A fixed-headstock lathe is a CNC automatic lathe in which the spindle does not move; the material rotates in place while it is machined.
Its structure is close to that of a conventional lathe, and as a rule it does not use a guide bushing.
A Closer Look
Because the spindle does not travel, it suits relatively thick workpieces and parts whose diameter is large relative to their length.
It also shortens the remnant (leftover bar end) that a guide-bushing configuration leaves, which can give it an advantage in material yield.
Its strengths differ from those of the Swiss-type (sliding headstock), which excels at slender, high-precision work.