CNC Swiss lathes (also called Swiss-type CNC lathes or CNC Swiss screw machines) are built for tight-tolerance production of small, complex components—especially long, slender parts that benefit from guide bushing support. For many manufacturers, a Swiss lathe is the fastest path to “done-in-one” machining with excellent surface finish, strong concentricity, and consistent repeatability.
Browse all equipment in this family here: CNC Swiss Lathe. If you want to widen your search beyond this type page, see the full category here: CNC Swiss.
A CNC Swiss lathe is a bar-fed turning machine that uses a sliding headstock and a guide bushing to support material close to the cutting tools. This design reduces part deflection, which is why Swiss machines excel at small-diameter work and high-precision parts. Many modern Swiss lathes include advanced features like a sub-spindle, live tooling, and multi-axis control to complete complex parts in a single setup.
Buyers often land on Swiss because their parts demand accuracy, consistency, and feature density. CNC Swiss lathes are commonly used in medical, aerospace, defense, electronics, automotive, hydraulics, and industrial hardware manufacturing.
Typical Swiss-turned components include:
This is one of the most common search questions because the best machine depends on part geometry. In general:
If your parts require excellent concentricity, minimal deflection, and lots of secondary features, Swiss machines often deliver better stability and shorter cycle times versus multiple setups across different machines.
The guide bushing is central to Swiss performance. It supports the bar stock very close to the cutting zone, which reduces vibration and deflection—especially on long, thin parts. That support typically improves:
Many Swiss machines can also run in a “bushingless” mode for shorter parts, giving shops flexibility depending on part length and geometry.
Bar capacity is one of the fastest ways to narrow a Swiss search. Most buyers choose a capacity that covers their largest recurring bar diameter (with a little buffer for future work). Common ranges include:
When buying used, confirm the included guide bushings and collets match your target diameter range—and verify the bar feeder interface is compatible.
Many buyers search this because the “right” Swiss is defined by features, not just bar size.
If your parts include flats, cross holes, milled pockets, or features that would otherwise require secondary ops, live tooling (and sometimes Y-axis) can dramatically improve throughput and consistency.
A sub-spindle (sometimes called a secondary spindle) enables backworking so you can finish the part completely in one cycle. This is especially valuable when parts require second-side drilling, boring, threading, or finishing operations.
If you want “done-in-one” production and reduced part handling, a sub-spindle configuration is often worth prioritizing.
The cost of a used CNC Swiss lathe varies based on brand, model year, axis configuration, options (sub-spindle/live tooling/Y-axis), condition, and the completeness of the package. Major pricing factors include:
Buying used can be an excellent value when the machine matches your part family and comes with the accessories needed to run production quickly.
Because Swiss machines are precision systems, buyers typically evaluate both mechanical condition and system completeness. A practical checklist includes:
Also confirm what’s included (tooling, manuals, spares) and what’s required for installation/commissioning.
Buyers frequently search this because the “all-in” cost depends heavily on what comes with the machine. Value-driving items include:
To browse machines in this equipment family, you’re in the right place: CNC Swiss Lathe. If you’d like to expand your search to all Swiss-type CNC equipment, view the category here: CNC Swiss.
If you don’t see the exact bar capacity or configuration you need today (sub-spindle, live tooling, Y-axis, bar feeder), reach out with your requirements. Inventory changes quickly, and the best-fit Swiss machines are often sourced based on part details and production goals.
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