CNC Swiss machines vs Standard CNC Machinery

Originally developed for producing watch parts, CNC Swiss machines are designed for miniature parts and excel in producing long slender parts.

Like a lathe, a CNC Swiss rotates the part it cuts. However, the machine also moves the part back and forth against a spinning cutting tool. By increasing the paths of movement for a part, Swiss machines offer more precise machining tolerances.

Machinists also refer to CNC Swiss machining as Swiss turning. Mills, lathes, and drills have been around since before computers were invented, so they are all available as manual machines. A CNC machine simply automates the process.

Overview of CNC machining

CNC stands for Computerized Numerical Control. It is a computerized manufacturing process in which pre-programmed software and code controls the movement of production equipment. CNC machining controls a range of complex machinery, such as grinders, lathes, and turning mills, all of which are used to cut, shape, and create different parts and prototypes.

Computer Numerical Control machines are automated machines, which are operated by computers executing pre-programmed sequences of controlled commands. CNC machines are used to carve, drill, and shape parts in high-volume industries such as automotive, aerospace, and medical equipment. These programmable machines can cut out shapes or create specific features on an object. The accuracy of the cuts provided by these machines makes them useful for both prototypes and final products.

CNC Swiss machines vs Standard CNC Machinery

CNC machines can be used for a variety of purposes, including milling, drilling, and turning parts with movement sequences. A programmer creates the sequence in CAD software, which transfers it to the computer via G-code.

The four most common kinds of CNC machines are:

• Mills
• Lathes
• Drill presses
• CNC Swiss machines

When it comes to comparing standard CNC machines and CNC Swiss machines, there are a few key differences to consider:

• CNC Swiss machines are generally more expensive than standard CNC machinery. This is because the machine moves more intricately than other CNC machines, and they are more expensive to manufacture.
• CNC Swiss machines have more axes of movement. A normal CNC machine has up to three axes (X, Y, and Z), while a standard Swiss machine has as many as five.
• With so many axes being controlled by one machine, the tolerances are much tighter than those of a standard model.
• With CNC Swiss machines, manufacturers can produce parts as small as 0.008″. For this kind of micromachining, tolerances can often be as tight as .0002″.

Benefits of CNC Swiss machines

As the name suggests, CNC Swiss machines first intended use was Swiss watchmaking. Today, machinists use CNC Swiss machines to manufacture many parts with extremely high precision.

Swiss machining is also more efficient than standard machining because there is less manual labor involved. Additionally, Swiss CNC machines can use as many as twenty tools at the same time, allowing for multiple processes with less downtime.

Once the machine starts, it will complete all the cuts automatically without any human interference. The only instance a human touch would be necessary is when programming the machine or changing out the cutting tool. If something goes wrong during operation, such as not hitting its mark exactly right, the machine will automatically stop itself. This way, no damage occurs during the machining process.

Precision CNC Machining Services

CNC Swiss machines are more expensive than standard CNC machinery, but they offer some significant benefits as they can be used for a broader range of applications.

With TDB Hanoi’s opening of our latest CNC facilities, our team offers expanded services from our CNC mill, lathe, drill press, and swiss machines. Contact us today to learn more about our precision machining capabilities.