Honor Seiki VL-66CM

A live spindle running 50-2,250 rpm is what the M adds to the Honor Seiki VL-66CM. The rest of its column is shared with the turning-only VL-66C: 850 mm (33.4 in) of swing and turning diameter, 650 mm (25.5 in) of turning height, 12 tool positions and a 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) workpiece limit.

With a driven tool available, a part can be turned, then drilled, tapped or milled on the same clamping. On a vertical lathe that is worth most on heavy parts, because every extra setup means another crane lift and another round of clocking the part true. Bolt circles on flanges, cross holes in valve bodies and keyways in hubs are the usual candidates. Spindle orientation is on the standard list for the page.

The published data stops at the speed range. Honor Seiki does not give the live spindle's power, torque or tool taper, and it does not state the indexing resolution of the table. A dual gearbox for the live tool spindle is offered as an option, which suggests the standard drive favours speed over low-end torque, but the page does not put numbers on either. Anyone planning heavy milling should ask for the torque curve.

Structurally this is the same box way machine as the VL-66C, with Meehanite castings for column and bed. The standard chuck is a hydraulic 3-jaw with cylinder. Options run to a higher power motor, a lubricant chiller for spindle bearing and gear, high pressure coolant through the tool holder, X/Z linear encoders, a workpiece probe and a Siemens controller.