Swiss turning vs conventional turning
Whenever older technology is pitted against newer one, trade-offs emerge and make the decision difficult. Such is the case for Swiss turning vs conventional turning. While conventional turning may be cost-effective, easy to maintain, and versatile, the precision and efficiency of Swiss turning can be too good to ignore.
Swiss turning is recognizable for its use of a guide bushing, which controls the workpiece feed process. This approach enhances the stability of the cutting process, consequently allowing for the production of precise complex geometries.
In conventional turning, the workpiece rotates as a stationary single-point cutting tool removes material. This technique is versatile in terms of complexity and size of machined parts.
So, for Swiss turning vs conventional, which is the best way to get machined parts from ProleanTech? To answer this question, this article outlines the different aspects of the two machining methods, comparing and contrasting the main features.
What Is Swiss Turning?
Swiss Turning is a precise turning technique, originally from Switzerland, for manufacturing the popular watches associated with the country. It is characterized by next-level accuracy, backed by guide bushing support and close machining, which differs from conventional turning.
Guide bushing
Swiss turning has since extended from the watchmaking industry to many others that demand equally close tolerances and tight accuracies, such as the medical and aerospace industries.
What is a Swiss Machine?
Original watchmaking machine
A Swiss machine is a specialized machine that was originally used for watchmaking in Switzerland and is famously associated with precision Swiss turned parts. The machines were initially manual, but have since been highly automated and adopted across different industries.
A Swiss machine is a specialized subset of a turning machine, also called a CNC lathe. It is a unique Swiss lathe CNC popular for its unmatched precision and accuracy.
What Is A Swiss Lathe?
A Swiss CNC lathe
A Swiss lathe is a specialized type of turning machine or a lathe machine, typically with more axes and accuracy than a conventional lathe. It is designed to produce small, precise parts of complex geometries.
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How Accurate Is A Swiss Lathe?
The Swiss lathe is extremely accurate, thanks to its capability to bring the workpiece close to the cutting tool. The accuracy of any lathe machine is about how closely the turned parts match the design requirements in terms of surface quality, dimensions, and geometry.
On this front, this lathe design is exceptional, particularly with its extra machining axes. It can machine parts as small as 0.008 inches with incredible correctness and accuracy.
Accurate parts from Swiss machining
What Is The Tolerance Of A Swiss Lathe?
This machine has tolerances of about ±0.001″ (0.025 mm) on turned parts. For context, the conventional CNC lathe’s tolerances are in the region of ±0.005″ (0.127 mm) under normal operating conditions.
What Are The Benefits Of Swiss Machining?
As you consider a Swiss-style lathe machine for your parts, determining the benefits and limitations is a good idea. The precision Swiss machining method offers precision turning, complex part machining, and automation, and minimal requirements for secondary operations.
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High Precision
Swiss type CNC machining is synonymous with precision, and this can be attributed to the many axes. More axes means that this machining method can achieve precision of up to 0.0002 inches.
Capability To Machine Complex Parts
Swiss turning is the best bet for the smallest turned parts regardless of their geometry. Conventional CNC turning would struggle to produce similar parts with matching accuracy, repeatability, and speed.
Room For Automation
The merger of automation and Swiss-type CNC machining technology creates a powerful solution that can perform multiple turning operations and significantly reduce lead time.
Doesn’t Require Secondary Operations
Parts made by CNC Swiss machines don’t necessarily need secondary operations, thanks to the accuracy and precision of this technology. This can be important for the cost-effectiveness and timeliness of the project.
What Are The Limitations Of Swiss Turning?
Swiss turning is excellent, but it does have limitations related to heat dissipation, Swiss machine tooling cost, and bar stock size.
Heat Dissipation Problems
The oil-based coolants used in Swiss-style machines may be effective in preventing rust and minimizing friction, but their heat dissipation capability is not equally effective. This issue can lead to relatively fast deterioration of these machines.
Relatively High Tooling Cost
Another issue is that the specialized nature of Swiss turning comes at a cost. These machines can be very expensive owing to the intricacies of the cutting tool and the automatic bar feeding mechanism, plus the overall capability of the machine to operate at high speeds.
Swiss turning tooling
What Is Conventional Turning?
Conventional CNC turning is a machining process that entails holding a material bar in a chuck and rotating it as a single-point cutting tool is fed to subtract material and form a cylindrical part.
Conventional lathe turning
Conventional CNC turning is very versatile with a broad range of capabilities, which suit medical, aerospace, automotive, and many other applications.
There are different turning processes, including taper turning.
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What Are The Benefits Of Conventional Turning?
