The mid-range Tornado 220, from Colchester is 20% lower in price than the Tornado 210 version, is some 50 per cent heavier and provides a 25 per cent improvement in its damping characteristics.

The mid-range Tornado 220, from Colchester is 20 per cent lower in price than the Tornado 210 version it replaces, is some 50 per cent heavier and provides a 25 per cent improvement in its damping characteristics. The price to performance ratio has been a prime factor in Tornado's success and Colchester's introduction of the second generation of a true 60 degrees slant bed machine brings a larger capacity and power rating. The machine is faster, more rigid with a stiffer five bearing spindle design and well able to provide a consistent turning operation from part to part.

While being available in chucking and bar configurations, the introduction of the 'Lights Out' machining package gives higher user productivity with extended unattended running.

Now used across the CNC range, Colchester's development of the patented 'Duo-Stable' construction incorporating an engineered concrete polymer base fill, sealed to resist the ingress of moisture, is key to the stability and high performance of the machine.

The base makes use of strategic reinforcement while a network of ribs and inserts create an equilibrium within the structure to provide unmatched consistency of operation.

To the user, it provides the foundation for more aggressive turning cycles, maintenance of high tolerance, finer surface finish and extended tool life.

The base foundation interacts with the structure of the 60o cast iron slant bed with the added advantage of larger and heavier ways that contribute to the generation of improved static and dynamic stiffness and unrivalled thermal stability.

The 'Duo-Stable' construction creates a machine that has a predictable and slow reaction to changes in ambient and cutting temperatures and under normal operating conditions should attain stable running within 10 minutes of start-up.

This level of thermal engineering by Colchester is unheard of in the 'price competitive' lathe sector.

In addition, the added stiffness of the structure is able to accommodate more powerful and higher torque motors.

Higher specification drives are also included for spindles and axis motion with quicker turret indexing taking just 0.3 secs.

As part of the design improvements to the Tornado 220, the cross-slide assembly is more dynamic and 'squat' using linear ways in place of the previous dovetail design.

A new X-axis ballscrew design contributes to improved accuracy.

And, consistent with the Colchester philosophy, high specification propriety equipment complement the basic turning platform.

As part of the thermally balanced design, the size of the hydraulic tank is now doubled giving improved radiator effect from the increase in surface area, improved thermal hystersis, better oil flow and a larger pump.

The hydraulic tank is sited at the front of the machine with the coolant tank located at the opposite end which further improves thermal effects.

The coolant tank position also makes maintenance and swarf removal easier.

Because grease lubrication replaces oil, tramp oil is now eliminated which extends coolant life, prevents odour, improves tool life and machining consistency while being more environmentally friendly.

In the Tornado 220 the maximum turned diameter is 260mm by 540mm turned length.

Rapid traverses are increased to 25m/min in X and 30m/min in Z.

A new design of heavy duty cast iron headstock is connected to a 22kW, AC Fanuc Alpha motor with a maximum speed of 3,500 revs/min.

In the high speed version maximum spindle speed is 5,000 revs/min.

The new 12 station turret design is based on VDI 40 tooling system.

Chuck size is 210mm with a 254mm option and bar capacity is 65mm.

The Tornado 220 can also be specified with the fully integrated Colchester designed MBF 1000 bar feed which is programmed and operated directly from the machine's GE-Fanuc 21i TB control system.

This system also forms the nucleus of the Colchester 'Lights Out' package which includes swarf conveyor, Renishaw system based in-process gauging and tool monitoring utilising axis torque load to initiate sister tool replacement.