Colchester Storm VL-1690
Image: colchester.co.uk, Colchester
Key Specifications
Max Spindle
Spindle Taper
Tool Capacity
Table Size
Spindle Power
x axis travel
How much does the Colchester Storm VL-1690 cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Colchester Storm VL-1690 that we can stand behind, so we show no number. Configuration, options and installation move the final price a long way: a quote is the reliable figure.
Overview
The Colchester Storm VL-1690 takes its name from its two main travels: 1,600 mm (63.0 in) in X and 900 mm (35.4 in) in Y. Z travel is 850 mm (33.5 in). With an 1,800 x 850 mm (70.9 x 33.5 in) table, it is a large-plate machine, and the Y stroke is the largest Colchester offers on a Storm.
Nine hundred millimetres of Y on a C-frame vertical is a lot of overhang, and it opens up work normally sent to a bridge mill: big base plates, press platens, machine frames and large flanges that must be machined in one clamping across their full width. The spindle nose reaches from 150 mm (5.9 in) up to 1,000 mm (39.4 in) above the table, which is the tallest opening in the VL series.
A buyer should hold those dimensions against two modest figures. The table load is 1,500 kg (3,307 lb), and a steel plate that covers this table can exceed that quickly once it is thick. The spindle is the range's usual BT40 with 11 kW (14.8 hp) at 10,000 rpm. So the machine's strength is reach. Drilling, tapping, profiling and finishing over a wide area are its work, with roughing kept moderate.
The table changes to 22 mm (0.9 in) T-slots, 5 of them, a size up from the smaller models, so clamping kit may not carry over. The tool changer is the 24-tool twin arm type.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| X Axis Travel | 1,600 mm (63.0 in) |
| Y Axis Travel | 900 mm (35.4 in) |
| Guideway Construction | Linear Guideways |
| Table Size | 1,800 x 850 mm (70.9 x 33.5 in) |
| Z Axis Travel | 850 mm (33.5 in) |
| Distance Spindle Nose to Table | 150 - 1,000 mm (5.9 - 39.4 in) |
| T-Slots | 5 slots, 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Max Table Load | 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) |
| Spindle Taper | BT40 |
| Max Spindle Speed | 10,000 rpm |
| Spindle Motor Power | 11 kW (14.8 hp) |
| ATC Type | Twin Arm |
| Tool Capacity | 24 |
| CNC Control | Fanuc 0i-MF Plus / Siemens 828D |
Specifications sourced from colchester.co.uk — verified 2026-10-04
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- 900 mm (35.4 in) of Y travel, the widest in the Storm range
- Up to 1,000 mm (39.4 in) between spindle nose and table
- 1,800 x 850 mm (70.9 x 33.5 in) table
- 850 mm (33.5 in) of Z travel for tall parts and long tools
Limitations
- Table load of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) is low for the table area
- 11 kW (14.8 hp) BT40 spindle limits roughing on large steel parts
- 22 mm (0.9 in) T-slots differ from the 18 mm (0.7 in) slots of the Storm VL-1600 and smaller tables
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
X-axis travel 1,600 mm (63.0 in), Y-axis travel 900 mm (35.4 in) and Z-axis travel 850 mm (33.5 in). The spindle nose to table distance is 150 - 1,000 mm (5.9 - 39.4 in).
02
1,500 kg (3,307 lb) on a table of 1,800 x 850 mm (70.9 x 33.5 in) with 5 T-slots of 22 mm (0.9 in). The Storm VL-2090, on the same Y and Z travels, is rated for 2,000 kg (4,409 lb).
03
The Storm VH-1600 is the closest, with 1,600 mm (63.0 in) of X, 800 mm (31.5 in) of Y and Z, a 15 kW (20.1 hp) spindle and a table load of 2,200 kg (4,850 lb). The VL-1690 has more Y and Z travel and less power and load capacity.
04
BT40 tooling in a twin arm automatic tool changer with capacity for 24 tools. The spindle runs at 10,000 rpm with 11 kW (14.8 hp). Tool length and weight limits are not stated on the page.
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