CNC Swiss machining is a precision metal part manufacturing process controlled by a software program. The first screw machines were developed in Switzerland in the late 19th century, and since then Swiss machining techniques and equipment have become synonymous with quality and innovation.
Computer numerical control, abbreviated as CNC, is a program that uses automated tools to perform the machining processes of cutting the metallic material into the desired geometry. CNC Swiss machining encompasses processes such as turning, which produces cylindrical parts, and milling, which produces prismatic components; there is no single piece of equipment or operation that performs machining. Rather, machining is a process with many possible results. Lathes, drill presses, spindle machines and other tools are used to mechanically cut away material and configure it into the desired parts through threading, drilling, slotting, milling, knurling, tapping, boring, grooving, contouring and finishing. CNC Swiss machining is able to achieve precise depths and dimensions through use of the computer software while requiring fewer specialists or highly trained operators. Swiss machining is also relatively fast and cost-effective. CNC Swiss machining offers a wide range of applications such as bushes, pulleys, shafts, rods, hubs, tools, machine parts, flanges, nozzles and housings. Industries that benefit from CNC machining services include automotive, electronics, petroleum, defense, commercial, aerospace, marine and construction.
Computer-controlled machining begins when a round, square or hexagonal blank is attached to spring collets on the equipment's holding spindles. Next, the blank, or workpiece, begins to spin as multiple automated cutting, drilling, boring, notching and knurling tools that are attached to the machine shave away excess material. This is followed by smoothing, drilling and finishing. The machine motor, located at the base of the machine, is the central power source for all operations and varies in horsepower depending on the size of the machine, the desired speed and the stock to be machined. Precision turned parts are created through CNC turning, which can be accomplished using CNC lathes or CNC screw machines. CNC screw machines are multi-spindled, enabling the machining of several parts simultaneously while achieving high production rates, though they require a lengthy set-up process involving part design and system programming, including CAD design. For this reason, long runs are typically most cost effective. Computer numerical controlled milling uses a very similar process to CNC turning: the workpiece is loaded into the machine. Highly detailed work is then created. With the use of CNC milling, very little finishing is needed to remove rough edges or blemishes, but some post-production work may be necessary to meet safety regulations. While CNC turning is a more cost-efficient process than CNC milling, CNC turning is limited in the flexibility of its design capabilities whereas CNC milling is not.
