The VL series - a standard vertical turning machine for chucked components - was received with enthusiasm by sub-contractors, owing to its exceptional precision, high productivity and minimal retooling times. Medium sized businesses and job shops, in particular turned part manufacturers, increasingly suffer from increasing of costs. Typically, component manufacturers handle small and large batches of a great variety of workpieces.
The small batch manufacturer requires a universal machine that is quickly programmed and retooled, whilst the large batch manufacturer requires an automated, highly efficient production tool.
The VL series of machines successfully 'does the splits' and thus covers both eventualities.
In the machining of chucked components the VL is a real cost killer.
It produces high-precision components.
Here some customer statements: * Compared to previously acquired machines, the VL is more cost-effective, on a smaller footprint.
* For cost reasons, we would have lost follow-on orders.
* Four times the output, on the same footprint, at half the component manufacturing cost.
* Only 20 percent of the retooling cost of horizontal machines with robot loader.
* Exceptional process integrity.
* A new workpiece is up in a flash - an advantage that, in prototype production, is very much appreciated by the customer (referring to our customer's customer!).
* The universal workhandling equipment copes with 98% of all our present workpieces.
* Plain and simple: suitable for all workpieces that can be held in a chuck More than just a few component manufacturers use multiples of these machines, some of them 3, 8, 12 or 14.
Since the series was introduced to the market with the smaller type VL in spring 2000, 300 machines have been sold - a convincing start for a new machine, in a market where many manufacturers play the game.
The new larger type VL5, which accepts chucks up to 250mm diameter, complements the VL 3 that has the capacity to accept chuck diameters of up to 160mm.
This pair of machines covers the substantial range of applications of such machines used by sub-contact manufactures.
In 1992, EMAG was the world's first manufacturer to stand turning on its head with the vertical pick-up work spindle in its VSC series of machines.
These machines are primarily employed as multi-functional production centers for turning, drilling, milling, grinding and also laser applications, to provide bespoke solutions for customer-specific manufacturing problems.
Frequently, several machines are interlinked, for the complete machining of demanding production components.
The experiences gained from such heavy-duty usage have left their mark on the VL series.
The self-contained 'Lean' concept of the VL standard turning machine has been adapted to the demands made by medium sized businesses and sub-contractors.
Advantageous price/performance ratio for a machine without any fancy trimmings, but which is technically a product of the best, and fully equipped: chip conveyor, fluid-cooled motor, spindle and turret, automatic workpiece handling.
Set-up times tending towards zero.
Once the chuck is fitted with the correct jaws, stable components require no further handling.
They are simply inserted into the carrier prisms.
This can be done, without danger, during machining.
'Wobbly' components present no difficulty either: it takes one additional step - a workpiece-specific receptor, which steadies the components is inserted into the carrier prisms before the workpieces are loaded.
This allows for the machine to be used for the smallest batch size as well as for large batch production in a multiple-machine operation environment.
Made to hold tight tolerances: no need to be afraid of the tight tolerances that the client demands today or tomorrow.
The VL's process integrity is exceptional.
Idle times are reduced drastically.
With a workpiece changeover traverse between pick-up and turret machining positions of less than 400mm on the smaller and only 500mm on the larger machine, the VL is unbeatably fast.
The chip-to-chip times are also very short.
Reduced idle times mean increased output and lower component manufacturing costs.
The VL machines are a miracle in space saving.
The question of operation and access has also been solved admirably.
Such a small footprint allows the workshop to accommodate more machines.
Energy is a valuable and expensive commodity.
The considerate, responsible use of resources has been consistently realised on the VL.
Only those accessories, which serve the machining process and the workpiece quality, are present on the machine.
The VL is so sturdy and vibration resistant - something that has rubbed off from the multi-functional VSC series - that tool life is long enough to keep the user's wallet happy.
All guideways are located at the top of, i.e outside, the machining area.
This ensures that they are well protected against the ingress of chips and dirt particles.
It helps to maintain constant accuracy, increases process integrity and reduces the maintenance effort.
Telescopic covers, which are susceptible to failure, do not feature on the VL.
The VL machines are manufactured by the joint venture company Hardinge Emag GmbH in Leipzig, a company founded by EMAG in co-operation with the well-known American machine tool manufacturer, Hardinge The two partners market the VL machines they build together, in their own long established markets: Harding focusing on North America, EMAG mainly on Europe.
It results in total market and customer orientation.