Honor Seiki VL-100AT

The Honor Seiki VL-100AT is the largest machine in the Twin series: two spindles, each with a chuck listed at 1,000 mm (40 in), a 1,320 mm (52 in) swing, a 1,100 mm (43.3 in) turning diameter and 920 mm (36.2 in) of turning height. The spindles run 5-850 rpm and tool positions are 12+12.

A twin is normally a production machine, and this one has a feature that pulls the other way. The standard chuck for the VL-100 size is a manual 4-jaw. Setting a part true in four independent jaws on each of two spindles is slow, so for the repeat work a twin is meant for, the hydraulic chuck and rotary cylinder on the option list is close to a necessity. Budget for two.

The weight limit also shapes what it can do. At 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) it is only slightly above the 850 kg (1,874 lb) of the VL-86AT, even though the chuck is almost twice the diameter. The parts that fit are large and light: thin rings, wheel rims, covers, fan hubs, aluminium castings. Dense steel blanks of full diameter will exceed the limit quickly.

Honor Seiki's description of the series says the two spindles and two turrets can do the same operation on both sides or separate operations in order. The figures match the single-spindle VL-100A/AR row for row.

Coolant through the turret, bed wash down and a hinge type chip conveyor are standard. Spindle power, floor space and machine weight are not published, and the control is named only in the options: a 31i series CNC or a Siemens controller.