Precision turned brass components on sliding-headstock Swiss-type lathes — small-diameter, high-precision parts in brass, copper and aluminium, Ø2–32 mm to ±0.005 mm, for instrumentation, pneumatic and connector OEMs, from prototypes to high-volume series.
Brassland runs 28+ Swiss-type sliding-head CNC machines from Tsugami and Star (Japan) — part of a 79+ machine fleet, all in-house in Jamnagar. With guide-bushing support close to the cutting zone, sliding-head turning is the premier process for small-diameter, slender and high-precision parts — finished complete off the bar, at volumes from prototypes to millions per year.
Small-diameter bar (Ø2–32 mm) fed straight into the sliding-head machines — drawn brass, copper and aluminium in the grades below.
CW617N, CW614N, CW602N (DZR), CW724R (lead-free) and CW510L — from free-machining grades to dezincification-resistant and drinking-water alloys.
Alloy datasheets →C11000 (ETP) — high electrical and thermal conductivity for contacts, terminals and connector pins.
C11000 datasheet →6061 & 6063 — lightweight structural and enclosure parts where weight and corrosion resistance matter.
Aluminium & copper →Sliding-headstock turning with a guide bushing, live tooling and a sub-spindle finishes small, slender parts complete — straight off the bar, in a single cycle. Fewer setups mean tighter concentricity, lower cost and faster delivery.
A sample of precision brass, copper and aluminium components produced on our Swiss-type and multi-axis CNC machines.
We review your 2D/3D part and quote within 24 hours — in the right alloy, on the right machine.
Request a Quote →Swiss turning (sliding-headstock turning) supports the bar through a guide bushing positioned close to the cutting tool. This virtually eliminates deflection, enabling long, slender parts (L/D > 20) to be turned with extreme precision — impossible on conventional CNC lathes. Multiple simultaneous axes (up to 13 CNC axes) allow complete front and back working in a single pass from bar stock.
Swiss turning demands the most from alloy machinability — chip stringiness, bar stock straightness tolerance, and surface finish all become critical at high L/D ratios.
| Alloy | Swiss Suitability | Key Reason |
|---|---|---|
| CW617N | Excellent | 90% machinability, short chips, dry OK |
| CW614N | Excellent | Pb 2.2–3.5% → very fine surface finish; suits optical/instrumentation parts |
| CW625N | Moderate | 55% (CW614N = 100) — manageable with proper parameters; longer chips than the high-lead grades |
| CW612N | Good | 85% — requires positive rake and chip control; lower Pb helps ductility |
| CW724R | Moderate | 85% but lead-free → longer chips requiring active chip management |
| C27450 | Moderate | 70% — possible for short parts; not ideal for high-L/D Swiss work |
| C11000 | Avoid | Gummy, stringy chips cause guide bushing contamination and bar seizing |
Swiss machines are more demanding on bar stock quality than conventional CNC:
Swiss turning's combination of extreme precision and long L/D capability makes it ideal for:
Modern Swiss machines (Tsugami, Star) offer selectable guide-bushing or no-guide-bushing mode:
With guide bushing: Long L/D (>4:1), highest precision, minimal vibration, requires slightly oversized bar stock.
No guide bushing: Better material utilisation (less bar remnant), suitable for L/D < 4:1, lower tolerance on bar stock quality.
CW724R can be Swiss-turned but requires specific adaptations:
Use positive rake (+8° to +12°) inserts with chip-breaking geometry. Reduce feed by 20–30% vs CW617N. Increase coolant flow — stringy chips in guide bushing can cause seizing. Expect 15–25% lower throughput vs CW617N.
Brassland operates Swiss turning capacity on Tsugami and Star machines — pneumatic fittings, instrumentation parts, and connector bodies from prototypes to high-volume series, all machined to your drawing.
Discuss Your Part Custom Parts →Sliding-head parts are quoted from your drawing; the tolerance capability stated on this page applies to the features that need it, not to every dimension. Every figure below is taken from our FAQ pages, where each point is explained in full.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | No fixed MOQ — the economical batch size depends on the part and is quoted from your drawing and annual quantity; tooling is always a separate line. Details |
| First articles | 30–50 pieces in 3–4 weeks from approved drawing with existing tooling; 4–6 weeks when new form tools are needed; forged parts 8–10 weeks including the die. A First Article Inspection report comes with every new component. Details |
| Series lead time | Series production runs 3–5 weeks from an approved drawing. A first order, including first articles and their approval, typically totals 6–8 weeks from confirmation, plus 3–4 weeks if new tooling is required. Repeat orders are made to order like any series run — typically 3–5 weeks; with a blanket order we can hold buffer stock, and releases then ship in 2–3 weeks; expedited orders take 3–4 weeks at the earliest, with air freight. Details |
| Tolerances | ISO 2768-m general tolerances unless your title block states otherwise; tighter limits are quoted from the drawing. Details |
| Documentation | Certificate of Conformity with every order; RoHS and REACH declarations at no charge; EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate for the alloy lot; PPAP Level 1–3 in 4–6 weeks from approved drawing. Details |
| Incoterms | EXW Jamnagar, FOB Mundra (FCL) or Nhava Sheva (LCL), CIF and DAP; DDP for selected countries. Any Incoterms 2020 rule on request. Details |
| Currency | Quotations and invoices are in USD. |
| Packaging | Polythene bags with printed labels, thread protectors on every threaded end, double-wall export cartons with edge protectors on pallets. Special packaging quoted separately. Details |
| Samples | 10–50 pieces of standard items at a nominal charge; custom parts are proven through the first-article batch. Details |
On a Swiss-type lathe the bar slides through a guide bushing and is machined right at the support point, so long, slender parts can be cut without deflection. It is the process of choice for small-diameter, high-precision turned parts — pins, spools, connectors, terminals — in high volumes.
Brassland operates 28+ Swiss-type sliding-head lathes within its 79+ CNC machine park in Jamnagar, running day and night shifts under ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001.
Choose Swiss when the part is small (typically under ~20 mm diameter), long relative to its diameter, or carries tight tolerances on multiple features — the guide bushing and live tooling complete the part in one cycle. Conventional fixed-head CNC remains more economical for shorter, larger-diameter parts.
Swiss turning routinely holds tighter diametral bands than fixed-head turning on slender parts; typical capability on brass is ±0.005–0.01 mm depending on feature and length. Capability is confirmed by first-article inspection — send your drawing for a feature-by-feature answer.
Swiss-turning parameters, tolerances, bar-stock and tooling guidance on this page are drawn from the sliding-head machine builders, tool makers and standards bodies below. For production-critical work, validate against your machine, tooling and material supplier — the values shown are starting points for free-machining brass on sliding-head CNC.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Parameters are typical starting values for free-machining leaded brass (CW617N/CW614N) on Swiss sliding-head CNC; reduce speed and feed by ~20–30% for lead-free silicon brass (CW724R) and manage chips actively. For close-tolerance, slender or high-L/D parts, validate via first-article inspection (FAI) before scale production.