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CNC Swiss Turning
Welcome to Istar Machining’s world of precision! Our CNC Swiss Turning services offer amazing accuracy for making small, complex parts. This guide will show you everything you need to know about this special machining process.
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20+ Years
Istar Machining's years in the industry
300,000 square feet
The size of Istar Machining's factory
856 CNC machines
Our CNC equipment count
2000+ skilled workers
Istar's number of skilled machinists/operators
How Swiss Turning Works
Swiss turning is special because:
- It uses a guide bushing to hold the metal rod steady
- The cutting tool stays fixed while the material moves
- It can work on super thin, long parts without bending them
- Our B-axis hybrid machines can do multiple jobs at once
- It makes parts with amazing accuracy (±0.0001″)
When you need parts that must be perfect, CNC swiss turning is the top choice for engineers who need reliable results.
Materials We Work With
Our machines can work with many different materials:
Metals
Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Brass
Titanium
Carbon & Alloy Steels
Other Metals
Aluminum
Lightweight, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, good conductivity, and highly machinable. Aluminum is a versatile and cost-effective choice for numerous applications.
Common Grades:
6061-T6: Versatile, good strength & corrosion resistance (Most common).
7075-T6: High strength for demanding applications.
2024-T3: High strength, good fatigue resistance (Aerospace).
2011-T3: Excellent machinability for complex parts.
Typical Applications: Electronic Housings, Connectors, Medical Device Parts, Aerospace Fittings, Heat Sinks, Optical Components.
Finishing Options: As Machined, Anodizing (Type II & III), Chromate Conversion, Bead Blasting, Polishing, Tumbling, Painting/Powder Coating.
Stainless Steel
Known for superior corrosion resistance, strength, durability, and hygiene. Various grades offer specific properties for diverse environments.
Common Grades:
303: Free-machining, good corrosion resistance.
304/L: Most common austenitic, excellent corrosion resistance.
316/L: Enhanced corrosion resistance (Marine, Medical).
416: Free-machining martensitic, heat-treatable for hardness.
440C: High hardness & wear resistance after heat treatment.
17-4 PH: High strength via precipitation hardening.
Typical Applications: Medical Instruments & Implants, Aerospace Fasteners, Food Processing Parts, Valve Components, Shafts, Watch Parts.
Finishing Options: As Machined, Passivation (Critical), Electropolishing, Heat Treating (for hardenable grades), Bead Blasting, Tumbling/Polishing.
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc, valued for exceptional machinability, good corrosion resistance, conductivity, and appearance.
Common Grades:
C360 (Free-Cutting): Industry standard for high-speed machining.
C260 (Cartridge): Better cold working, less machinable than C360.
Typical Applications: Plumbing Fittings, Electrical Connectors, Fasteners, Small Gears, Decorative Hardware, Instrument Parts.
Finishing Options: As Machined, Polishing, Tumbling, Plating (Nickel, Chrome, Gold, Silver, Tin).
Titanium
Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, outstanding corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Maintains properties at elevated temperatures.
Common Grades:
Grade 2 (CP): Good balance of strength and ductility.
Grade 5 (Ti 6Al-4V): High strength, heat treatable (Aerospace, Medical workhorse).
Grade 23 (Ti 6Al-4V ELI): Higher purity Grade 5 for medical implants.
Typical Applications: Medical Implants (Screws, devices), Aerospace Fasteners & Components, Performance Automotive Parts, Marine Hardware.
Finishing Options: As Machined, Anodizing (Color or wear resistance), Passivation, Bead Blasting, Polishing, Precision Cleaning.
Carbon & Alloy Steels
Cost-effective materials offering a range of strengths, hardness (often enhanced by heat treatment), and wear resistance. Includes low-carbon, high-carbon, and alloyed grades.
Common Grades:
12L14 / 1215: Free-machining, excellent for high volume production.
1018: Low carbon, general purpose, good weldability.
4140: Alloy steel, good toughness, hardenable via heat treatment.
8620: Alloy steel, often used for carburized parts (gears).
Typical Applications: Shafts, Fasteners, Pins, Gears, Automotive Components, Machinery Parts.
Finishing Options: As Machined, Heat Treating (Hardening, Tempering, Case Hardening), Plating (Zinc, Nickel, Chrome), Black Oxide, Passivation (less common), Tumbling/Deburring.
Other Metals
We also machine specialized alloys for extreme conditions or unique properties.
Examples: Nickel Alloys (Inconel®, Monel®), Cobalt-Chrome (CoCr), Tungsten Alloys, Magnesium Alloys.
Typical Applications: High-Temp Engine Components, Chemical Processing Parts, Medical Implants (CoCr), Specialized Fixtures.
Finishing Options: Highly material-dependent. Includes specialized coatings, heat treatments, electropolishing, precision cleaning. Contact us to discuss.
Plastics
PEEK
Delrin® (Acetal / POM)
Nylon (PA)
PTFE (Teflon®)
Other Engineering Plastics
PEEK
High-performance thermoplastic; excellent strength, chemical/temp resistance, biocompatible grades available.
Common Grades: Unfilled, Glass-Filled, Carbon-Filled, Bearing Grade, Medical Grade.
Typical Applications: Medical Implants & Instruments, Aerospace Connectors, Semiconductor Parts, Seals, Bearings.
Finishing Options: As Machined, Vapor Polishing (potential), Annealing (stress relief).
