In the late 1800s, the Swiss watchmaking industry began pioneering the development of lathes that could handle the miniscule parts required for smaller and smaller timepieces, an effort that led to the development of today’s Swiss-style CNC lathes. Also called “screw machines” due to their use in the production of miniature screws for applications like watchmaking, Swiss-style lathes were initially developed by Jakob Schweizer in the Biel/Bienne region of Switzerland, which is still considered the capital of Swiss watchmaking.
These Swiss-style turning machines use a sliding headstock with a guide bushing to support the bar stock and perform cutting operations right next to the bushing for optimal stability and process security. At the time, conventional lathes with stationary headstocks lacked the rigidity to support small-diameter cylindrical parts, but Schweizer’s innovative machine designs allowed Swiss watchmaking to flourish.
Modern Swiss-style CNC turning machines now incorporate bar feeders, live tooling and sub-spindles in multi-axis configurations for mass production of parts. The machines complete many part operations simultaneously, and because of guide bushing support, they allow for aggressive cuts and high stock removal rates. This single-setup, multi-process approach also significantly reduces risks associated with moving parts between workstations, a critical advantage when producing highly precise parts. Plus, this effective machine design enables exceptional throughput, and because small, precision parts are now used in virtually every industry, the Swiss-style machine is now common in shops around the world.
But as manufacturers increasingly integrate this technology in their operations, they are quickly discovering that the Swiss style requires approaching turning in a new way. While these machines can eliminate most secondary work thanks to their multi-tasking capabilities, the numerous axes and tooling possibilities often makes the initial setup complex. With preset tools in quick-change holders and a well-standardized process, however, changing over the machine across a family of parts can be done quickly.
The machining envelope is often very tight and packed with tools in gang slides or turrets – and the small-diameter tools themselves require effective toolholding for manufacturers to achieve Swiss-level precision. REGO-FIX offers a comprehensive range of toolholding solutions for Swiss machine applications, including SwissQuick ER-to-ER adapters and ER collet reductions that allow for seconds-long tool replacements. And thanks to the original Swiss innovation in precision toolholding – the REGO-FIX Hi-Q locking ER collet nut – process security can be ensured throughout long hours of unmanned Swiss machining operations. Learn more here.