Colchester Tornado SL30 / SL30L
Image: colchester.co.uk, Colchester
Key Specifications
Max Spindle
Spindle Power
Max Turn Length
Accuracy
Repeatability
spindle bore
How much does the Colchester Tornado SL30 / SL30L cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Colchester Tornado SL30 / SL30L 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
Colchester sells the Tornado SL30 / SL30L as one model in two bed lengths, and its page gives a single specification column for both. It is a 2-axis slant-bed turning centre with a 65 mm (2.6 in) spindle bore, a chuck listed as 8 / 10 in (203 / 254 mm) and a turning length listed as 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in).
The step up from the Tornado SL25, with its 52 mm (2.0 in) bore and 400 mm (15.7 in) of turning length, is mostly about bar and length. Here the bore grows by a quarter and the shorter bed already offers half as much length again. Spindle speed drops a little, to 4,500 rpm, while power rises to 15 kW (20.1 hp). The nose is A2-6.
Maximum cutting diameter is 400 mm (15.7 in), the same as the swing over the cross slide, under a 600 mm (23.6 in) swing over the bed. The turret holds 12 stations of VDI 40 tooling, a size up from the VDI 30 used on the smaller machine, so boring bars and holders can be stiffer.
This is a turning-only machine. The table answers No for C-axis and driven tools, for a Y-axis and for a sub-spindle. With 1,000 mm (39.4 in) available on the longer bed, shaft work is the obvious use, and a hydraulic steady rest is on the options list for it. A barfeeder is optional too. Standard equipment includes the swarf conveyor, parts catcher, Renishaw tool setting probe and 20 bar coolant system.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Spindle Bore | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Chuck Size | 8 / 10 in (203 / 254 mm) |
| Swing Over Bed | 600 mm (23.6 in) |
| Max Turning Length | 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in) |
| CNC Control | Fanuc 0i-TF Plus / Siemens 828D |
| C Axis Driven Tools | No |
| Y Axis | No |
| Sub Spindle | No |
| Max Spindle Speed | 4,500 rpm |
| Spindle Motor Power | 15 kW (20.1 hp) |
| Spindle Nose | A2-6 |
| Turret Stations | 12 |
| Turret Tooling | VDI 40 |
| Swing Over Cross Slide | 400 mm (15.7 in) |
| Max Turning Diameter | 400 mm (15.7 in) |
| Positioning Accuracy | 0.010 mm (0.0004 in) |
| Repeatability | +/- 0.003 mm (+/- 0.0001 in) |
Specifications sourced from colchester.co.uk — verified 2026-10-04
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Two bed lengths under one model: turning length is listed as 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in)
- 65 mm (2.6 in) spindle bore for larger bar than the 52 mm (2.0 in) bore of the Tornado SL25
- 15 kW (20.1 hp) spindle running to 4,500 rpm
- 12-station turret on VDI 40 tooling
- Hydraulic steady rest and barfeeder are available as options for shaft and bar work
Limitations
- No C-axis or driven tools: milled features need another machine or the MC version
- The page gives one column for both bed lengths, so chuck size and turning length are printed as pairs rather than per variant
- Top speed of 4,500 rpm is below the 5,000 rpm of the Tornado SL25
- No sub-spindle or Y-axis is offered in this size of Tornado
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Colchester publishes one specification column for the pair. Two rows carry two values: chuck size, 8 / 10 in (203 / 254 mm), and turning length, 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in). Every other row, including the 65 mm (2.6 in) bore, 4,500 rpm, 15 kW (20.1 hp) and the 400 mm (15.7 in) cutting diameter, is given once for both.
02
Both pairs list 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in) of turning length. The Tornado SL35 / SL35L has a 78 mm (3.1 in) bore, an A2-8 nose, 18.5 kW (24.8 hp) and a 450 mm (17.7 in) cutting diameter at 3,500 rpm. This model has a 65 mm (2.6 in) bore, an A2-6 nose, 15 kW (20.1 hp) and 400 mm (15.7 in), and runs faster at 4,500 rpm.
03
The turret has 12 stations and uses VDI 40 tooling, with automatic indexing listed among the standard features. None of the stations is driven on this version. Colchester lists the C-axis and driven tool variant on a separate page.
04
The table lists Fanuc 0i-TF Plus / Siemens 828D. The FANUC 0i-TF Plus comes with a 15 in screen and Manual Guide I. The Siemens 828D is the option, with a 15 in screen and ShopTurn.
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