Delrin® (Acetal / POM)
High stiffness, low friction, excellent dimensional stability, easy to machine.
Common Grades: Homopolymer (Delrin®), Copolymer, Filled Grades (PTFE/Glass).
Typical Applications: Small Gears, Bushings, Rollers, Electrical Insulators, Snap-Fit Parts, Fluid Components.
Finishing Options: As Machined (often naturally smooth), Tumbling/Deburring.
Nylon (PA)
Tough, durable, good wear and chemical resistance. Moisture absorption can affect dimensions.
Common Types: Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6, Glass-Filled Nylon.
Typical Applications: Rollers, Wear Pads, Guides, Housings, Structural Components (where moisture isn’t critical).
Finishing Options: As Machined, Tumbling/Deburring.
PTFE (Teflon®)
Extremely low friction, excellent chemical inertness, high-temp resistance, excellent insulator. Can be challenging to hold tight tolerances.
Common Grades: Virgin PTFE, Filled PTFE (Glass, Carbon, Bronze – for improved mechanical properties).
Typical Applications: Seals (O-rings, gaskets), Electrical Insulators, Valve Seats, Low-Friction Liners/Bushings.
Finishing Options: As Machined (Surface finish can vary).
Other Engineering Plastics
Our capabilities extend to other advanced plastics based on project needs.
Examples: Ultem® (PEI – high temp strength), Polycarbonate (PC – impact strength, clarity needs care), Vespel® (PI – extreme temps), PVC, Polypropylene (PP).
Typical Applications: Medical Components (Ultem®), Guards/Lenses (PC), Aerospace Seals (Vespel®), Fluid Handling (PVC/PP).
Finishing Options: Material-dependent. Includes As Machined, Polishing (some types), Annealing. Contact us to discuss specifics.
Precision CNC Swiss Turned Products from Istar Machining
Industries We Serve
Advantages of Swiss Turning
Why do engineers choose CNC turning with Swiss-type machines? Here are the big benefits:
Precision Like No Other
- Tolerances as tight as ±0.0001″ (thinner than a human hair!)
- Surface finishes smooth to Ra <0.8µm
- Perfect for parts where mistakes aren’t allowed
- CMM-inspected to verify every dimension
Speed and Efficiency
- Make complete parts in one setup
- Reduce setup time and human error
- Run machines 24/7 for fast delivery
- Multi-axis machining cuts steps and saves time
Complex Part Capability
At Istar Machining, we can make parts that would be impossible with regular machines:
- Long, thin parts (L:D ratios up to 20:1)
- Parts with many different features
- Tiny details that must be perfect
- Complete parts that need no extra work
Quality Assurance
Every part we make goes through tough testing:
- CMM measurement checks every dimension
- Surface finish testing ensures smooth parts
- Material testing verifies strength
- Full documentation for regulated industries
Our Swiss Turning Technology
Istar Machining uses the best equipment for perfect results:
- State-of-the-Art Facility: Our 300000+ square meter shop has over 800 machines
- Top-Brand Machines: We use Citizen and Tsugami Swiss-type lathes
- Advanced Software: Mastercam and SolidWorks help us program perfect toolpaths
- Quality Control: Laser measurement and OGP SmartScope inspections catch any issues
Our Esprit CAM integration makes sure there are no collisions during machining, keeping your parts safe.
Production Capabilities
Whether you need one part or thousands, we’ve got you covered:
- Prototyping: Get sample parts in 5-10 days
- Small Batch: Perfect for testing or low-volume needs
- Production Runs: Efficient processes for orders of thousands
- Mass Production: We can make 5,000+ parts per month with consistent quality
Compliance and Standards
We follow all the important rules:
- ISO 9001 certified quality management
- AS9100 aerospace standards
- ISO 13485 medical device standards
- RoHS, REACH, ITAR and NADCAP certifications
We provide full documentation and material traceability for every job.
Why Choose Istar Machining for Swiss Turning?
Experience
23 Years of success making complex parts
Technology
The best Swiss turning machines available
Quality
Certified processes that ensure perfect parts
Service
Helpful experts who understand your needs
Value
Competitive prices without sacrificing quality
Getting Started With Istar Machining
Ready to make your perfect parts? Here’s how to work with us:
Send us your design
.STEP .STP .SLDPRT .STL .IPT .3MF .3DXML .PRT .SAT .DXF .X_T .X_B .JT .CATPART
Get a fast quote
Usually within 24 hours
We make your parts
with careful attention to detail
Quality inspection
ensures everything is perfect
Your parts ship
On time, every time
Contact Us Today
Ready to get started on your precision parts? Contact our team to discuss your Swiss turning needs!
Let us show you why engineers trust Istar Machining for their most challenging CNC turned parts projects!
Frequently Asked Question
CNC Swiss Turning is a special way to make parts with super high precision. It started in Switzerland for making watch parts. Now, we use it at Istar Machining to make all kinds of small, complex parts that need to be perfect.
Unlike regular machining, Swiss machining uses a cool “sliding headstock” that holds the material close to where cutting happens. This makes parts that are more exact and have better finishes.
A: Most prototype orders ship in 5-10 days, with rush options available.
A: We regularly hold tolerances of ±0.0002″ with post-process grinding for even tighter specs.
A: Yes! We work with many engineering plastics like PEEK, Delrin, and polycarbonate.
A: We can machine features as small as 0.1mm (0.004″).
A: We use CMM verification and provide full inspection reports with every order.
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