CNC Turning & Sliding Head Services

Our CNC turning services utilize advanced computer-controlled lathes and sliding head (Swiss-style) turning centers to produce precision round parts with exceptional accuracy and surface finish. From simple shafts to complex multi-feature components, our CNC turning equipment—including specialized sliding head machines for micro-precision work—handles a wide range of diameters and lengths. Whether you need prototype quantities, high-volume production runs, or ultra-precise small parts, our modern equipment and skilled machinists deliver consistent quality and tight tolerances on every part.

Sliding Head Advantages

  • Ideal for parts under 1.25" (32mm) diameter
  • Excellent for long, slender parts (L/D ratios up to 20:1)
  • Guide bushing supports part near cutting zone
  • Minimal part deflection = superior accuracy
  • Multiple spindles (main + sub-spindle)
  • Front and rear working tools simultaneously
  • Complete parts in one cycle (no secondary ops)
  • Bar feeder for lights-out production
  • Extremely tight tolerances (±0.0002")

Sliding Head Capabilities

  • Up to 7 or 8-axis simultaneous machining
  • Live tooling on front and rear turrets
  • Sub-spindle for back-working operations
  • Part-off with no burr or secondary finishing
  • Cross-drilling, milling, and off-axis features
  • Complex thread forms and multi-start threads
  • Cycle times as low as 15-30 seconds per part
  • Production volumes: 1,000 to 1,000,000+ pieces
Ferrous Metals

Mild steel, stainless steel (304, 316, 17-4 PH), tool steel, carbon steel, hardened steel

Non-Ferrous Metals

Aluminum (6061, 7075, 2024), brass, bronze, copper, titanium, magnesium.

Exotic Alloys

Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel, titanium alloys, specialty aerospace materials

Engineering Plastics

Delrin (acetal), PEEK, nylon, PTFE, polycarbonate, acrylic, UHMW

Composite Materials

Carbon fiber, fiberglass, G10/FR4, phenolic, laminated materials.

Specialized Materials

Graphite, ceramics, wood, foam tooling board, machinable wax

CNC turned components across diverse industries

Shafts & Axles

Examples: ​Drive shafts, motor shafts, pump shafts, transmission shafts, splined shafts, keyed shafts.
Features: Multiple diameters, keyways, threads, tight concentricity
Materials:  4140, 4340, 1045, stainless steel
Tolerances: ​±0.0005" on critical dimensions

Bushings & Bearings

Examples: Sleeve bearings, flanged bushings, thrust washers, bearing housings, wear plates
Features: Precise ID/OD, concentricity, surface finish for bearing surfaces
Materials: Bronze, brass, oil-impregnated bronze, steel, aluminum.
Standards: ABMA/ANSI bearing tolerances

Medical Device Parts

examples: Custom bolts, studs, threaded rods, set screws, shoulder screws, adjustment screws
Features: Precision threads, head styles, undercuts, knurling
Materials: Steel, stainless steel, brass, aluminum
Thread Classes: Class 2A/2B, Class 3A/3B

Fittings & Connectors

Examples: Pipe fittings, hydraulic fittings, hose adapters, quick-disconnect couplings, bulkhead fittings
Features: NPT/NPTF threads, O-ring grooves, hex flats, sealing surfaces
Materials: Brass, stainless steel 316, aluminum
Standards: SAE, AN/MS, Parker, Swagelok compatible

Valve & Pump Components

Examples: Valve stems, valve bodies, pump shafts, impellers, plungers, pistons, check valve components

Features: Tight tolerances, smooth finishes, sealing surfaces
Materials: Stainless steel, brass, bronze, hardened steel
Industries: Oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment

Marine & Agri​​​culture Parts

Examples: Propeller hubs, mounting brackets, winch components, aquaculture equipment, corrosion-resistant fittings
Materials: Marine-grade stainless steel, bronze, aluminum
Features: Saltwater corrosion resistance

Pins & Dowels

Examples: Dowel pins, clevis pins, hinge pins, alignment pins, locating pins, taper pins
Features: Tight diameter tolerance, straightness, surface finish
Materials: Steel, stainless steel, hardened and ground
Tolerances: Ground to ±0.0001" on diameter

