South Bend CHIPMASTER VIII VERTICAL MACHINING CENTER

Technical Description

This vertical machining center features a 58" x 11" worktable capable of supporting workpieces up to 1,500 lbs, providing a robust platform for medium to large-sized machining tasks. It operates with a vertical spindle oriented vertically and equipped with a #40 taper, delivering a top spindle speed of 4,250 RPM powered by an 8 HP motor rated for 30-minute duty cycles. The tooling system is manual with a single tool carrier and tool capacity, allowing for quick manual tool changes with zero tool change chip time. The machine controls three axes (X, Y, and Z) with travels of 32", 14", and 6" respectively. Each axis supports a maximum feed rate of 250 IPM and a rapid traverse rate of 350 IPM, facilitating efficient material removal and positioning. The machine's robust construction and vertical spindle orientation make it suitable for precise milling, drilling, and boring operations on various metals. The manual tool carrier and tooling configuration suggest that the machine is designed for flexibility in single-tool operations rather than high-volume automated tool changes. Overall, this vertical machining center balances substantial table size and load capacity with moderate spindle speed and power, suitable for shop environments requiring reliable manual milling with medium-duty machining capability.