There are a lot of different part production methods outthere, but one of the oldest is still arguably one of the most effective - and that's machining. CNC, or computer numerical control, machining is a metal part production process. It's a subtractive process, meaning that a bar stock of metal is fed into a machining center, which then works to remove metal until the final intended part is produced. CNC machining is performed in machines that operate on a variety of axes. Generally speaking, the more axes a machine uses in its production operations, the more intricate and detailed the part.

 

So where exactly does the Swiss lathe come into the picture in terms of 7-axis machining? Swiss lathes are automatic machines best used to create long, slender parts. The bar stock is then turned around the cutting tool, working until the part is complete. Swiss machines have roots dating all the way back to the 1800s, yet didn't gain more widespread traction until the 1960s. In the 1970s, Swiss lathe machines with CNC became available and soon became a popular technology for product developers in the manufacturing stage of development. They became the method of part production at first for the electronic and semiconductor industries. As technology progressed, it wasn't long before they became viable options for all industries, from automotive to aerospace to consumer products.

 

Seven-axis CNC machining on the Swiss lathe is a common process for not only creating long, slender parts, but long and slender parts that are very detailed. The process is used to produce parts for a variety of industries and holds advantages over other processes like metal injection molding, or MIM, in that the end part is a 100 percent dense metal. While processes like MIM and additive metal making processes have made strides in terms of part fabrication, many experts agree that the best method for getting 100 percent metal parts is via machining.