A specialized turning machine designed for highly accurate, small-diameter parts. Unlike a conventional lathe where the tool moves along the workpiece, a Swiss-turn feeds the bar stock through a guide bushing directly into the cutting tool, minimizing deflection on long, slender parts.
Heard on the job
We're running those medical bone screws on the Swiss-turn to hold the tight tolerances on the long shaft.
Insider tip
Because the material moves rather than the tool, Z-axis programming on a Swiss-turn is often the reverse of conventional lathes.
Also heard as
- Swiss machine
- Swiss-style lathe
- Swiss screw machine