Colchester Tornado SL35 / SL35L
Image: colchester.co.uk, Colchester
Key Specifications
Max Spindle
Spindle Power
Max Turn Length
Accuracy
Repeatability
spindle bore
How much does the Colchester Tornado SL35 / SL35L cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Colchester Tornado SL35 / SL35L 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
With a 78 mm (3.1 in) spindle bore and an A2-8 nose, the Colchester Tornado SL35 / SL35L is where the Tornado range moves from light production turning to heavier bar and chuck work. It is a 2-axis slant-bed lathe with 18.5 kW (24.8 hp) at the spindle, a top speed of 3,500 rpm and a chuck listed as 10 / 12 in (254 / 305 mm). The two names are two bed lengths; Colchester prints one table for both.
Turning length is listed as 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in). Those are the same figures as the Tornado SL30 / SL30L, so choosing between the two pairs is a question of diameter, bore and torque, not of length. This model swings 650 mm (25.6 in) over the bed and cuts up to 450 mm (17.7 in) in diameter.
The lower top speed is the price of the bigger spindle. 3,500 rpm is plenty for steel at these diameters but restricts surface speed on small aluminium or brass parts, which are better placed on one of the smaller machines. The turret is a 12-station unit on VDI 40 tooling, static only.
Meehanite cast iron and linear guideways are common to the range, as is the quoted positioning accuracy of 0.010 mm (0.0004 in). A buyer should check which chuck is fitted to which bed length, because the table gives 10 / 12 in (254 / 305 mm) without saying how the pair maps onto the two variants. The Fanuc 0i-TF Plus is the listed control, with the Siemens 828D as the alternative.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Spindle Bore | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Chuck Size | 10 / 12 in (254 / 305 mm) |
| Swing Over Bed | 650 mm (25.6 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 | 3,500 rpm |
| Spindle Motor Power | 18.5 kW (24.8 hp) |
| Spindle Nose | A2-8 |
| Turret Stations | 12 |
| Turret Tooling | VDI 40 |
| Swing Over Cross Slide | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
| Max Turning Diameter | 450 mm (17.7 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
- 78 mm (3.1 in) spindle bore on an A2-8 nose
- 18.5 kW (24.8 hp) spindle power for heavier cuts in steel
- Maximum cutting diameter of 450 mm (17.7 in) under a 650 mm (25.6 in) swing over the bed
- Turning length of up to 1,000 mm (39.4 in) on the longer bed
- 12-station VDI 40 turret with the range's standard swarf conveyor, parts catcher and 20 bar coolant
Limitations
- Top speed of 3,500 rpm limits surface speed on small-diameter work
- No C-axis or driven tools on this version
- No Y-axis or sub-spindle is listed for this size
- The table does not say which chuck size or turning length belongs to which bed length
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
An A2-8 spindle nose with a 78 mm (3.1 in) bore, 18.5 kW (24.8 hp) of power and a maximum speed of 3,500 rpm. Chuck size is listed as 10 / 12 in (254 / 305 mm). Colchester gives no torque figure or gear range on the page.
02
No. Both list 600 / 1,000 mm (23.6 / 39.4 in) of turning length. The Tornado SL30 / SL30L has a 65 mm (2.6 in) bore, 15 kW (20.1 hp) and a 400 mm (15.7 in) cutting diameter. This model is the larger-diameter, higher-power machine at 78 mm (3.1 in), 18.5 kW (24.8 hp) and 450 mm (17.7 in).
03
The Tornado SL40 / SL40L, which has a 103 mm (4.1 in) bore, 37 kW (49.6 hp), an A2-11 nose, a top speed of 2,500 rpm and turning lengths of 950 / 1,500 mm (37.4 / 59.1 in). That is double the spindle power of this model.
04
Colchester quotes a positioning accuracy of 0.010 mm (0.0004 in) and a positioning repeatability of +/- 0.003 mm. The same two figures appear on every Tornado table, so they describe the range rather than this size in particular. No test standard is named on the page.
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