Swiss Lathe Machining Services – Ø1–32 mm, ±0.005 mm, Lead Times from 7 Days

A Swiss lathe uses a sliding headstock and a guide bushing that supports the bar just 1–3 mm from the cutting zone. That support keeps long, slender parts from flexing or chattering, so you get:

• Stable ±0.005–0.01 mm on short critical features
• Clean edges and consistent surface finish
• Fewer issues with taper or runout on thin shafts and pins

If your part is very short, very wide, or requires heavy milling, we’ll usually recommend a mill-turn solution instead of Swiss.

For most Swiss-turned parts, our typical tolerance bands are:

• CTQ features near the bushing (<10 mm from support): as tight as ±0.005 mm on free-machining metals (303/416, brass, Al 6061/7075)
• General features on the same part: usually ±0.01–0.02 mm depending on geometry and material

Factors that tighten or loosen capability include:

• Tighter: stable alloys, short overhangs, clear datums, dedicated gauges (air / pin / vision)
• Looser: long overhangs, “gummy” alloys, deep milling or heavy interrupted cuts

We always state the expected tolerance per critical dimension in the quote after engineering review, so you know exactly what is realistic.

Mill-turn is usually better when:

• The OD is larger than Swiss bar size, or the part must be machined from a forging/blank
• The part is short or stubby, so the guide bushing brings little benefit
• Milling time dominates – pockets, large flats, angled faces, deep slots, or heavy side milling

In these cases, a mill-turn can reduce setups and cost while still holding good positional accuracy. If it’s not obvious which route is better, we’ll price both Swiss and mill-turn and explain the trade-offs in cycle time, accuracy and surface finish.

Best for fast, stable production

• 303 / 416 stainless
• Brass and free-machining copper alloys
• Aluminum grades such as 6061, 6082, 7075

Good with the right process controls

• 17-4PH stainless
• Titanium alloys (e.g. Ti-6Al-4V)
• Pure copper
• Engineering plastics like PEEK and POM

More challenging materials may need specific tool grades, coolant pressure, or deburr standards. We’ll flag risks such as burrs, built-up edge, or galling during DFM and quote the exact process we’ll use to control them.

For Swiss-turned production parts, our realistic lead times start from about 7 days after DFM approval and material confirmation.

In special cases we can sometimes move faster (for example, very simple repeat parts with bar stock already in-house), but this is the exception, not the rule. Plating, heat-treat, and special finishes will add time.

Tell us your target date when you send the RFQ – we’ll confirm the earliest possible ship date in the quote and let you know if a rush / expedited option is available.

Yes. We run Citizen, Star and Tornos-type platforms. In most cases, you can simply:

• Send us your STEP/IGES files and specification, and
• We’ll program and choose the most suitable machine on our side.

If you already have proven Citizen programs and want to keep them as a reference, we can adapt those cycles after a quick feasibility check so they match our tooling, bar setup and QC strategy. Where your qualification requires a specific brand or process constraint, we’ll mirror it as closely as possible and document the setup for you.

For a fast and accurate quote that reflects real manufacturing and delivery risk, please include:

• STEP/IGES + PDF drawing with tolerances and surface finish
• Material grade and any heat treatment or plating
• Expected quantity and release schedule (one-time or repeat orders)
• Any critical-to-quality dimensions or inspection documentation requirements (FAI, PPAP, Cpk, etc.)

When we have this information up front, we can flag any cost/lead-time risks early, choose the right Swiss or mill-turn route, and give you a quote that is realistic to hold over repeat orders.