What is bar turning? Definition, operation and machines used in the industry

In an industrial world in constant search of precision, productivity and reliability, highly technical mechanical parts play a central role. Their manufacture is often based on highly specialised know-how: bar turning for many industries, such as automotive, medical or electronic components.

Located in the heart of the Arve Valley, between Geneva and Chamonix, SAMO Machines Tools has embodied this expertise for several decades. Specialising in the sale and rebuilding of machine tools, SAMO caters for industrialists looking for performance. We invite you to (re)discover what bar turning is, its fields of application and the essential machines in this strategic sector.

1. Definition of bar turning: high-precision expertise

What is bar turning?

Bar turning is a precision machining process used to manufacture metal parts by removing material, generally from brass, stainless steel, titanium or aluminium bars.

Used to produce small to medium-sized components, it guarantees high consistency and very low tolerance, even on complex geometries. The operation is carried out on specialised machines that operate at high speed and are often automated, such as CNC lathes or multi-spindle lathes.

What is a bar turning company?

It is an industrial production unit equipped to carry out this type of machining in series, with the capacity to adapt to the constraints of the sector: strict standards, high production rates, traceability or machining of technical materials.

Origins and history of bar turning

Bar turning has its roots in the 18th century in the mountains of Haute-Savoie. It was in the heart of the Arve Valley, between Cluses and Bonneville, that Swiss watchmakers set up their first machining workshops, seeking to produce precision components locally.

Over the decades, the region has succeeded in combining traditional craftsmanship with industrial innovation, becoming a world-renowned centre of excellence. Today, the valley is home to a unique ecosystem of subcontractors, equipment manufacturers and machine tool specialists, such as SAMO, a key partner for the bar turning industry. See the story in the video below:

2. The industrial applications of bar turning

A cross-disciplinary sector

Bar turning is present in all high-tech industries. It is used in particular in :

·        automotive (injectors, shafts, transmission axles)

·        aerospace (connectors, bushings)

·        the medical sector (implants, fixing screws)

·        electronics (pins, plugs)

·        watchmaking (axles, pinions, decorative screws)

Why is bar turning essential?

This technology offers excellent reproducibility, even on large volumes. It guarantees :

Consistent quality, high productivity and the ability to machine complex geometries that are often impossible to achieve using other processes. Bar turning has thus become an indispensable part of modern production lines, particularly in sectors subject to strict standards.

3. What machines are used in the bar turning industry?

3.1 CNC lathes: flexibility and precision

CNC lathes are at the heart of modern workshops. Thanks to their numerical control, they enable fast, precise and repeatable machining. Capable of working on several axes, they are ideally suited to mass-produced technical parts.

3.2 CNC machining centres: robustness for large production runs

Designed for versatility and durability, CNC machining centres are easy to integrate into an automated production line. Their ability to sequence several operations without repositioning reduces cycle times.

3.3. Multi-spindle lathes: speed and output

Multi-spindle lathes are designed for high output. Equipped with several spindles for simultaneous machining of different operations, they considerably increase productivity while maintaining remarkable precision.

3.4. Essential accessories

SAMO also offers bar feeders and automatic bar feeding systems, as well as a selection of cutting tools and lubrication systems adapted to the requirements of bar turning.

Automation and innovation: SAMO's DNA

At SAMO, every solution is designed to meet the real challenges in the field. The company relies on :

Reconditioned equipment with high added value, customised solutions to improve productivity, and local technical support, from machine selection to commissioning.

Conclusion

Today, bar turning remains a benchmark industrial process, essential for the mass production of high-precision parts.

In this demanding field, the choice of screw-cutting machines is strategic. Thanks to its historical roots in the Arve Valley and its technical expertise, SAMO Machines-Outils is a trusted partner for all industrialists in search of performance.

Need a CNC lathe, machining centre or multispindle equipment?
👉 Contact SAMO to benefit from tailor-made support for your bar turning projects.

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