CNC Turned Parts Manufacturer
70 Tsugami Swiss lathes · Ø1–20 mm bar · ±0.005 mm · 5M pcs/month
CHX Metal manufactures CNC turned parts in Shenzhen on 70 Tsugami Swiss-type lathes and 50 CNC lathes, covering bar Ø1–20 mm and chuck work to Ø300 mm at ±0.005 mm. Monthly capacity is 5 million pieces, with prototypes in 3–7 days and production in 7–15 days.
Turned parts are the least forgiving category in contract machining: a single diameter that drifts by two microns turns a working assembly into scrap, and the drift usually appears at volume, not on the first article. This page covers what a turned-parts supplier should be able to prove, and how the process is set up to keep the tolerance stable across a release run.
What counts as a turned part
A turned part is created by rotating the workpiece against a stationary or driven tool. Shafts, pins, bushings, spacers, threaded inserts, ferrules, valve stems, connector pins and sensor housings are all turned parts. Anything that needs flats, cross-holes or slots is either a mill-turn part or a two-operation part — and the supplier should tell you which, because it changes the price.
If the part has a length-to-diameter ratio above about 3:1, the question becomes how the bar is supported. That is where sliding-headstock (Swiss-type) turning overtakes conventional turning.
Swiss-type versus conventional turning, in plain terms
On a conventional lathe the part is held at one end and cantilevers out. On a Swiss-type machine the bar slides through a guide bushing and the tool cuts right at the bushing, so the unsupported length stays near zero. That is why slender parts keep concentricity on a Swiss machine and deflect on a conventional one.
| Specification | Capability |
|---|---|
| Bar capacity (Swiss cell) | Ø1–20 mm |
| Chuck work (CNC lathes) | Up to Ø300 mm |
| Typical L/D on Swiss | Up to 10:1 without a support change |
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm on critical diameters |
| Back-end features | Sub-spindle + live tooling, finished in one cycle |
| Batch consistency | In-process SPC on critical dimensions |
Materials that behave differently on a lathe
- Free-machining brass (C36000): fast, but thin walls grab and the tool pushes rather than cuts — tool geometry matters more than speed.
- 304 / 316 stainless: work-hardens if the feed is too light; a supplier that runs conservatively will burn through inserts and pass the cost on.
- 6061-T6 aluminium: thermally unstable, so dimensions must be gauged at 20 °C or the tolerance discussion is fictional.
- Titanium Gr5: galls and holds heat; coolant strategy decides whether the surface finish is acceptable.
- PEEK and POM: move after machining, so a stress-relief step is usually needed before the final cut.
The operations that get quoted badly
Three cost drivers are routinely under-quoted and then recovered as a change order: a secondary operation that was assumed to be in the same setup, a surface finish specified without a standard, and an inspection requirement that needs a CMM programme. All three are visible from the drawing in a DFM review — which is why the review happens before the price is issued, not after.
How to qualify a turned-parts supplier
- Ask for the machine list with bar capacity per machine, not a total count.
- Ask which instrument measures the critical diameter and whether the record ships with the parts.
- Ask what the process does when the first article passes but piece 20,000 drifts.
- Ask for one reference part in your material class and check the surface finish, not the brochure.
Related capabilities
CNC machining China · Swiss-type CNC turning · Brass turned parts · Stainless steel turned parts · Aluminium turned parts · CNC lathe mass production · Precision CNC machining
Request a quote
Send drawing (STEP / PDF / DXF) with material, tolerance and annual volume to mc@chxmetal.com. DFM feedback and a price within 24 hours, NDA on request.
Get a CNC quote · Contact CHX Metal · Supplier profile & certificates
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between turned parts and machined parts?
Turned parts are produced on a lathe from bar or chuck stock and are predominantly rotational. Machined parts is the broader term, including milled and 5-axis work. A part with cross-holes or flats is usually a mill-turn part.
What is your smallest and largest turned part?
Ø1 mm bar on the Swiss cell up to Ø20 mm, and up to Ø300 mm on the CNC lathes by chuck work. Length is limited by the bar feeder on Swiss machines and by the turning length on the lathes.
Can you hold ±0.005 mm on a production run, not just a sample?
Yes, on critical dimensions, verified by in-process SPC rather than a single final inspection. If a feature needs tighter than ±0.005 mm we quote it as a case-by-case operation with its own inspection plan.
Do you machine brass, stainless steel and aluminium turned parts?
All three, plus copper, titanium, steel and engineering plastics including PEEK and POM. Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1 are issued on request.
What is the lead time for CNC turned parts from China?
Prototypes in 3 to 7 days, production in 7 to 15 days after drawing approval, surface finishing 3 to 7 days. Freight is quoted separately as FOB or DDP.