Wexmar offers Swiss screw machining services on four Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type CNC lathes fed by FMB bar feeders, producing precision parts up to 32 mm diameter. Swiss machining is the process of choice for small, long, slender, and detailed turned parts such as pins, shafts, contacts, bushings, fasteners, and medical hardware. If you are searching for a Swiss machine shop or Swiss machining near me in New York State or the Northeast, our Canastota shop near Syracuse runs this work directly and ships nationwide.
What Swiss screw machining is
A Swiss-type lathe feeds bar stock through a guide bushing while the headstock slides the material toward the tools. The cutting happens right at the guide bushing, so the part is supported close to the tool no matter how long it becomes. That support is what lets a Swiss machine hold tight diameters on long, thin parts that would deflect on a conventional lathe. Modern Swiss machines carry live tools and a sub-spindle, so cross holes, flats, slots, and back-side features are completed before the part drops off, often with no secondary operation.
When a buyer needs Swiss machining
- Small-diameter parts under 32 mm with tight diameter and concentricity callouts
- Long, slender pins and shafts with high length-to-diameter ratios
- Electrical contacts, connector pins, and instrumentation components
- Medical hardware and precision fasteners with many small features
- Repeat production where bar-fed, unattended runs reduce cost per piece
Swiss machining versus conventional CNC turning
A conventional lathe holds the part in a chuck and cuts it as it hangs out from the jaws, so long thin parts flex under tool pressure. A Swiss machine supports the bar at the guide bushing and cuts right next to that support, which keeps slender parts straight and diameters consistent along the full length. Conventional turning still wins on larger diameters, short stubby parts, and very small lots. Our estimators compare both routes for parts near the 32 mm limit and quote the more economical one.
Wexmar Swiss machines
Our Swiss department runs four Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type machines, each paired with an FMB bar feeder. Parts are produced from bar up to 32 mm diameter. Bar feeders keep the machines supplied through long runs, and the department is capable of lights-out operation for proven jobs, which extends production hours beyond staffed shifts. Parts over 32 mm, or parts better suited to a chucker, move to our Mazak and Doosan lathes on the same floor. Read more on our Swiss machining overview or the machine list.
Typical tolerances and finishes
| Feature | Typical standard | Typical tight (by review) |
|---|---|---|
| Outside diameter | ±0.0005 in | ±0.0002 in |
| Length and shoulder locations | ±0.002 in | ±0.0005 in |
| Concentricity / runout | 0.0005 in | 0.0002 to 0.0003 in |
| Cross hole position | 0.002 in | 0.001 in |
| Surface finish | 32 Ra | 16 Ra |
| Threads | Class 2A / 2B | Class 3A / 3B |
Values are typical and depend on material, part length, and feature layout. Features tighter than the right column are reviewed before quoting.
Materials for Swiss-type CNC turning
Swiss work at Wexmar commonly runs in 303, 304, 316, 416, and 17-4 PH stainless, carbon and alloy steels, brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, and titanium. We also run Nitronic 50, high-nickel alloys such as Inconel, Monel, and Hastelloy, and engineered plastics including acetal and PEEK. Bar stock must be held to a straightness and diameter tolerance that suits the guide bushing, and we source material accordingly.
Quantity fit
Swiss machining is most economical at production volumes, from several hundred to many thousands of pieces, because setup is more involved than on a conventional lathe. It also makes sense for smaller lots when the part is too slender or detailed to make any other way. Lights-out capability and second-shift capacity support blanket orders with scheduled releases.
Inspection deliverables
Swiss parts are checked in process with calibrated micrometers and thread gages, and small profiles and features are verified on the Mitsubishi optical comparator or Brown & Sharpe CMMs. We provide CMM reports, AS9102-format first article inspection, material certifications, and heat-lot traceability on request. Our process is described on the CMM inspection page.
Getting a quote
Send a drawing with material, finish, and annual usage so we can price the bar and setup correctly. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate, and a human estimator confirms every quote. Call (315) 400-2654 or email ron@backwell.com, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern.