The Main Spindle

Just like with a conventional CNC turning machine, Swiss-type lathes utilize a main spindle as the primary rotating element which essentially brings the machine to life. The main spindle rigidly holds the workpiece as it spins at high speeds – roughly between 100 and 10,000 rpm. This rotational motion is what provides the kinetic energy that the cutting tools use to remove material through friction and precisely shape the workpiece.

Tool Headstock

The tool headstock houses the cutting tools, responsible for their movement and precise positioning along the workpiece. Swiss lathes utilize multi-tool stations, allowing for the simultaneous use of numerous tools to produce complex machining features and/or reduce the number of required cycles. Unique to Swiss turning machines is a sliding headstock, as opposed to the fixed headstock of conventional lathes. The moveable headstock slides along the workpiece with the guide bushing, allowing for much more rigid and precise workholding.

Guide Bushing

The guide bushing is the other main feature that sets Swiss-type lathes apart from conventional CNC turning machines. While standard lathes only support the workpiece at either end (i.e. potentially a relatively far distance from the cutting tool), Swiss lathes use a moving guide bushing that supports and guides the material as it’s machined. The sliding guide bushing is especially useful when working with long and slender workpieces, as well as for small parts and micro-machining, ensuring stability and precision down to extremely tight tolerances.

Cross-Slide

The cross-slide moves perpendicular to the main spindle and is responsible for the lateral movement of the cutting tools. Designed to be extremely smooth and rigid, the cross-slide enables precise control over the Swiss machining process and contributes to our overall accuracy and repeatability.

Turret

The turret is a tool-carrying apparatus that holds multiple cutting tools simultaneously, allowing for quick change-outs to streamlining the machining process. As the name suggests, the turret rotates and indexes to bring the desired tool into position for machining operations. This feature enhances the efficiency of the Swiss lathe by reducing tool change times, and ensures accuracy/repeatability by eliminating the need for multiple setups.

Sub-Spindle

More advanced Swiss turning systems are equipped with a sub-spindle that is located opposite of the main spindle. The sub-spindle allows us to machine the backside of the workpiece simultaneously as we carry out the primary machining operations. Not only does this reduce cycle time, it also allows us to produce more complex and intricate parts on a single setup, further guaranteeing precision and repeatability.

Bar Feeder

Modern Swiss lathes generally incorporate an automatic bar feeder that supplies raw material to the machine – usually in the form of a bar stock or wire. Automatic bar feeders streamline the manufacturing process, allowing us to continuously machine your products without the need for manual intervention between separate workpieces.

Coolant System

To dissipate heat generated during machining and to lubricate cutting tools, advanced coolant systems are integrated into Swiss lathes. This system helps maintain tool integrity while improving the quality and consistency of the end products.

Control Panel

A CNC control panel essentially functions as the brain of the machine: the interface through which our operators input all machining parameters and required tool paths. Control panels play a crucial role in programming and operation of CNC Swiss lathes, providing much higher efficiency and repeatability via computer automation.