A Swiss-type lathe is a CNC automatic lathe in which the spindle (the part that grips the material) slides back and forth as it machines.
It is also called a "sliding-headstock" lathe.
Its defining feature is a guide bushing that supports the material immediately next to the cutting edge.
A Closer Look
The design was developed in the Swiss watchmaking industry and excels at machining long, slender precision parts.
Because the guide bushing supports the material close to the cutting edge, even slender workpieces resist deflection and can be machined to high precision.
Swiss-types are widely used to mass-produce fine, precise parts for medical, semiconductor, and connector applications.
The contrasting design is the fixed headstock.