Medical Device Parts

Examples: Surgical instrument components, implant parts, catheter fittings, syringe components, dental tools
Materials: Medical-grade stainless steel, titanium, PEEK
Standards: ISO 13485, FDA compliance
Features: Biocompatible, clean room production available

Our CNC Turning Process

01

Design Review

Submit drawings or CAD models. Our engineers review for manufacturability and suggest optimizations for turning

02

Quote & Material Selection

Receive detailed pricing with lead time. Select optimal material grade and stock size for your application

03

CNC Programming

CAM programming with simulation. Tool selection, speeds, feeds, and optimal cutting strategy determined

04

Setup & First Article

Machine setup with proper workholding. First part machined and fully inspected before production run

05

Production Run

Efficient production with in-process inspection. Statistical process control maintains quality throughout run

06

Inspection & Delivery

Final inspection with dimensional reports. Deburring, cleaning, and protective packaging for delivery

Secondary Operations & Finishing

Heat Treatment

Hardening, tempering, stress relieving, annealing. Achieve specific hardness requirements (Rc 30-60+). Case hardening for wear resistance.

Component Bending

Tube and bar bending services for turned parts. Create bent shafts, tubes with machined ends, handrails with threaded connections, and complex bent assemblies with precision-turned features.

Thread Rolling

Superior thread strength compared to cut threads. Cold-forming process for fasteners. Smoother surface finish and better fatigue resistance.

Plating & Coating

Zinc plating, nickel plating, chrome plating, anodizing (aluminum), black oxide, electropolishing, passivation (stainless steel).

Deburring

Remove sharp edges and burrs. Tumbling, vibratory finishing, manual deburring. Chamfers and edge breaks as specified.

Assembly

Press-fit assemblies, adhesive bonding, staking, hardware installation. Sub-assembly and complete assembly services available.

CNC Turning Operations

Comprehensive machining capabilities on our turning centers

Outside Diameter (OD) Turning

Reducing the diameter of bar stock or blanks to precise dimensions. Multiple diameter steps, tapers, contours, and profiles. Finishing passes for excellent surface finish.

Inside Diameter (ID) Boring

Creating or enlarging internal holes with precise diameter, concentricity, and surface finish. Single-point boring for accurate internal features and threads.

Thread Rolling

External threads (OD), internal threads (ID), multi-start threads, ACME threads, NPT/NPTF pipe threads, metric and imperial threads to all standards and classes.

Grooving & Parting

External and internal grooves for O-rings, snap rings, retaining rings. Face grooving, undercut grooves, and part-off operations for bar stock.

Drilling & Tapping

Center drilling, pilot holes, through-holes, deep hole drilling with coolant through tooling. Tapping with rigid or tension-compression holders.

Knurling

Diamond knurl, straight knurl, and custom knurl patterns for grip surfaces, press-fit assemblies, and decorative finishes.

Facing & Chamfering

Perpendicular end faces, recessed faces, chamfers at any angle, countersinks, and edge breaks for safety and assembly.

Live Tooling Operations

Milling flats, slots, keyways, cross-holes, and off-axis features. Eliminates secondary operations and additional setups for complete parts.

Contouring & Profiling

Complex curved profiles, radii, tapers, spherical surfaces, and custom shapes programmed from CAD data with tight tolerances.

Specification Capability Details
Part Support Guide bushing near tool Chuck or collet only
Ideal Part Size Small diameter (0.5-32mm) Larger diameter (10-500mm)
Length-to-Diameter Ratio Excellent for high L/D (20:1) Limited by deflection (6:1 typical)
Precision on Small Parts Excellent (±0.0002") Good (±0.0005")
Cycle Time Very fast (15-60 seconds) Moderate to slow
Complete Parts Front + back operations in one cycle May require flipping/second setup
Production Volume High volume (10,000+) Prototype to medium volume
Bar Stock Automatic bar feeder standard Optional bar feeder
Best Applications Medical, electronics, fasteners General machining, larger parts