Swiss Machining

Swiss-style machining is a specialized metal removal process originally developed a century ago to manufacture tiny parts for Swiss watches. It is particularly well suited to machine extremely small components (0.030 to 2-inch diameter) composed of both turned and milled (flat) surfaces.

Swiss machines feed bar stock through a guide bushing, with only that portion of the material being machined extending into the tooling area. As a result, the machine holds the workpiece more firmly than in many other CNC machining processes.

Swiss machining’s tight tolerances and short cycle times make it a favorite to produce small, intricate components in high volumes for industries such as aerospace & defense, semiconductor, medical and telecom. Most Swiss parts have round shapes. But Swiss machining can also be used to manufacture complex, high volume components with no turned surfaces at all.

Compass has 27 Swiss machines, including two installed in 2023 and six others set up since 2018. In total, Compass has 11 Citizen machines, 7 Miyano models, 8 Star units, and one older Beckler machine. All are carefully maintained and run only by operators experienced in Swiss machining.