As UK manufacturers continue to balance productivity targets with rising labour and energy costs, CNC turning centres are increasingly expected to deliver more capability within a single machine platform, with flexibility, repeatability and long-term reliability now playing as important a role as outright cutting performance.
Within this context, the Colchester Tornado range of CNC turning centres from Elland-based
Colchester Machine Tool Solutions Ltd (CMTS) is said to reflect ‘a practical approach to production machining’, combining proven slant-bed construction with multi-axis and sub-spindle options that are suited to a wide variety of manufacturing environments.
CMTS says the Tornado’s rigid slant bed lathe design, a configuration widely favoured in production turning for its inherent stiffness and effective swarf control, not only maintains structural integrity under continuous operation but also supports consistent accuracy across longer machining cycles — and improves access for set up and routine operation. “Such characteristics are particularly relevant for sub-contract and OEM manufacturers operating mixed-batch production schedules.
“Furthermore, many models in the Tornado series are available with C-axis and Y-axis capabilities, allowing turning, milling, and off-centre machining operations to be carried out in a single setup — not only reducing the need for secondary processes but also helping streamline production flow and improve overall part consistency.
“For components requiring full front-end and back-end machining, our Tornado sub-spindle lathes offer a means of completing parts in one continuous cycle, with automated part transfer between spindles reducing manual handling and supporting more predictable cycle times — an increasingly important factor in production planning and process consolidation that helps reduce work-in-progress and improve machine utilisation.
“Moreover, rather than being positioned purely as high-specification machines, the Tornado range has been developed as a dependable production lathe platform with the emphasis on mechanical rigidity, thermal stability and service access; and with a range of configurations and sizes available, Tornado CNC lathes can be specified to suit both current production needs and anticipated future requirements.”