---
title: "Swiss Machining Services | Small Precision Turned Parts | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for small, slender, high-precision turned parts from independent Swiss machine shops. Sliding-headstock lathes with live tooling, in metal and plastic bar stock. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/capabilities/swiss-machining
---

# Swiss machining from independent machine shops

Small-diameter, slender, high-precision turned parts run in volume on sliding-headstock (Swiss) lathes. A guide bushing supports the bar right at the tool, so long thin parts hold size without deflecting. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops set up for Swiss work.

## Swiss machining shops on OpenSpindle

Real shops running sliding-headstock lathes for small precision turned parts. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.

[Browse all Swiss machining shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Swiss%20machining)

## Bar stock our Swiss shops run

Swiss work starts from small-diameter round bar. Free-machining alloys run fastest; common choices are below, and if yours is not here, ask when you request a quote.

- [Brass](https://openspindle.com/materials/brass.md) -- C360 free-machining
- [Stainless steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md) -- 303 · 304 · 316
- [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md) -- 6061 · 7075
- [Carbon steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md) -- 1215 · 12L14 · 4140
- [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md) -- Grade 5
- [Copper](https://openspindle.com/materials/copper.md) -- C110
- [Delrin](https://openspindle.com/materials/delrin.md) -- Acetal
- [PEEK](https://openspindle.com/materials/peek.md)

## Tolerances

| Feature | With drawing | No callout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Turned diameter | ±0.0002 to ±0.0005 in | ISO 2768 Fine |
| Length / feature position | ±0.002 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Concentricity (OD to OD) | 0.0005 in TIR | As-run |
| Surface finish | 16-32 Ra | 32 Ra as-turned |

The guide bushing supports the bar at the cut, so small diameters hold tenths on a Swiss lathe that a conventional lathe cannot. Call out the critical diameter and any concentricity requirement and the shop confirms before running.

## Threads, Inserts & Finishing

Single-point and thread-rolled threads, cross-holes, flats, slots, and knurls cut with live tooling in the same setup, so most small parts finish complete off the machine.

Applied after turning. As-turned ships fastest; passivation, anodize, and plating are common on small turned metal parts.

| Finish | Materials | Adds | Stacks with |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| As-turned | All | +0 days | Anything |
| Passivation | Stainless only | +2 days | Bead blast |
| Anodize | Aluminum, titanium | +3-5 days | Bead blast |
| Zinc / nickel plating | Steel | +3-5 days | Passivation not needed |

Plating adds thickness that can push a tenths-level diameter or thread out of spec. Tell the shop the finish so they cut for the final size.

## What Makes a Good RFQ

| Instead of | Send |
| --- | --- |
| "Small turned pin, need a quote" | "C360 brass pin, ⌀0.062 x 0.75 in, ±0.0003 on the OD, qty 5,000" |
| "Threaded contact" | "303 stainless contact, 0-80 UNF rolled thread, cross-hole ⌀0.020 per drawing" |
| "Needs to be concentric" | "0.0005 in TIR between the two journals, as-turned elsewhere" |

Swiss pricing is driven by cycle time and volume. Give the critical diameter, its tolerance, and the quantity; that is what shops need to quote.

## Industries Served

- Medical devices
- Dental
- Electronics & connectors
- Aerospace
- Defense
- Firearms
- Hydraulics & fluid power
- Industrial / OEM

Swiss shops on OpenSpindle produce pins, contacts, shafts, fasteners, and implantable-grade components in volume, including ISO 13485, AS9100, and ITAR-registered shops.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Swiss machining?

Swiss machining runs bar stock through a sliding headstock and a guide bushing that supports the material right where the tool cuts. Because the bar is held close to the tool, long and slender parts do not deflect, so small diameters hold very tight tolerances at high volume.

### When should I use Swiss instead of standard CNC turning?

Swiss wins on small-diameter, slender, high-precision parts in volume, like pins, contacts, shafts, and medical components. For larger diameters, short parts, or low quantities, a standard CNC lathe is usually cheaper. Note the diameter, length-to-diameter, and quantity and shops will tell you which fits.

### What tolerances can Swiss machining hold?

Turned diameters commonly hold ±0.0002 to ±0.0005 in, with concentricity around 0.0005 in TIR, because the guide bushing supports the bar at the cut. Call out the critical diameter and the shop confirms before running.

### Can Swiss parts have cross-holes, flats, or threads?

Yes. Live tooling adds cross-holes, flats, slots, threads, and knurls in the same setup, so most small parts come off the machine complete without a secondary op.

### What sizes suit Swiss machining?

Swiss lathes typically run bar up to about 1.25 in diameter, and shine below roughly 0.5 in where slender parts would otherwise chatter. Larger or shorter parts are better on a standard CNC lathe.

### Is there a minimum order?

Swiss is built for volume, so it pays off most on hundreds to tens of thousands of parts. Shops run prototypes too; expect a setup charge on small quantities that drops on production runs.

### What file formats should I send?

STEP, IGES, X_T, DWG, DXF, or a dimensioned PDF. Include material, the critical diameter and its tolerance, length, quantity, any thread or cross-feature, and the finish.

## Other Capabilities

- [CNC Turning](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-turning.md)
- [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md)
- [5-Axis Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/5-axis-machining.md)
- [EDM & Wire EDM](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/edm.md)
- [Centerless Grinding](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Centerless%20grinding)
- [Inspection / QA](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Inspection%20%2F%20QA%20(CMM))

## Design Notes That Move Your Price

Not a definition of Swiss machining. The design choices that move your price and lead time.

- **Volume is where Swiss pays off:** Setup and guide-bushing tooling cost the same whether you run 50 or 50,000. The per-part price drops fast with quantity, so batch parts and forecast runs rather than ordering in dribs.
- **One critical diameter, not five:** Every tenths-level OD needs its own tool pass and inspection. Tolerance the diameter that mates a bearing or bore and leave the rest at a standard turned tolerance.
- **Match stock to the largest diameter:** The bar has to feed the biggest OD on the part, then everything else is turned down. A large flange on a slender part means a lot of material cut to chips; simplify the profile where you can.
- **Live-tool features avoid a second setup:** Cross-holes, flats, and threads done on the Swiss in one cycle are far cheaper than sending the part to a mill afterward. Design features the machine can reach and it finishes complete.

## Get Swiss machining quotes

Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent Swiss machining shops.