A Compact Swiss-Type Lathe supports the workpiece close to the cutting point, which is how slender parts keep their diameter and straightness instead of deflecting away from the tool. This page covers the Compact Swiss-Type Lathe configured with live tooling and a C-axis on the main spindle and supplied to medical implant makers: sliding head turning with a guide bushing and live tooling. The headline figure is bar capacity from 3 to 42 mm, and the rest of the page explains what it means in daily use.
In practice the difficulty is rarely the nominal size. ±0.005 mm is held on the features that locate the part in the assembly, and the process is set up so that the first piece and the five hundredth measure the same way.
Specification
| Process | Sliding head turning with a guide bushing and live tooling |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | live tooling and a C-axis on the main spindle |
| Size / capacity | bar capacity from 3 to 42 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm |
| Surface finish | turned finish, Ra 0.4–0.8 µm |
| Application | compact swiss-type lathe for medical implant makers |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
Production begins with a drawing and material review. Stock is certified, the operation sequence is fixed, and sliding head turning with a guide bushing and live tooling is carried out on equipment maintained to hold ±0.005 mm over a full shift, not just on a first piece.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Bone screws and orthopaedic pins.
- Connector pins and contacts.
- Micro shafts for instruments.
- Fuel injector components.
- Watch and instrument parts.
Quality control and documentation
Inspection is not a final formality. Dimensions are checked during the cycle and again at the end, so drift is corrected while there is still stock to remove.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Orders start from a single piece. Samples are quoted from the 3D model, and production pricing follows once quantity, finishing and inspection are agreed.
Frequently asked questions
When is a Swiss lathe better than a conventional lathe?
When the length to diameter ratio exceeds about 4:1. The guide bushing supports the bar a few millimetres from the cut, so slender parts hold diameter where a chucking lathe would taper.
Can a part be completed in one cycle?
Usually yes. Live tooling, a C-axis and a sub-spindle allow back working, so turning, cross drilling, milling and parting off all happen before the part leaves the machine.
What is the minimum order quantity?
One piece for prototypes and first article work. Production pricing usually starts at 50 pieces, and repeat orders run on fixtures retained from the first batch at no extra charge.
Send the drawing or the 3D model for a quotation. Include material, quantity, tolerance and finish, and a detailed quote with lead time is returned within one working day.
