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Swiss Screw Machining
Swiss screw machining is a rotary machining process in which stock metal rods are threaded, drilled, slotted, milled, knurled and tapped into precision application parts. Swiss screw machining is a common term for screw machining, since the first screw machines were developed in Switzerland during the late 1800s in order to produce collets for watch balance springs. The applications for Swiss screw machining has since broadened widely, now serving industries including aerospace, sporting goods, industrial, electronics, defense, medical, automotive, commercial and instrumentation. Some of the many Swiss screw machine products include grommets and bobbins, miniature screws, fasteners, contact pins, needle tubes, nozzles, plugs, threaded rods, fittings, shafts, ferrules and valves. Materials such as nickel alloys, plastics, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, brass, nickel alloys, copper, Inconel and bronze are often used by Swiss screw machining companies. Not only can metal parts be shaped by Swiss screw machining, but they may also be surfaced; turning can produce a smooth, near-polished finish or it can produce a knurled finish. As a result of their surfacing capabilities, Swiss screw machining offers design and structural benefits which cannot be cost-effectively reproduced with any other manufacturing method. Another advantage of Swiss screw machining is that it is considered to be one of the fastest and most cost-effective methods of small rotary part manufacturing.Both lathes and Swiss screw machines are used to produce Swiss screw machined parts; however, unlike manual lathes and non-CNC machines, multi-spindled CNC screw machines 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, although no dies or hardware must be created custom for custom Swiss screw machine parts making even short run Swiss screw machines a relatively cost effective means of precision production. Swiss screw machines may be mechanically operated by cams, or they may be controlled by fully automated CNC; both types of machines offer diverse capabilities, such as thread rolling and knurling. For instance, CNC turning, which can be accomplished by CNC Swiss screw machines or CNC lathes, may machine up to 6 parts simultaneously. Both types of Swiss screw machines have the capacity for more than 8 spindles to all operate simultaneously; during operation, round, square or hexagonal metal bar stock is attached to the spindles' spring collets and spin as multiple automated cutting, drilling, notching and knurling tools attached to the Swiss screw machine work the bar stock into parts by shaving away excess material, smoothing and drilling. The main drive shaft of a Swiss screw machine provides power to the machine bed's lead work shaft and controls the two front cam shafts. The machine motor, located at the base of the machine, is the central power source for all operations and will vary in horsepower, depending on the size of the machine, speed and stock to be machined.
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