 mm maximum diameter still limits the VL 8 to medium-large parts â€” truly large industrial components may require conventional vertical turning lathes
3,600 RPM maximum spindle speed limits surface speed on smaller-diameter features of larger workpieces
12-15 second load-to-load time is slower than smaller VL machines due to heavier workpiece handling requirements
10,500 kg machine weight and larger footprint require more floor space planning than the compact VL 4 and VL 6
$400K-$550K price point requires consistent high-volume production to justify â€” not suitable for low-volume or job shop environments

Best For

Commercial vehicle manufacturers producing truck brake drums, hub assemblies, and large wheel components at production volumes Heavy equipment manufacturers machining large gear blanks, bearing housings, and planetary carriers for mining and construction machinery Wind energy component producers turning large bearing races, yaw gear blanks, and pitch system components Industrial bearing manufacturers machining large-diameter inner and outer races requiring consistent concentricity and surface finish Shops building multi-machine EMAG production lines for sequential operations on large chuck-type components

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How does the VL 8 compare to a conventional vertical turret lathe for large parts?

A conventional VTL handles larger diameters (1,000mm+) but requires external automation and has no integrated part handling. The VL 8 is limited to 400 mm diameter but includes fully integrated pick-up automation, eliminating the need for overhead cranes, robots, or gantry loaders. For parts within the 400 mm range, the VL 8 provides significantly higher productivity and lower labor costs than a conventional VTL. For parts exceeding 400 mm, a VTL with external automation is the only option.

02 What types of parts typically run on the VL 8?

Common VL 8 applications include truck and bus brake drums (300-400 mm), heavy equipment gear blanks, large bearing races for industrial and wind energy applications, clutch housings, large flanges, and planetary carriers. The parts share common characteristics: they are disc or ring-shaped, require chuck-type workholding, and are produced in volumes that justify the VL 8's automated production capability. Parts are typically 5-25 kg each and produced in quantities of 50,000-500,000 per year.

03 Can the VL 8 handle hard turning?

Yes, the VL 8 supports hard turning of case-hardened parts up to 62 HRC, similar to the smaller VL machines. The MINERALIT base's vibration damping is particularly advantageous for hard turning of larger-diameter parts where cutting forces are higher. For applications requiring combined hard turning and grinding, EMAG offers VLC combination machines in similar size ranges. Many users perform soft turning on the VL 8, heat treat, then return parts for hard turning on the same machine.

04 How does the pick-up automation work with heavy 400mm parts?

The VL 8's pick-up mechanism is engineered for the heavier parts in its size range, with the inverted spindle descending to the conveyor level, gripping the workpiece with the hydraulic chuck, then retracting to the machining position. The conveyor system uses part carriers (pallets) designed for specific workpiece geometries that ensure consistent positioning for reliable automated pick-up. Maximum workpiece weight for automated handling depends on the specific part geometry but typically supports parts up to 15-20 kg. Heavier parts within the 400 mm diameter range may require custom part carrier designs.