Honor Seiki VL-86C

Between the 850 mm VL-66C and the 1,200 mm VL-100C, Honor Seiki places the VL-86C at 950 mm (37.4 in) of swing and turning diameter with a 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) workpiece limit. Turning height is 650 mm (25.5 in) and the table lists 12 tool positions. It is the turning-only member of its pair; the VL-86CM is the one with a live spindle.

Read across the row and the pattern of the lower Heavy Duty range becomes clear. Diameter and load step up with each model: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) on the VL-66C, 2,000 kg here and 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) on the VL-100C. Height does not. All three turn 650 mm, so choosing between them is a question of diameter and mass, never of how tall the part stands.

For the same nominal size, the High Speed VL-86A/AR is a different proposition: 860 mm (33.9 in) of turning diameter, 810 mm (31.9 in) of height and 850 kg (1,874 lb). The C machine takes a shorter, wider and far heavier part. Honor Seiki's description of the series points to tough materials and aerospace work, and credits the Meehanite cast column and bed, box structure and box ways for vibration control.

A hydraulic 3-jaw chuck with cylinder and soft jaws is standard, with a manual 4-jaw table as an option for parts that need individual jaw adjustment. Table speed, motor power and axis travels are not on the page. Options include a higher power motor, a lubricant chiller for the spindle bearing and gear, a tool presetter, a workpiece probe, extended Z travel and a scraper type chip conveyor in place of the standard hinge type.