Here are some benefits of conventional CNC turning;
High Versatility
Conventional CNC turning can handle a wide range of materials and product shapes and sizes. This property makes the technology very usable, as can be attested by the undisputed superiority of modern CNC turning.
Widely Available Technology
Conventional CNC turning is available in most common shops, thus easier for clients looking for turned parts to access them.
Short Setup Time
Conventional CNC turning is easier and faster to set up, particularly for shorter production runs.
What Are The Limitations Of Conventional Turning?
Conventional CNC turning is limited in the following ways;
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Lower Accuracy and Precision for Small Parts
Compared to Swiss turning, traditional CNC turning offers less accuracy and precision for smaller, more slender parts. This method lacks the very effective guide bushing of Swiss turning, which handles the accuracy-reducing deflection problem.
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Requirement For Secondary Operations
Parts turned using the traditional CNC machining method may not be complete without further refinement, affecting labor requirements and overall manufacturing costs.
Tool marks on CNC-turned parts
Find out more about: Precision Turning: Operation, Benefits, & Applications.
How Does A Swiss Turning Center Differ From A Conventional Turning Center?
The Swiss turning center and conventional turning center may perform similar functions, but their capabilities and approaches differ. For instance, the Swiss turning center features a guide bushing, which supports the workpiece close to the cutting tool. Conventional turning centers use a stationary tool to machine a more sizable workpiece that is supported on one or both ends.
Here are the major differences between Swiss Turning vs CNC Turning:
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Headstock Design
While the headstock of conventional turning machines is fixed, Swiss turning centers have a moving headstock. The fixed headstock of the conventional lathe clamps the workpiece at its end(s).
For the Swiss turning center, the design supports continuous workpiece repositioning along the X-axis as the turning process continues.
Sliding headstock
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Workpiece Support
This is another design difference that demonstrates Swiss turning vs. conventional turning. In the conventional turning center, the main feature is the collet chuck, which holds the workpiece. As long as the length-to-diameter ratio of the workpiece is less than 4:1, the workpiece can be free of deflection.
Workholding on a conventional lathe
Such concerns are not typically relevant for Swiss turning because a special workpiece support component called the guide bushing is close to the cutting tool. The turning process is always close to the guide bushing, so there is no deflection challenge.
For this reason, Swiss turning centers can machine deeper cuts in a single pass, where conventional turning centers would need to do several passes.
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The Machining Process
The secret to precise turning in Swiss turning centers is attributed to an advanced or unique machining technique characterized by segmentation. The Swiss turning machine is designed to focus on one section of the part at a time.
This means that as the turning process continues across the guide bushing, precise cuts with high tolerances are made, which are synonymous with the power of CNC turning in modern manufacturing.
As for the conventional turning approach, the process is based on operations. Only after an operation is complete can the cutting tool be changed for a different approach.
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Cycle Time
Swiss-type CNC machining has significantly less cycle time in comparison to traditional turning because it can perform several turning operations at a time. The conventional turning center has many fewer axes compared to the up to 13 axes of a Swiss turning center.
Swiss machining’s numerous axes
So, for turning complex geometries, the Swiss turning center will take less time than a traditional lathe. It can feed bar stock automatically, further enhancing productivity.
Comparative Table For Swiss Turning vs Conventional Turning
This table provides a summary of important aspects regarding the two turning approaches.
| Feature | Swiss Turning | Conventional Turning |
| Axis Configuration | 7–13 axes, multi-tasking | 3–4 axes |
| Setup Complexity | High (requires expert programmers) | Moderate |
| Tolerances | ±0.0002 inches (±0.005 mm) | ±0.005 inches (±0.127 mm) |
| Support Mechanism | Guide bushing together with a sliding headstock | Fixed headstock together with a chuck |
| Coolant Type | Oil-based | Water-based |
| Suitable Materials | Bar stock, usually less than 40 mm in size | Castings, forgings, large stock |
| Maintenance | High | Moderate |
| Best Suited For | Small, complex parts | Larger, simpler parts |
| Cost | High | Slightly lower |
Conclusion
The Swiss turning vs conventional turning choice depends on several important factors: Manufacturing volume, workpiece size, required precision, and applications, among others. Understanding the benefits and unique strengths of both turning methods can help choose the best one for parts.
You want to get it right the first time with the perfect turning strategy for your next machining project. Get in contact with ProleanTech experts today for a discussion and more tips around swiss turning services.
Read also: CNC Milling vs CNC Turning
Hello there . I truly love this article ! you present the CNC Turning vs Swiss turning really clearly written as well as effortlessly simple to comprehend.
Thanks Michael for your words!