Have you ever thought about adding a Swiss machine to your lineup?

Most lathe guys have to stand on their head to even visualize how Swiss works. It really will challenge the best lathe operators out there, but with the right help, a Swiss machine can be easily integrated into your shop.

The first question asked is do I have the right work? Swiss machines are made for small parts up to 38 mm. They have multiple axis' so making complex parts complete is a plus. Swiss machines can also handle long skinny parts, because the material is cut as it is pushed through the guide bushing, and this will alleviate chatter in the part as it is hanging out in thin air.

The second question is, do you have the right machinist to take ownership of the machine. Swiss machines are very complex to set up and run. Typically it will take a couple of weeks to get through the learning curve. If you have a guy who wants to be challenged, and has a great mind, then he will make it successful.

When you buy a Swiss machine make sure you have great application support from the manufacturer. John Traver with Tsugami has been located in the Mountain region for 11 years. He has been with Tsugami for 20 years, and we have seen him take customers without Swiss machines to running production around the clock. Tim Kosmerl of KMI states, "To begin with, they are both great products. When buying a package that is as great as Tsugami and John, it is just a package. How good is a fighter jet without a pilot?" This is probably one of the most important parts of the puzzle. Training, training, and more training. Mike Hirsh of Hirsh Precision states, "John was a vital part of our decision. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his products."

The third question is how do I program the machine? Make sure that when you purchase a Swiss that you have software to program the machine and of course, training. The nice thing about Tsugami is that they include the software and training with their machines. The software is easy to use and you do not have to be a 5-axis programmer to get it. Mike Hirsh went on to say, "It's pretty easy and straight forward; this is a big part of the puzzle and, of course, additional training is always available. John is always willing to answer questions or do additional training."
Patrick Lemos at Prime Axis Manufacturing needed to add capacity to his machine shop, after meeting with John they decided to purchase the SS20

"After discussing with John our specific needs, he recommended the new Tsugami SS-20. As soon as we finished our meeting, we knew that this was the machine for us. John provided all of the training on the SS-20 and showed us how to use the SS-Abile programming software that comes with the machine. Overall, this was topnotch training and great support. We feel that John was the main reason we had the confidence to make this purchase." How many machine tools salesman can do this? The complete package!

The fourth question is what machine to buy. The first answer to this question is what is the maximum diameter capacity you wish to fit through the machine. The second question is capability of milling. Tsugami has some unique features, like the ability to run in Swiss, chucker mode, water soluble coolant, or oil. When you look at all 50 Tsugami models the first thing you notice is the tool layout is always the same; tools are on the side of the work, unlike a lot of competitors' models that come in from the top. Tsugami manufactures all of their machines this way for three reasons: heat rises and causes thermal growth. If you break your slide in half your chip to chip time is faster, and the final reason is "chips." All of your turning is done in one pass, and it is very difficult to break your chips for unattended machining, so the tools are on the side so the chips do not wrap around your finished product.

When it comes down to it, a machine is a machine. Without the training and support, it is just a machine. By choosing a Swiss, you will be choosing the right blend of a great machine builder like Tsugami, with a passionate experienced distributor like Hartwig to back you up on service and support. To have a first class guy like John Traver, who lives and works here in the mountain region, to help you overcome all obstacles, you really have the right combination to be successful with Swiss.

If you are thinking of adding a Swiss machine, or if you just want John to look at your parts to see if they are Swiss parts, give him a call. It will make the difference between Swiss or Swiss cheese.

Thank you, John, for taking excellent care of all of our customers. We value you as a partner and a friend.

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