A Quick Guide to Swiss Type CNC Lathe

Posted on Jan 4, 2021

Swiss Type CNC Lathe

By definition, Swiss type CNC lathes, which are also called Swiss CNC machines, Swiss automatic lathe or CNC Swiss turn machines, are a type of high precision automatic machining machines. They are widely used to produce significantly small parts rapidly with high performance.

What is a Swiss Type CNC Lathe?

By definition, Swiss type CNC lathes, which are also called Swiss CNC machines, Swiss automatic lathe or CNC Swiss turn machines, are a type of high precision automatic machining machines. They are widely used to produce significantly small parts rapidly with high performance. Swiss type CNC machines are originally used in sophisticated watch manufacturing, and soon they’ve gained more and more popularity in other high precision industrial manufacturing. 

At a rapid pace, the Swiss type CNC lathe is suitable for producing tiny parts with high accuracy, which make it a must-have for high volume production of intricate, complex products with little tolerance. A Swiss type CNC lathe works by supplying bar stock through the guide bushing. The guide bushing holds the materials when the work piece passes through the cutting or tooling area. In Swiss type CNC machines, only the desired portion of the work pieces to be machined advances toward the cutting area. The materials will be held firmly in place, ensuring the stability and accuracy.

:: Read more : CNC Swiss Lathe - A Powerful Machine


Traditional CNC Lathes and Swiss Type CNC Lathes

To understand why Swiss type CNC lathe are more ideal than traditional lathe machines, let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between them.


● Similar Function:

Both general CNC lathe machines and CNC Swiss turning machines are used to shave the metal materials and form the desired shape of work pieces. With the lathe’s turning action that constantly rotates the parts in lathe machines, various machining operations can be applied onto the metal parts, such as cutting, milling, sanding, drilling, deformation, and knurling. The various mechanisms that are utilized to form the unique profiles of the products are called “tooling”. Both of them create chips of materials like aluminum, steel, copper and also thermoplastics, the feature of the materials and the formed chips should be aware of before machining.


● Lathe Machines and Axis Structure:

Typical definition of lathe is a 2-axis machine, which has a much simpler structure that works only on X axis and Z axis. The X, Y, Z axis on the lathe machines and other machining centers represent the linear direction. On the other hand, A, B, C axis are the rotational direction spinning 180 around the X, Y, Z axis respectively on 3-axis 4-axis and 5-axis machines for more flexible and accurate machining. On XYZ planes, the X axis represents the vertical direction; the Y axis is the horizontal operating direction while Z is the depth direction which is aligned with the main axis of the lathe machines. When machining, the movement of X axis is from left to right; Y axis moves frontward and backward; Z axis moves upward and downward.


● Difference between Traditional Lathes and Swiss type CNC Lathes:

In conventional CNC lathe, the work pieces which are located stably on one or both ends are spined in a fixed position. On the other hand, the work piece on Swiss type CNC lathes can both spin and move along the Z axis, contacting a variety of tools and shaping the surface. In addition, CNC Swiss turning machines can simultaneously perform multiple tooling in different zones. In contrast, the traditional lathes generally perform one operation at one time. CNC Swiss Type CNC lathe are typically utilized for turned parts such as screws, they are also suitable for complex parts without turned surfaces.


Benefits of Swiss Type CNC Lathe


● CNC System:

Using CNC, the computer numerical controlled instructions can effectively communicate with the lathes, removing materials and applying various tooling onto the parts. CAD software, which refers to Computer Aided Design software, can transport a series of sequential instructions. With the software, CNC eliminates the need of monitoring and manual adjustment by operator, achieving more reliable, precise, efficient production. 


● Tight Tolerance:

Since the positions that the work pieces are firmly held are very close to the tooling point in the machining process, the work pieces stay steady, and not easily to be affected by the forces of machining tools. The high precision work ensures tight tolerances while handling with tiny, complex parts.


● Complex Parts:

Swiss type CNC lathes can manufacture more complex parts such as products with thinner walls and with additional delicate features. It is because the bar stock is supported firmly in this type of lathe machines.


● Rapid Production:

Compared to other types of CNC machine tools and turning machines, the cycle time of Swiss type CNC lathes are considerably shorter. When handling the same complex parts, the Swiss type only costs about 2 minutes for single products however it might take an entire hour in other machines.


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