What is Swiss-type turning and how does it differ from conventional turning?
If you have ever tried to turn a long, slender part on a conventional lathe you know the problem: the further the tool moves from the chuck, the more the part deflects, the diameter drifts and the surface suffers. The sliding-headstock lathe was designed for exactly this problem.
On a conventional lathe the workpiece is clamped in a chuck and stays put; the tool travels along it. The further the cutting point is from the clamping point, the more the part can flex. Tailstocks and steady rests help, but they are not possible on every geometry.
A Swiss-type machine reverses the logic. Material enters as bar stock and passes through a guide bush. The tool stays in one place; what moves is the headstock pushing the material forward. Cutting therefore always happens a few millimetres beyond the guide bush.
That is where the advantage comes from: because the support sits right next to the cutting zone, deflection stays almost constant no matter how long the part is. A 100 mm pin can be machined with the same stability as a 10 mm bushing.
Conventional lathe
The part is clamped and stationary, the tool travels along it. Deflection grows as cutting moves away from the chuck.
Swiss-type lathe
Material advances through a guide bush and cutting always happens next to it. Deflection is independent of part length.
When does Swiss-type turning make sense?
When is it the wrong choice?
Our Swiss-type capacity
| Machine | Max diameter | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss-type turning | up to Ø 40 mm | Star machines, bar feeder |
We also produce parts outside this range; those go to our DMG Mori machining centres. We decide together at the quotation stage which machine suits the part better.
Preparing your part
- State the material and whether it can be supplied as bar stock.
- Put tight tolerances only on functional surfaces. Tightening every dimension raises cost without benefit.
- Keep diameter transitions and groove roots as gentle as the design allows.
- Tell us up front if you need an inspection report; we can issue one from our in-house coordinate measuring machine.
Is my part diameter suitable for Swiss-type turning?
Send the drawing and we will tell you. Parts outside our Swiss-type range go to our DMG Mori machining centres; since we have both in house we can route the part to whichever machine suits it best.
From what quantity does Swiss-type turning pay off?
Giving a fixed number would be misleading, because setup time depends on how complex the part is. The rule of thumb: if setup stays small relative to the total job, Swiss-type wins. For a handful of prototype pieces another method is usually cheaper. Send the quantity with the drawing and we will answer precisely.
Which materials do you machine?
Aluminium, steel, stainless steel, brass and copper alloys. The material needs to be available in bar form.
Can I get an inspection report?
Yes. Dimensional inspection is done in-house on a COORD3 ARES NT coordinate measuring machine (1000×700×500 mm measuring volume, Renishaw PH20 five-axis head) together with a vision measuring system. Just mention the requirement when you ask for a quote.
- Swiss-type turning
- sliding headstock
- CNC turning
- precision machining
- Ostim
- Ankara
Send us your technical drawing and quantity; we will prepare your quote with a manufacturability review.
Request a Quote