Increase Efficiency and Quality
Once considered a “niche” machine, Swiss-style lathes are becoming more common in job shops today. Machining jobs near me are also more common than in the past.
Today’s Swiss turning machines feature lightning-fast cycle times, advanced controls, and high-precision capabilities, making them an extremely valuable tool in your arsenal.
In fact, Swiss turning machines have quickly become the standard solution for many precision, high-volume jobs. While these machines were primarily used to produce long, thin parts in the past, Swiss machines are now widely used to produce small, intricate parts. And, modern Swiss machines can quickly and accurately produce parts as small as 1.25 inches in diameter.
1.How it Works
The secret to the success of Swiss turning machines lies in their design. In a Swiss machine, the bar stock rotates and slides over a guide bushing. This provides a strong support point regardless of the workpiece length. The turning tool is mounted on the face of the guide bushing and cuts the stock near the bushing. The combination slide carries holders for various types of tools and can also support live tools. Many Swiss turning machines are equipped with subspindles and post-processing tool stations, which greatly increase the functionality and production capabilities of the machine.
2.Swiss Turning Advantages
1) Guide Bushing, Geometry, and Mechanics of the Tool Area
Parts in Swiss machines experience less deflection and vibration during machining than on conventional lathes. And because these machines are relatively compact, the cutters don’t have to move far, so the chip-to-chip time from one cutter to another can be very short – a second or less!
2) High Efficiency and High Quality
Swiss machines can produce complex parts using multiple operations simultaneously, and may be able to cut with up to three or four cutters at the same time. Because Swiss machines can mill, drill, ream, and saw, secondary operations can often be eliminated. Once set up, with stock placed in the bar loader, Swiss machines can run unattended for hours, producing parts that can be shipped immediately.
Shops with Swiss machines can produce large quantities of small, complex parts faster and cheaper than with traditional lathes, and can also free up other equipment to produce larger parts.