VMC-1268F: Double Tool Magazine VMC for Mould Base Machining

Long machining cycles fail for boring reasons: a tool is missing from the magazine, someone forgets to load the backup cutter, or the operator interrupts a roughing pass to change inserts. The VMC-1268F attacks that problem directly with two tool magazines, left 32 pockets plus right 32 pockets, mounted on an otherwise conventional and rigid vertical machining centre.

What Two Magazines Actually Change

With 64 stations you can load a complete job, including duplicate roughing tools, spare finishing cutters, drills, taps and a boring head, and still have pockets free. The spindle takes BT40 holders at speeds up to 12000 r/min from an 11 kW motor with 52.5 N.m of rated torque. Tool-to-tool change time stays at 3.5 seconds, so the extra capacity costs you nothing in cycle time.

For a mould base job with dozens of drilling, milling and tapping operations, running overnight unattended becomes realistic. For high-mix parts shops, it simply means fewer mid-job stops to re-tool.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Structure and Guideways

All three axes run on 45-size roller guideways, which handle the loads of a 1200 mm X travel without the stick-slip of sliding boxes. Ball screws are 4012, cutting feed reaches 15000 mm/min, and rapids run 24 m/min on X and Y with 16 m/min on Z. The spindle centre sits 772 mm from the column guideways and the spindle nose sweeps 120 to 800 mm above the table, enough Z clearance for tall mould halves and stacked fixtures.

Where It Fits in a Shop

The natural home for this machine is mould base and standard mould part production, where one setup touches many features and tool counts run high. It also suits subcontract parts makers running family batches: load the tools for the whole family once, then call different subsets per job. A third use is lights-out production, where duplicate tools in the magazine act as insurance against a worn cutter stopping the run.

Utilities and Installation

The machine measures about 3300 x 2700 x 2900 mm, weighs roughly 6500 kg and draws from a 25 KVA supply. The coolant tank holds 200 L. Because the two magazines add width, leave service access on both sides of the machine when you plan the layout, and confirm your tool presetting routine covers 64 stations rather than the 24 you may be used to.

Practical Points Before You Order

Tooling management becomes the real operational task on a 64-pocket machine. Budget for a tool presetter and a labelled holder storage system, because a magazine this size only pays off when every pocket is documented and offsets are ready before the job loads. Discuss coolant through the spindle with the supplier if your parts involve deep drilling; chip packing in deep holes is the usual cause of scrapped mould base plates.

Also think about the follow-on order. If your production is growing toward lights-out running, ask now about chip conveyors and tool life monitoring options rather than retrofitting later, since factory-fitted options integrate cleanly with the control. And keep the numbers honest with yourself: 64 stations serve jobs with genuinely high tool counts, not a single part with three cutters repeated.

Talk to VITOP Machinery

Planning a machine purchase or need help matching a model to your parts? Send your drawings or questions to vitopmachinery@163.com, or message us directly on WhatsApp: +86 183 1908 0212. You can also browse all machines at www.vitopmachinery.com. We reply within one business day.