Johnford SL-70B
Key Specifications
Max Spindle
Spindle Power
swing over bed
swing over cross slide
chuck size
bar capacity
How much does the Johnford SL-70B cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Johnford SL-70B 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
Four gear steps set the Johnford SL-70B apart. It is the shortest of the large-sized B models, with a 15 in chuck, a Ø132.5 mm (Ø5.2 in) spindle bore and a 4 step spindle transmission, where the medium-sized SL-65B with the same bore has a 2 step automatic one.
More steps matter because the motor is unchanged at 22 / 26 kW (29.5 / 34.9 hp). A motor delivers its rated power only above a base speed; below it, torque is flat and power falls away. Each extra gear step moves that full-power band down to a lower spindle speed. On a lathe that swings Ø700 mm (Ø27.6 in) over the bed and Ø540 mm (Ø21.3 in) over the cross slide, the large diameters are cut at very low rpm, and a 4 step box keeps the motor working there. Top speed is 2,000 rpm.
So the SL-70B is the choice for big, tough, short-to-medium parts: forged flanges and rings in alloy steel, valve bodies, large couplings, wheel hubs, and thick-walled tube up to the Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in) bar capacity. Z travel is 1,550 mm (61 in), with a programmable hydraulic tailstock that travels 1,200 mm (47.2 in).
The nose is A2-11 and the spindle bearing Ø180 mm (Ø7.1 in). Bed, slide and weight match the SL-70A: 295 mm (11.6 in) of X, a 45° bed, 14,000 kg (30,800 lb). The table does not say whether the 4 step change is automatic, and its rapid traverse row is labelled in mm, so both points need confirming.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Swing Over Bed | Ø700 mm (Ø27.6 in) |
| Swing Over Cross Slide | Ø540 mm (Ø21.3 in) |
| Chuck Size | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Bar Capacity | Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in) |
| Spindle Nose | A2-11 |
| Spindle Bore | Ø132.5 mm (Ø5.2 in) |
| Spindle Transmission | 4 step |
| Max Spindle Speed | 2,000 rpm |
| Spindle Motor Power | 22 / 26 kW (29.5 / 34.9 hp) |
| Spindle Bearing Diameter | Ø180 mm (Ø7.1 in) |
| Turret Stations | 12 |
| X Axis Travel | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Y Axis Travel | ±50 mm (±2 in) |
| Z Axis Travel | 1,550 mm (61 in); 1,450 mm (57.1 in) with Y-axis |
| Tailstock Travel | 1,200 mm (47.2 in); 1,100 mm (43.3 in) with Y-axis |
| Tailstock Quill Travel | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Tailstock Quill Diameter | Ø125 mm (Ø4.9 in) |
| Tailstock Taper Fixed | MT#5 |
| Tailstock Taper Rotary | MT#5 (Opt.) |
| Servo Motor X | 3 kW; 4 kW with Y-axis |
| Servo Motor Y | 3.8 kW |
| Servo Motor Z | 4 kW |
| Power Turret Motor | 3.7 / 5.5 kW (5.0 / 7.4 hp) |
| Bed Inclination | 45° |
| Machine Weight | 14,000 kg (30,800 lb) |
| Machine Width Height | 2,430 x 2,510 mm (95.7 x 98.8 in) |
| Machine Length | 5,485 mm (216 in) |
Specifications sourced from johnford.com.tw — verified 2026-10-04
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- 4 step spindle transmission behind a 22 / 26 kW (29.5 / 34.9 hp) motor
- 15 in chuck with Ø540 mm (Ø21.3 in) swing over the cross slide
- Ø132.5 mm (Ø5.2 in) bore, Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in) bar capacity, A2-11 nose
- Ø180 mm (Ø7.1 in) spindle bearing in a 14,000 kg (30,800 lb) machine
- Programmable hydraulic tailstock with an Ø125 mm (Ø4.9 in) quill
Limitations
- Maximum spindle speed of 2,000 rpm
- The table does not state whether the 4 step transmission shifts automatically
- Rapid traverse figures are not usable from the maker's page
- Motor power is the same as on the 12 in SL-70A
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
A 4 step spindle transmission with a 22 / 26 kW (29.5 / 34.9 hp) motor and a top speed of 2,000 rpm. The SL-70A on the same bed has a 2 step Auto transmission and 3,000 rpm.
02
A 15 in chuck on an A2-11 nose, a spindle bore of Ø132.5 mm (Ø5.2 in) and a bar capacity of Ø116 mm (Ø4.6 in).
03
The SL-65B has the same bore and chuck on the medium bed: Ø580 mm (Ø22.8 in) swing over the bed, Ø450 mm (Ø17.7 in) over the cross slide, a 2 step Auto transmission and 11,500 kg (25,300 lb). The SL-70B swings Ø700 mm (Ø27.6 in) and Ø540 mm (Ø21.3 in), has 4 steps and weighs 14,000 kg (30,800 lb).
04
5,485 mm (216 in) long and 2,430 x 2,510 mm (95.7 x 98.8 in) in width and height, with a weight of 14,000 kg (30,800 lb).
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