In comparison, conventional lathes feature only 3 or 4 axes and at times are not able to complete machining of a part in a single cycle. Because of that, some mildly complex parts may even require machining on multiple machines, drastically increasing cycle time.
Because the Swiss-style lathe provides high rigidity during machining due to the mechanical configuration of sliding headstock and guide bushing, the workpiece always needs to be machined near the guide bushing. This is done by machining in segments to guarantee the final part dimensions are within the desired tolerances.
In a conventional lathe, turning is done procedurally as roughing pass, finishing pass then, then machining of the features. The movement of the cutter instead of the bar stock is what makes this toolpath strategy more natural for the conventional lathe.
: Swiss-type lathes usually require oil as a coolant liquid, while conventional lathes, water.The heat capacity of oil is lower than that of water. This means that the machining oil will heat up faster than water during the machining. Hence, heat gets transferred away from the cutting edge of the tools more easily. This is what helps Swiss-type lathe achieve better tolerance because of reduced dimensional change from thermal expansion.
In conventional type lathes, the turning tool can move in both (X) and (Z) direction to make contact with the part. The bar stock extends out by a specified length and the face of the workpiece looking away from the collet is classified as 'zero' of (Z) direction. The direction along the part toward the collet is in the '-ve' (Z) direction.
On the other hand, the stock moves in the (Z) direction in Swiss-type lathe, and the tool comes into contact with the feed from (X) direction to realize the turning. The face of the part looking away from the guide busing is considered as 'zero' of the (Z) axis. The direction along the workpiece towards the guide bushing is now viewed as '+ve' (Z) direction.
This "polarity" difference is usually what causes machine crashes when machinists switch over from Conventional Turning to Swiss-type Turning.
Swiss-type lathe allows for the machining of intricate designs utilizing drilling, turning, milling, knurling, and other unique processes on a single machine. Parts machined on them usually find their place in connectors and contacts used in the electronics industry, medical devices and implants, watch parts, and miniature shafts. These are usually small, long, and complicated mechanical parts.
We at Turntech Precision provide the best quality parts machined on the Swiss-type lathes. We work closely with our customers to provide them with the best solution to their engineering problems in a variety of industries. Contact us today with your inquiries.